Should you snoop on your employees?

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that employers can justify reading  their workers’ online private messages. An engineer in Romania asked the judges to rule that his employer had breached his right to confidential correspondence, but it was ultimately decided that the individual had broken the terms of his employment by sending messages on company time. Interesting, …

Statutory rates of pay 2016

The statutory rates of maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental pay and sick pay normally increase each April in line with the consumer price index.  However, the Government has announced that there will be no increase in 2016 due to negative inflation. The rate of statutory maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay will, therefore, remain at £139.58 per week (or …

Three ways to rocket your team’s performance in 2016

So when you take a look back at how your business performed in 2015, are you satisfied with what was achieved?  A little reflection is always useful, but now’s the time to start thinking about the future.  You no doubt have big plans for the next 12 months.  You’ve got targets to meet and goals to smash, and if you …

An employers’ guide to strategically managing employee wellbeing

If you take a look around at business priorities in January, you’re likely to find that many leaders are paying lip service to improving employee wellbeing. It’s fairly easy to roll out some quick wins, like introducing healthier options in the canteen, and organising lunchtime walks, and it’s true that these things can be successful.  But if you want to …

Top HR considerations for business owners in January

Now that the dust has settled on the new year, it’s time for many leaders to get back to business and start creating their 2016 success story.  You’ve hopefully been able to spend some time relaxing over the festive period, so you’re ready to face your new challenges with excitement. Whether you were planning to ease yourself in gently, or …

Three difficult questions you need to ask yourself before 2016

  By now, it’s highly likely that you’ll have asked yourself the big, important, and very obvious questions about how your business measured up during 2015.  You’ll know how much you increased your turnover, how many new staff you recruited, and what your goals are moving forward. Planning and reflection sessions can be hugely useful, but sometimes, it can be …

All the answers you need to your Christmas HR questions

While most people begin to look forward to a little rest and recuperation over the Christmas period, it’s around about now that managers and business owners start to think about the nitty gritty, practical issues that they’ll have to contend with to keep their workforce engaged, motivated and problem-free. It’s likely that you’ve got some questions about how you should …

Three signs your business isn’t ready for the Christmas rush

The baubles and oversized biscuit tins are filling up the stores.  Parents across the land are starting to encourage good behaviour by reminding their kids that Father Christmas is paying close attention.  According to research by VoucherCodes.co.uk, 16% of people had begun their shopping by the end of last month.  Christmas is coming, and there’s nothing that anyone can do …

Do homeworkers have pointless lives?

An article published by Financial Times this month suggested homeworkers miss out on the important feeling that their lives and work have purpose.  Unsurprisingly, the piece has caused a stir amongst the self-employed and business owners alike. If you keep up to date with management trends and the latest strategies for creating a productive and motivated workforce, you’ll know that …