Work WhatsApp Group: Advice for Employers
The use of work WhatsApp groups has grown exponentially in recent years, particularly since the proliferation of remote and hybrid working. As a mobile messaging app, WhatsApp offers teams an easy way to stay in touch, network and share ideas. It also allows employees to message each other discreetly, often without employers being aware. But […]
How to Deal with Hiring Regret
Every company, regardless of its size, industry or sector, depends on its employees to achieve its objectives, which means maintaining a productive workforce and hiring skilled talent that adds value to the team. With this in mind, making a bad hire can have serious implications, as the time and expense taken to recruit and onboard […]
Discounting Disability-Related Sickness Absence
When an employee takes too much time off sick, you would usually follow your organisation’s disciplinary procedure, issuing warnings and, if attendance doesn’t improve, potentially dismissing them for incapacity. But while ill-health incapacity is potentially a fair reason for dismissal, employers must also ensure they are not unlawfully discriminating against someone on the grounds of […]
How to Measure Performance
Effective performance measurement helps companies identify their strengths and weaknesses, top high performers, areas for improvement, and helps set benchmarks with historical data. Gaining a competitive advantage by achieving a certain level of business performance is the primary prerequisite for the successful operation of a company in the long term in today’s highly competitive environment. […]
Discretionary Bonus Guide for Employers
A discretionary bonus is one of the types of bonuses that might be awarded by an employer. Some employers award discretionary bonuses to recognise an employee’s performance, as a thank you for referrals or to avoid the risk of having to recalculate any overtime compensation at the end of the year. Many employers give their […]
Do You Need a Period Policy at Work?
There is undoubtedly a general stigma in the workplace surrounding periods and menstrual health. For employees, talking to their manager or employer about period issues can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. Many may also be concerned about looking ‘weak’ or unreliable if they take time off work because of their period. For those women that struggle on […]
Confidentiality in the Workplace
It’s an unfortunate reality for business owners that employees are a potential source of commercial risk. While it’s rare that a breach of confidentiality at work will occur intentionally, even an honest mistake can result in severe consequences. This makes it business-critical to take certain measures to protect your commercial interests, such as using confidentiality […]
Mobile Phone Policy At Work
Mobile phones at work can easily become an unwanted distraction and have a negative impact on productivity. When employees are spending too much time on their device, it’s likely they’re wasting their working hours and creating other issues, such as underperforming and encouraging others to use their phones during work too. But employers cannot ignore […]
Annual Leave Carry Over: Employers’ Guide
Workers in the UK are generally entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid annual leave each year. But what happens if someone doesn’t take their full statutory entitlement within the year? In this guide, we explain the annual leave carry over rules and the impact of changes to the rules following the pandemic. Carrying over […]
Practical Guide to Employee Relations
Effective employee relations benefit organisational culture, morale and performance. Employee relations are the relationships between employers and employees. These relationships determine how you handle certain situations, for example, issues with pay and benefits, managing conflict and providing a healthy work-life balance. Organisations which effectively manage staff relations are more likely to achieve employee engagement, which […]