Extending a Probation Period
Probation periods allow employers the opportunity to gauge whether or not they have the right person for a role. In practice, however, the initial probation period may not prove to be long enough for the manager to formally sign off the new employee as passing their probation, perhaps due to performance issues. Extending the probation […]
Relocation Policy (What to Include?)
Handled badly, a workplace relocation has the potential to impact morale and productivity, and key personnel may opt to leave the company, creating the additional expense of hiring and training new employees. A clear and comprehensive relocation policy is a powerful tool for ensuring both employers and employees understand their rights and responsibilities in respect […]
DBS Check Renewal Employer Guide
Having recruited a new member of staff, and undertaken the relevant DBS checks before taking them on, many employers will want to renew this check at regular intervals. In this way, you can ensure that any existing employee continues to meet the required standards, and hasn’t for example, been convicted a criminal record in the […]
4 Day Work Week Pros & Cons
In this guide for employers, we examine the pros and cons of shifting to a four-day working week, and consider the practical implications for employers of implementing such a change. UK 4 Day Work Week pilot Results from the nationwide four-day working week pilot scheme, released in February 2023, have presented an overwhelmingly […]
Undermined at Work? Advice for Managers
Undermining behaviour is any action intended to make another person feel less significant than oneself, such as gossip, passive-aggressive remarks, or even direct criticism. In some cases, undermining management can constitute insubordination, which may result in a disciplinary procedure being pursued. For managers, it is vital to recognise these behaviours and learn how to deal […]
Split Shifts: Guide for Employers
Adopting split shifts in the workplace can provide a business with many benefits, not least in helping to meet its daily operational needs and optimising productivity, provided the rules relating to minimum breaks and maximum working hours are being met. In this guide for employers, we set out how split shifts work in practice and […]
Shift Patterns At Work
At one time, shift-working was mainly a feature of essential services which needed to run around the clock, such as health, transport and communications. But the demands of continuous production and increasing customer expectations of unlimited access to services means that workers in a growing number of sectors and occupations are working shifts. Added to […]
5 Steps to Reduce Absenteeism at Work
Employee absenteeism costs UK employers billions of pounds each year in lost working days, temporary replacement staff and sick pay. In this guide, we look at strategies and approaches employers can take to reduce absenteeism due to illness, by safeguarding workforce wellbeing and creating a positive and productive workplace culture. A proactive approach to reducing absenteeism […]
Coaching & Mentoring: Differences Explained
Investing in and supporting the personal and professional development of your people is shown to be beneficial to the organisation as a whole. Coaching and mentoring, for example, offer ways to develop and support for your staff, both in the short and long-term, and so ensuring you have the necessary skills to enable the organisation’s […]
Occupational Sick Pay (HR Guide)
Managing occupational sick pay can often be complicated. The following guide for employers looks at the rules on occupational sick pay – including entitlement, rates and duration – and how this differs to statutory sick pay. We also look at what happens when sick pay comes to an end, and how both long-term and short-term […]