HR Think Tank

Happy Wednesday, everyone! So, I’ve had a few discussions with folks in the community about potentially starting a small book club. This would focus on books that are either directly related to HR or the world of work more generally (mindset, deep work, leadership topics, team-building, etc).Now, I’d like to try this out with you all. Consider this the announcement for the first Voyager Community Book Club! 🤩We’ll meet online via video call and discuss one book each quarter.Now, let’s start with an important question via the poll below. Big shoutout to ​@HRJoy , ​@andra.enache , ​@Kim Stringer , ​@SabbuSchreiber , and ​@SalC for the inspiration!  🚨 UPDATE: 🚨 Polling is now closed and the winner is Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Dan Pink! Stay tuned for details about when our book club call will be scheduled! 

Hello, everyone!So, I’m a fan of kicking every year off with some optimism. However, the HR industry, as always, is facing some headwinds that need to be addressed. One example is the amount of burnout-driven resignations that are about to happen in 2025. Here at Personio, my colleagues have been doing some research on the HR profession in the UK. What they’ve found is sobering, including 41% of those surveyed saying they spend the majority of their time on unnecessary admin. This has led to over half of surveyed professionals reporting burnout and over a third planning on leaving the industry altogether this year.With this in mind, I’m curious what our community thinks might be the way forward. Here are some questions to consider:How would you address this problematic trend? \tIs the focus on unnecessary admin a tech issue or an organisational culture issue? Or something else entirely?\tHave you faced these issues of overwhelm in the past? How have you dealt with them?

Hi Community,There are just a few days left until February 14th... On Valentine's Day, it's all about appreciation and connections – why not bring this into the work context as well? Just like in personal relationships, every employee in the office has their own “language” that helps them feel truly valued. The five love languages, originally developed for personal relationships, can help HR figure out exactly how to do this and apply it in everyday work life. The Five “Love Languages” in the Workplace🗣️ Words of Affirmation: A sincere “thank you,” personal praise in a team meeting, or a message highlighting a special contribution can work wonders. Words are powerful – and often exactly what employees need to feel seen.⏰ Quality Time: One-on-one conversations, real attention, and availability. When someone realises their concerns are truly heard, it creates a sense of appreciation and trust.🤝 Acts of Service: Proactive support with challenges, removing obstacles in everyday tasks, or

Hi everyone!As we all get settled into the new year, we’ve got some HR insight to get you thinking! As you solidify your priorities for 2025, check out our HR Trends Report, counting down some of the biggest topics in the industry this year. This special report covers a range of HR-specific trends, breaking each down to the data behind it and what it means for you and your organisation. For example, one key factor in 2025 is fighting off the rising tide of “AI fatigue.” Broadly speaking, this is the phenomenon of feeling overwhelmed by the “hype” surrounding artificial intelligence - something that isn’t exactly helped by the seemingly never-ending press-coverage concerning AI. Several data points indicate AI fatigue potentially rising in the workplace, including a study by Wiley that shows 40% of respondents are struggling to understand how to integrate AI into their work. Moreover, that same study shows 75% are lacking confidence in their ability to use this technology.What this migh

Can workplace culture lead to unethical behaviour by employees?New research suggests that, while sometimes unwittingly, corporations can indeed play a huge role in unethical actions by individual employees. This is done via organisational moral disengagement.To many of you, that might come across as a no-brainer. However, a few things caught my (admittedly inexperienced) eye. First, the fact that this research is being done at all indicates a focus on a structural approach to unethical corporate practices (rather than on individual employees).Second, there is a key point made about the importance of how unethical behaviour is framed. I was particularly fascinated by the use of language to make otherwise unethical practices seem minor. The example used in the linked article is seeing price-rigging as “stabilising prices.” How interesting!I am curious what our community members think about this. Specifically, two questions come to mind:What, if anything, can be done when an employee noti

Hi Community,Today is my second stop on my journey through the Community, and I’m super excited to hear your thoughts and ideas in the HR Think Tank – they say this part of the Voyager Community is like a treasure chest for HR professionals!As part of my yearly work, I’ve been going through the many wishlists from our hardworking helpers. They have wishes too and are thrilled when they come true:⏰ from more flexible working hours🗣️ to an open feedback culture✨ and innovative benefits. While reading through all these wishes, I started wondering: why don’t I have my own wishlist? And what would be on it? 👀Just like you, as HR professionals, I want to fulfill the wishes of our helpers while also keeping my own needs in mind. Before I start writing my wishlist, I’d love to know: What would be on your wishlist? What’s your biggest wish as an HR professional for the coming year?I can’t wait to read your comments and gather some valuable insights. Let’s discuss together to make sure HR cont

Hello everyone! 😄So, with all of the news in the last few weeks concerning return-to-office policies, my brain has been stuck in pondering mode 🤔. You’ve all heard some of the most prevalent arguments in support of in-office work from the likes of Starbucks, BlackRock, and, of course, Amazon. We’ve also heard from Spotify who is more, shall we say, lenient on the matter.My opinion is this: companies should leave the decision of whether to be remote or in-office (or both) to employees and their respective teams.Now, I’m quite curious what our community thinks. What do you think of mandated return-to-office policies? 

I believe the best way of knowing is trying, and that’s been my approach to finding my career path. Pinballing from one thing to the next in the pursuit of discovering what I want to do with my life. Trying After finishing the Swedish equivalent of A levels, I wanted to keep studying but didn’t know what. I started to become a teacher because my friends said “you’re good at teaching and explaining things, so maybe try that?”. So, I tried that. Quite quickly, I found that the most interesting thing about education was the psychology behind it. This was a lightbulb moment and the first pinball bounce. Maybe psychology was it?In 2010, I moved to Stockholm and started studying psychology, which was extremely interesting! Learning about people and why we behave the way we do brought out a new fascination. However, it was only one piece of the puzzle as a career in psychology wasn’t appealing. I like people, but I don’t like people THAT much for it to be my sole focus. So, I had to bounce. F

Hi there Community,Tomorrow is the day! Personio's biggest HR event, HUG, is making its way to the capital of Germany! At the 📍 Wilhelm Studios in Berlin, you can expect exciting and inspiring discussions, practical tips and opportunities for personal exchange. Our Community team has prepared something very special for you too! You can look forward to creative opportunities to network with other HR professionals and have lots of fun in the process! Please note: The following content is for those who participated in HUG Berlin and the Networking Bingo.As a HUG Berlin participant, you’ll have the opportunity to join a Networking Bingo on-site. You’ll find plenty of Bingo flyers spread around the venue - grab one and take on the challenge! 👾 Here’s How You Can Participate in the BingoComplete 5 activities in a row (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and tick of the boxes\tBingo? Great! Write your name & business email address at the top of the flyer.  \tThen hand in the flyer in the coll

The spooky season begins in just a few days - Halloween is just around the corner! 🎃At the end of October, children in particular dress up as spooky creatures, go from door to door and “trick or treat” to collect candy.We also want to keep up with this tradition in the Community and bring the concept into our virtual space: 🍭 What are the sweet rewards of your job?  Is it the thrill of hiring the perfect candidate, or the joy of watching your team grow and thrive thanks to your support?👻 And what about the bitter challenges?  Maybe it’s navigating tricky conflict conversations or balancing the needs of employees with the goals of the company.Let us know: I’m excited to see how full our virtual “Halloween basket” (i.e. comments) will get.And of course – are there any ghosts, witches, or perhaps even an HR vampire among us? 🧛‍♀️Feel free to share a picture or tell us about your spooky plans for this year!

There’s no better feeling than genuinely loving to go to work! HR plays a huge role in creating this experience by fostering a healthy work culture. Not only do your employees benefit from being excited and motivated, but the organisation itself also reaps the rewards—think improved employee satisfaction, higher productivity, stronger loyalty, and much more! Ways to create a healthy culture at work: 🗣️ Open Communication: Transparent and honest communication helps employees feel heard and valued. When information flows freely and feedback is encouraged, trust and collaboration naturally flourish.🧠 Psychological Safety: Employees must feel comfortable taking risks, making mistakes, and expressing themselves without fear of negative consequences. This boosts creativity and innovation.⚖️ Work-Life Balance: Supporting a healthy balance between professional responsibilities and personal life reduces burnout and increases overall productivity. (E.g. offering flexible hours or remote work)\ud83d

Hi everyone, So, September is here and the warm weather is starting to leave (for most of us). As vacations wind down and we all get set to return to our busy lives, we thought we’d start the month on an exciting note! We also really want to learn more about our community members, so… we’re running a huge giveaway this month!  👇 How You Can ParticipateThis one’s very easy: To join the community raffle and be eligible to win, all you have to do is:Log into your community account\tComment below with an answer to this question: What is your favourite part of your job and why? ⏳ Till “When” Can I Participate Share your comments in the thread below: You’ll have until September 30th, 14:00 GMT to enter the giveaway.🎟️ What’s There to WinTwo of our participants will be able to each win an Amazon voucher worth £50. \tIt doesn’t stop here: Our winners will also be able to chat with one of our Community Managers over a ☕️ 👀 Psst… if you’re coming from our recent London EventWelcome to the Commu