Even if you’re head honcho of a company, that doesn’t mean your position is secure forever.
Just ask embattled Prime Minister Theresa May, who narrowly survived a vote of no confidence in mid-December . . . and isn’t off the hook yet.
So how do HR professionals protect senior management positions and stabilise companies through difficult times?
Well, let’s look at that no confidence vote first.
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This can occur in an organisation when a board has appointed someone in a directorial or influential role, such as CEO, but their leader just doesn’t quite cut the mustard.
Such votes can be a major HR headache – regardless of the outcome, they can plunge a company into turmoil.
That’s why pre-emptive action is so important.
HR managers and HR assistants are responsible for ensuring everyone in an organisation performs at their best – and is qualified and trained to do so.
So before getting anywhere near to a vote of no confidence, alternative measures such as further training, additional staffing support, third-party help or more resources or finances may be explored.
Managers in the HR sector are also tasked with the difficult but necessary job of conflict resolution.
Where grievances do arise between colleagues or bosses and employees, it falls to these HR heroes to step in and act as negotiator and mediator.
In an ideal world, this means the potential for conflict and fall-out is quickly defused and everyone returns to their desks happy and ready to press on with their work.
Alas, the world is not ideal and many famous world leaders have been subject to votes of no confidence throughout history – some more deserving than others.
Mussolini
The Italian dictator was dramatically ousted from power in 1943 following a vote of no confidence by members of his own government.
He ignored the outcome and turned up for work as normal the next day – only to be summoned by the King, sacked (again) then arrested.
Mariano Rajoy
In a premiership plagued by financial crises, an ongoing separatist movement and corruption scandals, Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy was axed from power following a vote of no confidence in June last year. He’d previously survived a vote in 2017.
James Callaghan
In 1979 Prime Minister Callaghan was defeated by just one vote in a confidence measure brought by Margaret Thatcher, leader of the opposition. The vote forced a General Election, won by the Conservatives. This is the last time a British government lost such a vote.
If you’re an HR superstar with skills for conflict resolution, check out the latest HR/Training/Recruitment roles on s1jobs now.