Diana Barea

During the pandemic, HR leaders took centre stage. The CHRO and HR function proved their strategic clout by ensuring that: their people were safe and able to work, that staff had the tools to be productive, and that the business had the relevant skills to deliver against its strategy – albeit during a turbulent time. Despite this, at present only three FTSE 100 companies have HR professionals on their main board. Will that tide begin to turn?

A colleague of mine was considering whether to take three months of parental leave following his baby son’s arrival. If he achieved the promotion he was aiming for, he was committed to taking the time but felt it would be career suicide if not. He believed he would be perceived as less committed to his company by putting his family’s needs first at this stage.