Whilst we’re seeing tons of innovation in some of the key employee processes, reward and recognition can often be put in the ‘too difficult’ box. Recognition efforts often lack differentiation and are just vanilla or one-size-fits-all, and flexible benefits packages, meant to deliver choice, can too often feel overwhelming or unclear to employees. This week’s guest Rachel Richards, Reward and People Operations Director at Virgin Group, joins Lucy to share how they have broken away from the usual script. She shares their new benefits arrangements and how they've made them feel more meaningful, clear, and truly relevant.

In this episode you’ll hear how to engage your employees in shaping reward and recognition, how to create benefits from a position of trust and provide an offering that feels inclusive, brand-aligned and genuinely compelling - without increasing spend. It’s a conversation about trust, transparency, and the courage to break away from vanilla rewards to build something that reflects modern lives and makes employees proud.

Chapters

(00:03) Revolutionizing Employee Benefits at Virgin

(08:30) Enhancing Employee Benefits Through Engagement

(16:29) Empowering Flexibility and Wellbeing at Work

(24:56) Designing Employee Benefits With Purpose

Contact Rachel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelreclarke/

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: hello@disruptivehr.com

Assessments have always played a crucial role in how we identify potential, develop talent, and shape future leaders. But with the rapid rise of AI and digital tools, we’re facing both incredible opportunities and real risks. In this episode we’re diving into a subject that sits right at the intersection of innovation and humanity and asking, how do we harness the power of technology - particularly AI - to build fairer, more human-centered approaches to leadership assessment and development?

Joining Lucy to discuss this is a real expert in the field of leadership assessment - Tom Verboven from The Talent Enterprise which is part of the Mercer group. Lucy and Tom discuss some of the big questions around assessment and technology, including:

• Where do we currently stand in the adoption and effectiveness of AI and technology in assessments?
• How can we effectively eliminate bias and noise in assessments, whether human or AI-driven?
• What is the candidate or participant experience like when interacting with AI and technological assessments?
• What are the implications of passively collecting data to generate insights on strengths, areas for development?

Chapters

(00:03) Harnessing AI for Leadership Assessment

(05:52) Navigating AI in Leadership Development

(15:45) Ethical Considerations in AI Assessments

(28:21) The Future of AI in Leadership

Contact Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-verboven-b85a691/

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: hello@disruptivehr.com

Storytelling to support leadership communications has been around for a while now. And whilst it’s often seen as an effective way of getting our message across, what does it really mean to be a great storyteller - and how does it work on a practical level in a business? It could be that you are trying to help your leaders communicate the strategic priorities for the coming year or you want your own HR comms to have more impact. In this episode we’re going to really break it down for you and to do that Lucy has enlisted the support of someone who has straddled the world of leadership and engagement - and actual proper storytelling as a published author - Simon Wright.

This episode of HR Disrupted looks at how storytelling can change the way we communicate at work, especially in HR and leadership. It explores how stories go beyond facts and figures to create emotional connection, build trust, and help people really understand and care about what’s being said. Instead of treating storytelling as something fluffy or ‘extra’, the episode shows how it can be a powerful tool for getting messages to stick and for helping people feel part of something bigger.

The episode explores how storytelling isn’t just for creative types, it’s something anyone can use to make their communication more meaningful. Whether you’re explaining a new strategy or trying to build team connections, telling a story helps people understand not just what you’re doing, but why it matters. It looks at how good storytelling often starts with vulnerability and honesty and shares tips to bring storytelling into everyday communication without it feeling forced or awkward. HR and leaders need to see storytelling not as a ‘nice to have’, but as a core part of how we inspire, influence and build stronger, more connected workplaces.

Discover Simon Wright’s novels - The Red Scarf Series - and contact him at https://simonwrightbooks.com/

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: hello@disruptivehr.com