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Trust in me...

‘Kaa the Snake’ in The Jungle Book encourages trust with a mesmerising song and his eyes going a bit weird… what are you doing to inspire your staff to trust you as their employer?

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Water cooler gossip is often  disgruntled staff who are thinking that they can’t trust the promises made and it is frequently a reason quoted by candidates when they apply for a new role. For some employers they are getting it wrong from the outset by promising bonuses and pay rises that they avoid delivering, then compounding it with asking for opinions and then ignoring what is said.

So, as an employer, consider the value of a staff satisfaction survey but make sure that you fully understand the damage that it can do if you don’t execute it correctly!

Our Advice?

Work backwards in the process by first ascertaining the expected outcome and what you would do about it. To explain that further if you asked:

Are you happy with your working hours, if not what would you prefer?

What answers would you get and what could you then put in place, do you need to reword the question or make it multiple choice with a space for comments? How do you avoid the smart Alec answers?

One solution might be actually suggesting options that you know as an employer you can make work, for example:

 

Instead of 9-5 Monday to Friday, would you be interested in:

  • 8-5 Monday to Thursday and 8-12 on a Friday
  • 8-4 one week and 10-6 the next

 

This will prevent getting useless answers but also make sure you do give the option for comments too as someone might have another idea that will work but you haven’t thought of.

Top tips for an Employee Satisfaction Survey

  • Plan the outcome option first to write the questions appropriately
  • Control timescales and manage expectations – when do you want it back, when will you publish results, when will any changes happen
  • If questions are raised via this process that relate to policy, procedure, any HR issues, training, safety etc address them quickly directly with the employee or to the whole staff, depending which is appropriate
  • If specific, personal issues come to light, take them seriously and arrange to discuss it further
  • Keep confidential information confidential
  • If any employees wish to discuss it further, ensure that this happens
  • If you call it ‘Annual’ , you must do it annually, but check that changes have been made following the last one.
  • If you don’t get the surveys back form a high proportion of staff or it isn’t taken seriously then you may already have a trust problem.

Other indications of an Employer/ Employee trust issue  include staff retention, low numbers of applicants for vacancies ,  bad reviews on websites such as Glassdoor, no enthusiasm for overtime, a lack of commitment for long term planning and getting sarcastic responses to announcements.

Nicola is our retained HR Consultant and has been for some time. We have had a number of unexpected and challenging people situations to deal with since she joined but we have valued her honest and pragmatic approach. She doesn’t ‘hide’ behind HR speak and has without exception provided us with the best advice. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to any company looking for practical solutions from the basics to restructuring and developing a future-proofing people strategy. Feedback from these session was extremely positive. Nicola gave a comprehensive overview on HR processes with reference to employment law. As importantly she was able to give very real and practical examples of how managers work effectively in these areas.

Staff found these sessions really engaging and commented on the range of practical examples from a senior HR professional with extensive experience. Nicola has worked with broadcasters and independent production companies – and this breadth of experience helps frame her workshops and provides real insight into effective people management.
Rob White
Rob WhiteManaging Director, Essential Insurance
Nicola recently led a number of HR focussed workshops for a range of production management staff. These staff were operating at different levels within the origination and with very different experience. Feedback from these session was extremely positive. Nicola gave a comprehensive overview on HR processes with reference to employment law. As importantly she was able to give very real and practical examples of how managers work effectively in these areas.

Staff found these sessions really engaging and commented on the range of practical examples from a senior HR professional with extensive experience. Nicola has worked with broadcasters and independent production companies – and this breadth of experience helps frame her workshops and provides real insight into effective people management.
John Hollywood
John HollywoodDirector of Production – IMG.
I have worked closely with Nicola for many years, across a variety of business sectors. During that time, the organisations have benefited from Nicola’s experience, professionalism and integrity. I have always appreciated Nicola sharing her significant knowledge of every aspect of HR and Organisational Development, particularly when challenges arise. As well as providing sound guidance based on the fundamental principles of good business practices, Nicola is extremely skilled in grasping the nuances of individual organisations, allowing her to deliver bespoke advice and activity. Nicola has hugely influenced organisational decision-making, workforce planning and cultural development. You will be in very safe and supportive hands with Nicola and I cannot recommend her and her services highly enough.
Dr Eamonn O’Neal DL MSc
Dr Eamonn O’Neal DL MScChief Executive St Ann’s Hospice
I have known Nicola for over 10 years, she is knowledgeable and a brilliant HR professional. Nicola is great at employee engagement, development and HR strategy. Nicola has helped me with a couple of complex reward projects. She is my “go to” person for any HR consultancy work. Nicola understands how HR can add value and credibility & I would recommend her to anyone who needs quality HR support delivered with integrity & professionalism.
Catherine Macdonald
Catherine MacdonaldHead of HR Harworth Estates
“Nicola is exactly what we need as a business, and is there whenever we need her with the best practical people advice, solutions and approach…she’s been one of ‘the team’ for months and we wouldn’t have it any other way”
Sarah Billota
Sarah BillotaOwner Grade Café Bar Poynton
My experience and involvement with Nicola spans over a decade during which I have worked with her within the private and Hospice sectors. She is not only knowledgeable and pragmatic, but also great fun to work with even during the most challenging of situations. Her approach is collaborative and engaging and she is definitely a solutions orientated professional – quite rare in my experience of HR practitioners. Nicola is definitely my first port of call when I need HR expertise and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her.
Tracey O’Keefe
Tracey O’KeefeManaging Director of Hospice Quality Partnership
I recently worked with Nicola when I had an urgent and highly sensitive senior level HR issue to deal with. Her credentials and experience made her ideal for this extremely important task. The process was delicate and urgent and was run with a deftness of touch within a demanding timescale. Nicola was always available to discuss and advise on the most tough areas where she offered practical and well thought through options. She is a very professional operator with plenty of common sense ideas. I would have no hesitation in either recommending Nicola or in using her again myself.
Stephen Morris
Stephen MorrisCEO, Totally Local Company
I have worked alongside Nicola as a Director/ Governor of a School, where HR practices needed updating and modern practices established. Nicola led this improvement and ensured that fellow Directors and Senior Leaders understood and would own the new practices and procedures, enabling the School to be self improving. Her manner was positive and encouraging while her knowledge was reassuring. As a former Headteacher, I would have welcomed Nicola's expertise and felt empowered to meet the demands of the 'HR World’
Debbie SilcockDirector, The Hammond School
At short notice, Nicola brought her HR expertise and practical organisational experience to a particular situation. She assisted in the framing of the work, documenting interviews and produced an actionable summary report. She’s a good listener and insightful, while turning work round quickly. A delight to work with, I’d have no hesitation in recommending her.
Susan WebsterNon-Executive Director
“As a CEO of a small organisation, I was having challenges with a member of the senior team and with members of the Board of Trustees. These problems had been long standing and I knew that I needed help to address the challenges I was facing.

Professor Patricia Livesey
Professor Patricia LiveseyCEO, Eden Valley Hospice
“As an organisation without in-house HR support, Nicola was recommended to us when we were in a period of growth. We acknowledged the need to ensure we were offering the best possible support to our people. She facilitated this and our relationship developed and has continued for a number of years.

During this time she has enabled us to structure our business in line with our goals and growth plans. She totally understands the creative sector and we like working with her – she’s our first point of contact for people issues.”
James Gibson
James Gibson Director and Co-Founder, LoveLife Graphics
“I was referred to Nicola by another SME owner as he had found her to be straight-talking, flexible and focussed on delivery. The first challenge I faced her with, even though it was out of her comfort zone, was delivered with dedication, commitment and expertise – It didn’t go un-noticed. As a result, Nicola is now my ‘go to’ professional for HR advice”
Lee Jackson
Lee JacksonDirector, WebPresence Digital
“Nicola was recommended to us by another consultant in our sector as they had had a positive experience dealing with Evolve, and we were thrilled with the referral.

We had a very complex and sensitive situation to deal with. Nicola gave us straightforward, no-nonsense advice to deliver a positive way forward and it was clear that she approached the situation in a commercial context, whilst ensuring staff were treated fairly and sensitively. We were very pleased with the outcome.

We would recommend Nicola to other organisations who want the world of managing people made simple, effective and with successful results.”
Sylvianne Hockey and Manuel Marin
Sylvianne Hockey and Manuel MarinDirectors, The Gables Nursing Home

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