We’ll also be rounding up some recent HR news, including new lunchtime regulations at Google and the employees who won’t be leaving the office during London 2012. Enjoy.

While Blackbird agrees that constructive criticism can be beneficial, does this US employer go one step (or bullet-point) too far with this excessive rejection letter?

The 3000 word email, written by Shea Gunther, was sent out to respondents to an ad he placed on Craigslist for staff writing jobs at his new clean tech website. Gunther ‘summarises’, in no less than 42 bullet-points, his dos and don’ts for writing job applications. Blackbird is amused by the contradiction in point #10 which reads, ‘Do keep it short and sweet.’

Other condescending - albeit slightly amusing - highlights include, ‘Do capitalize and use punctuation. a job email int a txt mssg 2 ur bff’ and ‘Don’t describe yourself as zany, crazy or wild. I don’t imagine it’s high on the list of many companies, this side of birthday clown agencies.’

Of course, some would argue that even this response is better than no feedback at all. However, in ‘Bcc-ing’ 900 applicants, Blackbird wonders if Gunther has damaged the reputation of his employer, and in turn, consumer brand? Are recipients of this rather condescending address likely to speak positively about the company in future?

As always, share your comments.

Robert Newham, Digital Strategy Director at Blackbridge, presented The Digital Workplace to The Charities HR Network at Unicef’s London offices last week. Believing the intranet (as it currently exists) is a broken concept, Robert detailed how we must develop new and meaningful ways to reach out to people and offer easy to use, modern tools to aid conversation.

Blackbird agrees that the Digital Workplace is a great idea. Organisational communications should be made available anywhere, irrespective of location, on any device. They should also be engaging, interesting and easily understood. Intranet, email, messaging, video and applications - the entire digital working environment in one resource.

The Digital Workplace concept focuses on three core areas: communication of information - the content of the old intranet is delivered in a new way as an information feed; community and collaboration - the place where conversations can happen and ideas can be shared and developed; services and applications - digital applications and self service tools streamlined and brought together in a single interface.

For more of these innovative ideas and thinking from Blackbridge, get in touch with robert@blackbridge.co.uk.

Blackbird is proud to report that the clever folk at Blackbridge have done it again, delivering a successful project for Shepherds Bush Housing Group.

Champions of inclusion and diversity, the Group wanted to create a communications platform which spoke to their younger demographic, whilst incorporating their mission and vision.

Working in partnership with the Group, Blackbridge created an innovative internal social network which allowed the Group’s people to share stories relating to customer service. Blackbridge also produced an internal launch video for the initiative.

Results and feedback have been extremely positive so far. 70% of staff at the Group are using the site everyday. Awareness of their activity has never been higher and it’s also encouraged employees to talk to each other face to face.

Check out the case study video here.

As businesses plan continuity strategies for the London 2012 Olympics, Blackbird hears tell of companies ensuring that their employees are not subjected to nightmare commutes… by making them never leave the office.

Co-location services provider Interxion were one of the first companies to install a number of sleeping pods in their London data centres. The “spacious” pods, resembling Japanese capsule hotels, offer what Wired magazine has described as ‘the special kind of burrowing thrills you can only usually get from an MRI’.

At least those lucky enough to have built-in entertainment facilities will be able to catch-up on the beach volleyball highlights from the safety and comfort of their pod.

One step too far, or an effective way to guarantee resilient client and customer service during the games?

Journalist Samantha Brick has recently caused controversy by suggesting that ‘good looks’ have put her at a disadvantage throughout her career.

She bemoans the plight of attractive women in the workplace and suggests they will be shunned by jealous female HR workers should they include a photograph with their CV.

Blackbird very much doubts there is any truth to this, for candidates of either gender. But perhaps one day companies may consider the anonymous model used in Belgium, where CVs do not even include an applicant’s name.

The offices of Google have long been renowned for their abundant offerings of free food and cafeteria facilities.

However, Blackbird hears that the company’s HR teams are making plans to cut the calories. Jennifer Kurkoski of Google’s People Analytics division (their data-driven HR unit) explained the initiative. ‘When employees are healthy, they’re happy. When they’re happy, they’re innovative.’

Google have ‘rolled-out’ the strategy in the lunchroom. The first station in the cafeteria is now the salad bar and a sign informs workers that bigger plates mean bigger portions - genius.

In addition, sweets - originally stored in transparent dispensers - are now kept in opaque containers by way of reducing temptation. In terms of results, Google has reported a 9% drop in M&M consumption in one week.