HR OLYMPICS SPECIAL


It’s now time to focus on Olympics opportunity


ith Beijing, it is the media and artistic crackdown post- Olympics that people remember. In Athens, it is the debt of €50,000


for every Greek household, while in Sydney they are “still paying the price”, says the former chief planner. While many a city has successfully hosted the Games, the aftermath has often proved a disaster. Legacy is the poisoned chalice of an Olympiad. All potential hosts stress the legacy in their costly pitches and it is often a winning argument when it comes to choosing the successful one. But


I believe as this is a whole, the


greatest example of Olympic spin, designed to get buy-in from the population


generally failing to materialise. London is no different in its aspiration. According to London 2012: “The Games will


leave a


key legacy of national benefits, in culture,


sport, volunteering,


business and tourism.” But will it be the one to buck the trend and leave this lasting legacy? As


this Olympics legacy, but


reasons to be so. Business is worried London will come to a standstill at a time when keeping the economy moving, literally, is vital. Staff absence, difficulty in forecasting demand for products, congestion and problems getting into work – all could be serious issues over the summer.


But now it’s time to stop whinging and focus on the opportunities the Olympics afford. This is a great chance to showcase the UK as a place for investment.


Our diversity programmes are world class, our


regarded. True,


flexible workforce highly our


customer


service wouldn’t get a medal at this stage, but let’s show the world that, with training, engagement and a real value placed on service, we can be up there with the best. The


greatest Olympic legacy


can occur in the area of people. Yes, it’s great to have new facilities, and it’s even better to be cheering on the cream of UK sportsmen and women. But get the people bit right and the UK will not


look back. So employers should heed Lloyds


Special


demonstrates, there is already an infrastructure improvements services


bringing to


forward. And what of the country?


about the with


on London transport benefits


East


London. But many of these were planned anyway;


they have just been brought about


longer-term rest


Similarly, there has been much debate the


economic


benefits, in particular with regards to the construction of facilities. Jobs for British workers, anyone? And what about the future of the venues? Now there’s a bid, now there’s not.


It is all too easy to be cynical about the Olympics and there are good


hrmagazine.co.uk


Banking Group’s HR director of operations Sally Jones-Evans when she says: “Don’t be the one who gets to September and realises you have missed the chance the Olympics could bring.”


For you will only get out what you put in. Siân Harrington, editor sian.harrington@markallengroup.com CONTENTS:


04 Overview: PR fiasco or major opportunity?


08 At your peak: Dame Kelly drives performance


10 Profile: McDonald’s as ‘games maker’


14 Engagement: How to keep staff onside


18 Transport: Will we even get to work?


22 Diversity: At the heart of Olympic hiring


26 Legacy: Can it be achieved?


Supplement editor David Woods


020 7501 6776 Sub-editor


Peter Bradley Design


Laura Hawkins


Associate publisher Anna Patrickson


Senior sales executive Paul Barron


Email first.surname@ markallengroup.com


HR March 2012 3


Ben Tallon


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