How do you know your organisation’s absence management strategy is
working? You might assume it was a reduction in absenteeism but this
might be masking a problem with leavism.
The issue of presenteeism, where employees attend work when ill
rather than fall foul of the strictly enforced absence policy or in
the case of senior managers concern at being seen as lacking in
stamina and...
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Your blogs - Blair McPherson
Blair
McPherson
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06 Mar 2020 - 13:50
null Leavism
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02 Mar 2020 - 14:43
I have never seen it written into a management JD or identified as an
essential requirement in a person specification but recent events have
confirmed the need for curiosity amongst senior managers. I am
referring to the inquiry into the behaviour of a rogue consultant in
the NHS and the failure of those charged with protecting patients to
ask questions. But it could just as easily...
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wrote a new blog post
01 Mar 2020 - 09:50
null Questions
The best don’t know all the answers but they know the right
questions to ask.
Blair Mcpherson www.blairmcpherson.co.uk
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wrote a new blog post
24 Feb 2020 - 14:28
null Gaming the System
Not all managers play by rules. The recruitment procedures are
designed to ensure candidates are not discriminated against and
managers can’t slot in their favourites. The process is designed to be
fair and transparent. However the focus is often on the selection
criteria and the interview. The candidates application form is
measured against the person specification for the post to...
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wrote a new blog post
18 Feb 2020 - 12:23
They use to call him Frank Sinatra because he always did it
his way. Trying to explain the importance of following the correct
procedures whether that be in recruitment, tackling absenteeism or
taking disciplinary measures was a frustrating experience. Old blue
eyes didn’t ask for advice and didn’t take it. Either that or he
would go round the HR team until he receive the advice he...
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wrote a new blog post
12 Feb 2020 - 12:26
null Morse v Clouseau
Under what circumstances is it ok for HR to go the full Morse on an
anonymous letter and how do you ensure clumsy attempts to identify the
culprit don’t come over all Inspector Clouseau
Recently an NHS Trust was in the news for the lengths it had gone
to identify the author of an anonymous letter. These included engaging
a finger print and hand writing expert. The controversy arose...
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wrote a new blog post
12 Feb 2020 - 11:59
null Not the best judge
At university I had a lecture who supervised one of my placements and
believed students were a good judge of their own performance. I was
tipped off in advance by a student in the year above so at the end of
my placement I was not surprised to be asked what grade I thought I
should receive. I had prepared my answer and my rational in advance. I
confidently stated my performance...
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wrote a new blog post
12 Feb 2020 - 17:43
null Winning
It’s brutal, wrong and dangerous. It’s cheating but if you can get
away with it, bending the rules is all part of the game. This is not
new no but it’s is a new and disturbing low.
Blair Mcpherson former Director, author and blogger www.blairmcpherson.co.uk
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wrote a new blog post
03 Feb 2020 - 11:52
Here’s some advice I read in the news paper recently. “ Don’t quote
The Office without explaining the context”. From my recent experience
even providing the context won’t stop some people being offended. I
recently wrote an article on this web site about the reaction of some
views to the karaoke scene in the Gavin and Stacy Christmas special.
My point was those complaining were...
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wrote a new blog post
05 Feb 2020 - 22:41
null Rogue Monkey
“ If you want to change things you sometimes have to disrupt
things.” Dame Sue Campbell Director of Women’s Football at the FA.
(Apparently referred to by some in the FA as Rogue Monkey!).
Pull it all down and build a new one. We can put in a new
kitchen, we can remodel the bathroom, we can knock down a wall to have
an open plan ground floor, we can add a conservatory or creat...
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wrote a new blog post
28 Jan 2020 - 14:39
null The Oxymoron Manager
We need to be bold whilst at the same time not taking unnecessary
risks, we need to be financially prudent but invest to make the most
of technological but not see it as the solution to every problem. We
must be more customer focused but we must also be open and honest
about the limitation on our ability to meet their wants and needs.
Successful organisation value and invest in...
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wrote a new blog post
27 Jan 2020 - 14:54
I once played in a football team that got beaten 15-1. What
made it worse was it was only 2-1 at half time. It was a capitulation
and a humiliation. Our goal keepers confidence was shattered and our
star striker never played for us again. And yet the core of that team
went on playing together for several very successful seasons. People
respond differently to major set backs and so...
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wrote a new blog post
14 Jan 2020 - 18:36
In 2011 the Harvard Business Review published the findings of 10
years research into management effectiveness. The headlines
read, USA managers are the best , and as is so often the case
the reaction was to the headline rather than the detail of the
research. To some commentators and management consultants this was
further support for their view that management skills in the U.K.
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wrote a new blog post
12 Jan 2020 - 12:56
null Gavin and Stacy
Taking words out of context and simply banning them as offensive does
not take forward the battle for greater awareness and sensitivity in
the cause of equality and diversity. If you were in any doubt then
just look at the complaints the BBC have revived over the Christmas
special of Gavin and Stacy. These complaints are about a lyric in a
song two of the characters sing at a Karaoke...
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wrote a new blog post
13 Jan 2020 - 07:34
The person you are going to talk to isn’t going to like what you
have to say. They are going to take it personally. You are going to
challenge them and their reaction may be defensive, antagonistic or accusatory.
As a senior manager concerned with the quality of people
management within the organisation I was surprised at how many
managers felt ill equipped to have a...
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wrote a new blog post
17 Dec 2019 - 15:57
null Christmas Crackers
A table of middle aged, single, American women were preparing to eat
a Christmas meal in the splendid dinning room of the cruse ship as it
sailed down the Danube. The table was festively decorated with a
Christmas cracker at every place setting. One of the women picked up
her cracker and said,” I believe you pull these and they burst open
with gifts, hats and jokey messages.” Taking...
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wrote a new blog post
08 Dec 2019 - 15:05
There is an old Mexican saying that if you drink the water then you
will stay. Meaning if you stop for even a short period you will be
captivated by the place. But in view of the state of the water supply
it might be more appropriate to say that you need a strong stomachache
to live here. When I think of how local government use to be and how
it is now I think of old Mexico and the...
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wrote a new blog post
04 Dec 2019 - 13:48
null The Perfect Crime
In HR they call Passive Aggression (PA) the perfect crime as it
involves a variety of behaviors designed to “get back” at another
person without the other recognising the underlying anger.
I thought they were just “difficult” staff. Now I realise they though
of themselves either as victims or some sort of resistance fighters.
That is victims of bullying or resistance fighters against...
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wrote a new blog post
29 Nov 2019 - 11:41
null The voice of reason
I had a good friend who played in the same football team as me. In
the changing room and later during the post -mortum in the pub when we
would all agree that their third game changing goal was miles off side
and that we should have had at least six dead cert penalties he would
point out the weaknesses in our argument and offer the view that the
referee was not only eagle eyed but...
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wrote a new blog post
23 Nov 2019 - 19:33
What if England had lost? How would the managers disciplinary action
against one of his best players be viewed?
So some members of the England team thought the manager over-reacted
to an incident in the canteen. However the manager was adamant he made
the right call and does not fear any long term repercussions. He
believes his tough stance will eradicate the possibility of having to
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