Stimulating Intellectual Curiosity

28 / 11 / 2018

If you think about the average two or three year old, every other sentence is a question, often “why?” Children are ferociously curious and ask streams of questions about everything and anything. Apparently they average one question every two minutes of their waking lives. Some of the questions children come out with are astonishing and I wish I’d thought of...

12 Dangers of Christmas

21 / 11 / 2018

OK. It’s got to be done. It’s time for the annual Grinchathon. Sorry folks, but Christmas is riddled with risk. Every year I write to remind my clients and they all nod wisely but I am not fooled ……. And every year, at least one client (a bit red-faced) asks me to sort out a morning after the night before...

Does Someone You Know Enjoy Being Miserable?

14 / 11 / 2018

Some people seem to quite enjoy dwelling on negatives. They are cup half empty types and it can be very draining to work with them. I call them “Eeyores” after AA Milne’s famously lugubrious donkey. It’s a shame because it’s hard for you and truthfully, can they really be happy if they’re moaning all the time? If you have an...

Get Some Coffee Friends!

07 / 11 / 2018

For many employees working from home is seen as a very desirable state of affairs. You can wear what you like. You can work when you like so long as you turn in the project on time and to the right standard. Home working allows you to avoid the unpleasantness of peak hour travel, saving you time, money and (if...

Add Some Muscle to your Grievance Procedure

31 / 10 / 2018

Last week I hit the limits of my patience and beefed my template dispute resolution process. It’s now got enough muscle to make Popeye jealous. Employees have a right to raise genuine grievances. Unfortunately, this right is often abused. This year I have dealt with more aggressively pursued non-grievances than at any time in the last 30 years. They have...