“Can I ask you a quick question?” – Why having an HR contact matters
“Sorry, this might be a stupid question, but …”When a message starts like that, we usually already know one thing: the question almost certainly isn’t stupid. Maybe it’s about remaining holiday entitlement, calling in sick or parental leave. Maybe there’s an employment contract on the table and someone isn’t quite sure about the wording. Maybe […]
Remote Work and Productivity: How Much Remote Work Is Optimal for Companies?
Too much time in the office can come at the expense of productivity. But so can too much remote work. For companies, the challenge is therefore not to choose one workplace over another. It is to combine flexibility, focused work and in-person collaboration in a way that fits the organisation. For SMEs and start-ups in […]
Good HR: The Work You Don’t See
Good HR rarely gets noticed. But when it’s missing, people tend to notice pretty quickly. When HR works well, many things in everyday working life simply feel like they happen naturally. A new employee knows when and where to show up before their first day. A contract amendment is ready on time. A manager gets […]
Low Performance: Why Companies Often Address Performance Issues Too Late
Everyone knows there is a performance problem. Except the employee concerned. Companies invest a great deal of time in performance management. They set objectives, conduct performance reviews and establish feedback processes. Yet when it comes to dealing with low performance, the same surprisingly simple problem arises time and again: a significant performance gap has long […]
A Healthy Culture Around Mistakes: “We’re Allowed to Make Mistakes Here.” – Until Someone Actually Does
A healthy culture around mistakes is something many companies would say is simply part of a good workplace culture.At least on paper. The real test comes when something actually goes wrong. Because how people respond in that moment often says far more about a company’s culture than any mission statement, company value or carefully worded […]
Internal Mobility Instead of External Hiring: Why It Pays to Look at the Talent You Already Have
A position becomes vacant, a new role is created, or a team needs additional skills – and all too often, the external search begins almost automatically. A job ad is drafted, job boards are selected, active sourcing gets underway, or a recruitment agency is brought in. That is understandable. For many companies, external recruitment is […]
HR for Startups: “We’re Still Too Small for HR.” – and Other Things We Hear All the Time
“We’re still too small for HR.” We hear this quite a lot – usually from companies where quite a lot is happening already. The product is ready, the first customers are on board, and maybe the first funding round is in the bag. New people are joining, responsibilities are shifting, and overall, things are going […]
Modern Leadership: Why the Role of Leaders Is Changing
Leaders have never had so many ways to stay connected with their teams – yet effective leadership has rarely been more demanding. Modern leadership is about more than assigning tasks, making decisions and monitoring results. Leaders need to provide direction, build trust, support development and create a sense of connection, even when teams work in […]
The Human Side of HR: Good Processes Are Guardrails, Not Cages
Can the human side of HR and clear processes really go hand in hand?Absolutely.Good HR processes make life easier. They provide guidance, save time, and make sure important things don’t get lost somewhere between Slack, the calendar, and the next urgent task.The onboarding is prepared. Feedback meetings are in the calendar. Responsibilities are clear. And […]
Employee Benefits That Really Matter: What Employees Expect Today
Fruit baskets, free drinks or a foosball table: employee benefits have long become standard at many companies. Particularly in recruitment, they are often used to send a clear message: We are a modern and attractive employer.But a benefit is not automatically valuable just because it sounds appealing. What matters is whether it genuinely adds value […]