• What’s being most read by people 
• Featured discussions selected by our moderator 
• The latest discussions to be added 
• The most tagged topics this week. Learn more about tagging your posts 
• Browsing all discussions or looking through the subject area boards 
• Searching by topic , subject area or date

You can only take advantage of all the features available if you log in as a member. For example Communities Search, takes you to current discussions and the archive. And Advanced search lets you narrow your search to specific dates.

As a logged in member, you can contribute to any discussion or start your own. CIPD message boards are fully moderated.

Contacting other members

You can also contact CIPD Members by selecting 'Contact' from under their name on a discussion. You need to update your Profile/Biography to get email. This is a great way to network with fellow members and develop discussions and ideas on a one-to-one basis, without having to reveal your personal email details.

And before you start making your contribution please read our guidelines

Use of these Communities is subject to our site Terms and Conditions and to the CIPD Code of Professional Conduct. Please read our Disclaimer before getting started

Starting a new discussion

You have to be a registered CIPD member and be logged in to start a new discussion. Start a new discussion from the Communities home page, by clicking on Start your discussion and then: 

1. Select the subject area for your new discussion from the dropdown menu and click Start 
2. Type a title for your discussion or question in the Title box 
3. Write your posting in the text box 
4. If you have an attachment (eg, word document or image) you can upload it by clicking the Add attachment button 
5. It’s very useful to add tags (words and phrases describing your content) to your posting using the Add tags to your post link. This helps others find your discussion and adds further context to your posting. More about tags 
6. Finally Preview your post and make any changes by clicking the Edit button, then click Post to publish your new discussion

Keeping an eye on your discussion

We can alert you when anyone posts a comment against your discussion by clicking the Email me when replies posted button. If there are no replies posted within a month, it will be taken down. You’re welcome to start a similar discussion again. 

Contributing to an existing discussion 

1. Go to the text box at the end of the discussion 
2. Follow steps 3-6 above (Starting a new discussion) 

Tips

If you want to post a long piece, it’s a good idea to write it in Word or another document format and copy and paste it in.

If you’re adding an attachment make sure you have permission to publish it and are not in breach of any copyright. We plan to build up a bank of policies that you can refer to. 

Getting the most out of your discussions 

1. It may be that simply posting something under your own name may breach confidentiality. Under these circumstances you can email what you want to say to our Moderator at communities@cipd.co.uk and ask for it to be posted anonymously. 
2. If anything you read is unclear or open to interpretation, you can always ask for more information. Ask contributors to give more details or to develop their points. 
3. If you make it clear what kind of answer you’re after, your fellow professionals will help you. For instance, tell them what you know and what your views are on the issue, to clarify where you need advice. 
4. When you want help devising a policy, ask about the principles and reasons that should inform it, as well as asking for copies of other members' own policies. 
5. Encourage friends and colleagues to take part if they need help on an issue, or if you think they might be able to help someone else. 
6. Recognise and thank other members for their contributions. It's always satisfying to know that your input has helped.

What do you think of our Communities?

Email your feedback to communities@cipd.co.uk.

Didn’t find what you were looking for?

If you have a specific technical query or problem that we’ve not been able to answer above, email communities@cipd.co.uk.

It may help to include the web address

If your feedback or query relates to a specific discussion, please paste the web page address (from the Address bar at the top of your web browser) into your email.