CIPD

People professionals have stepped up through recent crises to support their organisations and their people. Yet, the perceived value of the profession remains under constant challenge. While some applaud these efforts to take the profession beyond form-filling and compliance, others say HR have exceeded their remit with their public agenda crusades. Join Nigel Cassidy, and this month’s guests – Cat Navarro, Talent Advisor and Consultant; Dr Washika Haak-Saheem, Associate Professor at Henley Business School; David D’Souza, Director of Membership at CIPD – as they debate the real purpose of HR in today’s organisations and fundamentally how people teams can be used to create the impact you need in your organisation.

Accessible and inclusive experiences are critical to the success of organisational learning. Few would argue against the benefits an accelerated shift to – and adoption of – digital learning has brought to learners, particularly with greater flexibility in terms of access, delivery and coverage. But is the design of your learning drawing out the best from your workforce or a stumbling block to truly accessible learning? Join Nigel Cassidy, live from the CIPD Festival of Work 2022, and this month’s guests – Susi Miller, eLearning Accessibility Expert and Author of Designing Accessible Learning Content; Giorgia Gamba-Quilliam, Digital Learning Content Manager at CIPD – as we unpack how your organisation can make learning content accessible for all learners and ensure everyone has the opportunity to engage with learning without barriers.

The benefits of an inclusive and diverse workforce are inarguable – not just because it’s the right thing to do for social justice, but for the benefits it can bring to every business. But despite having the right policies in place, many organisations are still struggling to build inclusive workforces, and progress has been slow or stagnant. It may sound counterintuitive to use technology to address this very human issue, but using digital processes to identify biases and measure performance against organisational objectives could give I&D the boost it desperately needs. Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests – Kevin McFall, Head of Belonging, Diversity and Inclusion Solutions at Workday; Hayfa Mohdzaini, Senior Research Adviser for Data, Technology and AI at CIPD; and Dr Zara Nanu, CEO and Co-founder at GapSquare – as we explore the benefits of using technology to help organisations boost inclusion and foster a culture of employee belonging to drive business performance.

Dealing with stress can place immense demands on employees’ physical and mental health. Our Health and Wellbeing at Work 2022 report emphasises the negative impact stress can have on productivity, with 79% of organisations reporting some stress-related absence over the last year. So, the idea that organisations could purposely generate or allow pressure and stress to raise employee performance sounds counterintuitive, right? Well, not necessarily. Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests – Alexandra Lichtenfeld, Business Mentor at Client Matters, Dr Serra Pitts, Clinical Director at 87% Limited, and Alan Lambert, International Strategic HR Change Leader at TotalEnergies – as we explore the benefits of positive stress and why generating healthy levels of pressure can drive higher individual, team and organisation performance.

Explore why organizations struggle to measure the impact of learning and development investments. Discover the disconnect between traditional training evaluations and real-life application. Learn how managerial support can enhance training outcomes and bridge the gap between theory and practice. Delve into the complexities of compliance training, advocating for an approach that prioritizes practical application over mere memorization. This discussion emphasizes the need for meaningful data collection and collaboration between teams to drive effective learning transfer.

Carol Dweck, a renowned American psychologist famous for her research on growth and fixed mindsets, discusses the vital role of these concepts in the workplace. She highlights how adopting a growth mindset within organizations fosters empowerment, collaboration, and innovation. Dweck is joined by industry experts Helen Deavin and Isabel Duarte, who delve into the complexities of personal mindsets and the challenges HR faces in promoting cultural change. Together, they explore actionable strategies to cultivate an environment that nurtures continuous learning and adaptability.

Whether the ‘Great Resignation’ is a phenomenon supported by statistical evidence or not, the pandemic has prompted many to reassess what they want from their jobs. The battle to recruit and retain talent in these challenging times has been well documented, and if a workplace revolution is truly underway, employers need to be tuned in to what employees and potential employees really want. Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests – Melanie Green, Research Adviser at CIPD, Josie Cox, Business Journalist, and Pete Thomas, Head of EVP and Brand at Department of International Trade – as we explore how employers might raise their employee value proposition and meet the demands of the post-pandemic labour market.

The rapid uptake of digital technology to deliver organisational learning during the pandemic has changed the L&D landscape forever. But as we move forward, how can organisations capitalise on the momentum to further embrace digital solutions and provide effective, engaging, immersive and safe learning experiences? Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests – Andy Lancaster, Head of Learning and Development at CIPD, Gaelle Delmas-Watson, Founder at SyncSkills and Marco Faccini, Digital Learning Architect – as we discuss how people professionals can ensure that the use of technology, such video, webinars and mobile apps, continues to evolve and enrich employees’ professional development.

Join Perry Timms, Founder and Chief Energy Officer at PTHR, as he discusses the challenges of maintaining motivation in the workplace during the pandemic. Topics include the three Cs of self-determination, the role of results in motivation, and finding meaning in job tasks. The speakers also explore workplace productivity and the responsibility of HR managers in employee motivation.

There is little doubt that social media use can prove valuable for engaging customers and enhancing brand image. But, as the ongoing impact of the pandemic and challenges presented by choppy Brexit waters intensify the competition for talent, can leveraging social media platforms for creative and innovative recruitment practices give your organisation the edge? Join our podcast presenter Nigel Cassidy, Cassandra Hoermann, People Experience Lead at Personio and David D’Souza, Director of Membership at CIPD, as we explore how you can make social media an effective tool to tackle your recruitment challenges.