Jonny Gifford

BA, MA, Academic MCIPD, Fellow CEBMa

Principal Research Fellow

jonny.gifford@emploment-studies.co.uk

Jonny has been conducting applied research in people management, organisations and HR for over 20 years. His research interests include job quality or ‘good work’, behaviour and change within organisations, and what works in driving employee performance and wellbeing.

Jonny started his research career as a Research Officer then Research Fellow at IES, then spent 16 years away from the institute before rejoining in 2024. In the intervening years, Jonny held research posts at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Roffey Park Institute and Westminster Business School.

Most recently, Jonny led the research team at the CIPD. Over more than a decade, he established various key programmes of work, including the CIPD’s library of evidence reviews and other work to develop an evidence-based profession; CIPD’s knowledge exchange with academic research, including through its Applied Research Conference; and the CIPD’s UK Working Lives survey, published as the Good Work Index.

Jonny is an Academic Member of the CIPD, a Fellow of the Center for Evidence-Based Management (CEBMa), Associate Editor at the Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance (JOEPP), and a PhD candidate at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. His doctoral research focuses on the interactions and balance between work autonomy and managerial control. He is also a qualified mediator.

Education

2003	Warwick University	MA Social Research and Comparative Labour Studies
1998	Sussex University	BA Social Anthropology

Career

2018	Visiting Fellow	Westminster Business School, University of Westminster
2012-2024	Research Advisor, Senior Research Advisor, Interim Head of Research	Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
2008-2012	Senior Researcher, Principal Researcher	Roffey Park Institute
2004–2008	Research Officer, Research Fellow	Institute for Employment Studies
1998–2002	Teacher of English as a foreign language	Paris, Barcelona, Seville and UK

Publications

Applied research:

BOSLEY, A. & GIFFORD, J. 2023. Effective people managers: An evidence review. Practice summary and recommendations. . London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

CIOCA, I. & GIFFORD, J. 2022a. Performance feedback: an evidence review. Practice summary and recommendations. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

CIOCA, I. & GIFFORD, J. 2022b. Recruiting young people facing disadvantage: an evidence review. Practice summary and recommendations. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

CIOCA, I. & GIFFORD, J. 2022c. Retaining disadvantaged young people in work: an evidence review. Practice summary and recommendations. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

COTTON, C., GIFFORD, J. & YOUNG, J. 2022. Incentives and recognition: an evidence review. Practice summary and recommendations. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

DENVIR, A., BROUGHTON, A., GIFFORD, J. & HILL, D. 2007. The Experiences of Sexual Orientation and Religion or Belief Discrimination Employment Tribunal Claimants. London: Acas.

GIFFORD, J. 2007. The Changing HR Function – survey report. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

GIFFORD, J. 2011. The fair and inclusive journeys of leading employers. Singapore: Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices.

GIFFORD, J. 2013. Social technology, social business? London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

GIFFORD, J. 2014a. Our minds at work: developing the behavioural science of HR. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

GIFFORD, J. 2014b. Putting social media to work: Lessons from employers. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

GIFFORD, J. 2015. Getting under the skin of workplace conflict: Tracing the experiences of employees. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

GIFFORD, J. 2016a. Could do better? Assessing what works in performance management. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

GIFFORD, J. 2016b. In search of the best available evidence. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

GIFFORD, J., BARENDS, E. & YOUNG, J. 2023a. Building an evidence-based people profession. Available from: https://www.cipd.org/uk/views-and-insights/thought-leadership/insight/evidence-based-profession/.

GIFFORD, J., BARENDS, E. & YOUNG, J. 2023b. Evidence-based HR: Make better decisions and step up your influence. Guide. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

GIFFORD, J., BOURY, D., FINNEY, L., GARROW, V., HATCHER, C., MEREDITH, M. & RANN, R. 2012. What makes change successful in the NHS? . Newbury: NHS South of England.

GIFFORD, J., CARTA, E. & COX, A. 2008. Acas Workplace Training Impact Survey 2008. London: Acas.

GIFFORD, J., COTTON, C. & YOUNG, J. 2021a. Financial wellbeing: an evidence review. Practice summary and guidance. . London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

GIFFORD, J. & FINNEY, L. 2011. The Expert as Leader. Horsham: Roffey Park Institute.

GIFFORD, J., FINNEY, L. & BOURY, D. 2010a. Hearing our people’s voices: employee engagement in Royal Mail. London: Royal Mail Group.

GIFFORD, J., FINNEY, L., HENNESSY, J. & VARNEY, S. 2010b. The Human Voice of Employee Engagement: Understanding what lies beneath the surveys. Horsham: Roffey Park Institute.

GIFFORD, J., GREEN, M., BARENDS, E., JANSSEN, B., CAPEZIO, A. & NGO, N. 2019a. Rotten Apples, Bad Barrels and Sticky Situations: An evidence review of unethical workplace behaviour. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

GIFFORD, J., GREEN, M., YOUNG, J. & URWIN, P. 2019b. Diversity Management that Works: an evidence-based view. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

GIFFORD, J., HENNESSY, J., BOURY, D. & SINCLAIR, A. 2009. The Management Agenda 2009. Horsham: Roffey Park Institute.

GIFFORD, J. & HOUGHTON, E. 2019. People and machines: from hype to reality. Research report. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

GIFFORD, J., HOUGHTON, E., MARTORANA, S. & ZHELTOUKHOVA, K. 2016. The School for Health and Care Radicals: What impact has it had? Coventry: NHS England.

GIFFORD, J., MAXWELL, G. & YOUNG, J. 2021b. Mental wellbeing and digital work: an evidence review. Evidence Summary. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

GIFFORD, J., NEATHEY, F. & LOUKAS, G. 2005. Employee Involvement: Information, Consultation and Discretion. Brighton: Institute for Employment Studies.

GIFFORD, J. & SARKAR, S. 2018. UK Working Lives: 2018 survey report. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

GIFFORD, J. & SPRINGETT, N. 2010. Review of the National Senior Careers Advisory Service (NSCAS). London: National Policing Improvement Agency.

GIFFORD, J., URWIN, P. & CERQUA, A. 2017. Strengths-based performance conversations: an organisational field trial. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

GIFFORD, J. & WIETRAK, E. 2022a. Organisational culture and climate: an evidence review. Practice summary and recommendations. Londond: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

GIFFORD, J. & WIETRAK, E. 2022b. People performance: an evidence review. Practice summary and recommendations. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

GIFFORD, J. & YOUNG, J. 2021a. Employee Engagement: Definitions, Measures and Outcomes. . London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

GIFFORD, J. & YOUNG, J. 2021b. Employee resilience: an evidence review. Evidence Summary. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

GREEN, M., BOND, H., MILLER, J. & GIFFORD, J. 2018. Diversity and inclusion at work: facing up to the business case. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

HIRSH, W., CARTER, A., GIFFORD, J., STREBLER, M. & BALDWIN, S. 2008. What Customers Want From HR. Brighton Institute for Employment Studies.

LUCY, D., MASON, B., SINCLAIR, A., BOSLEY, A. & GIFFORD, J. 2023. Fair selection: An evidence review. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

ROBINSON, D. & GIFFORD, J. (eds.) 2014. The Future of Engagement: Thought Piece Collection, Brighton: Institute for Employment Studies.

WHEATLEY, D. & GIFFORD, J. 2019. UK Working Lives: survey report 2019. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

WIETRAK, E., CIOCA, I. & GIFFORD, J. 2019. Multisource feedback and work performance. Title registration for a systematic review. Oslo: Campbell Collaboration.

WIETRAK, E. & GIFFORD, J. 2022. Knowledge work performance: An evidence review. Practice summary and recommendations  London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

WIETRAK, E. & GIFFORD, J. 2024. Trust and psychological safety: An evidence review. Practice summary and recommendations. . London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

WILLIAMS, M., ZHOU, Y., ZOU, M. & GIFFORD, J. 2020. CIPD Good Work Index 2020: UK Working Lives Survey. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

YOUNG, J. & GIFFORD, J. 2021. Employee Engagement: an evidence review. . London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

YOUNG, J. & GIFFORD, J. 2022. Bullying and incivility at work: an evidence review. Practice summary and recommendations. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

YOUNG, J. & GIFFORD, J. 2023a. High-performing teams: An evidence review. Practice summary and guidance. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

YOUNG, J. & GIFFORD, J. 2023b. Productive meetings: An evidence review. Practice summary and recommendations. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

YOUNG, J., GIFFORD, J. & LANCASTER, A. 2021. Effective virtual classrooms: an evidence review. . London: Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development.

Peer-reviewed papers:

ANDERSON, V., GIFFORD, J. & WILDMAN, J. 2020. An evaluation of social learning and learner outcomes in a massive open online course (MOOC): a healthcare sector case study. Human Resource Development International, 23, 208-237.

GIFFORD, J. 2022. Remote working: unprecedented increase and a developing research agenda. Human Resource Development International, 25, 105–113.

GIFFORD, J., GOULD, M., LATREILLE, P. & URWIN, P. 2016. Workplace Conflict: Who, Where, When and Why? . In: SAUNDRY, R., LATREILLE, P. & ASHMAN, I. (eds.) Reframing Resolution: Innovation and Change in the Management of Workplace Conflict. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

GIFFORD, J. & YOUNG, J. 2021. Employee Engagement: drivers, measures and outcomes. Journal of Total Rewards, 30, 35-52.

WANG, S., KAMERĀDE, D., BESSA, I., BURCHELL, B., GIFFORD, J., GREEN, M. & RUBERY, J. 2022. The Impact of Reduced Working Hours and Furlough Policies on Workers’ Mental Health at the Onset of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study. Journal of Social Policy, 1-25.

WILLIAMS, M., GIFFORD, J. & ZHOU, Y. 2022. Social stratification in meaningful work: Occupational class disparities in the United Kingdom. The British Journal of Sociology, 73, 536–553.