Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the initiatives that have helped to place mobile‐network operator O2 in the top five Best Big Companies to Work For in the UK. Design/methodology/approach – Highlights the use of several employee‐communication tools and a new...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe how 19 managers from the European and Middle Eastern divisions of multinational business consultancy Convergys built a badger‐watching platform during a training weekend, to assess and improve skills in leadership, motivation and performance...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explain why only one member of the eight‐strong management team at international translation agency Applied Language Solutions has a degree. Design/methodology/approach – Describes the advantages of employing people with specialist skills combined...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how First Bus UK is improving the basic skills of its employees through learning centers. Design/methodology/approach – Describes how First Bus UK teamed up with the Transport and General Workers' Union to establish 40 learning centers across...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight the pitfalls of failing to compare like with like when undertaking employee‐satisfaction surveys. Design/methodology/approach – Reveals how answers can be affected by people's expectations, slight changes in the wording of a survey, the...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to advance the view that being able fully to understand the perspective of a client is one of the key skills of successful HR people. Design/methodology/approach – Reveals that the most successful HR people are able to look at situations from the...

Purpose – This paper provides an interview with John Fleming and James Asplund. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides an interview with John Fleming and James Asplund. Findings – There has never been a better – or more important – time for HR professionals to play a...

Purpose – The paper aims to examine the allocation of holidays. Design/methodology/approach – The paper discusses the allocation of holidays. Findings – Of course, employers should always be fair and reasonable and take employees' personal circumstances into account when allocating leave....