The new era of HR: digital transformation

Out of office: How to prepare for holiday leave this summer

With summer just around the corner, businesses face the inevitable yearly challenge of balancing an influx of annual leave requests with keeping the company running at full capacity. Absence management is a vital, yet often overlooked part of running a business – get it wrong and the impact of summer holidays can last all year round.

Payroll of the future: personalised technology

A recent ‘Workplace of the Future’ survey of 250 industry professionals revealed that 88% of CFOs and CHROs expect an increase in payroll technology investment by 2025. Why? The world of work is changing rapidly and to prepare for the workforce of the future, businesses must start adapting, quickly.

Strategic data: unlocking HR's secret weapon

Businesses are failing to recognise the importance of data managed by HR teams. Equally HR professionals are not yet skilled enough in data to harness its power and help secure their future strategic function within an organisation. Something has to change.

A wake-up call from the future

Everyone remembers the technology from their youth, in my case the 80’s and 90’s. I grew up with mobile phones becoming a must have commodity, with the accompanying generation of speed texters. I also grew up with the emergence of the first affordable home PC, allowing me and my friends the opportunity to explore that new ‘thing’ called the internet.

The Living Wage: Engagement, Efficiency and Empowerment

I just don’t understand why organisations do not see the Living Wage, and I mean the Living Wage, NOT the government’s rebranded minimum wage (National Living Wage), as an *opportunity*. This is an opportunity to increase “engagement”, “efficiency” and to “empower” employees. Yet far too many organisations just see it as yet another cost they have to accommodate.

Using Analytics and AI to Build a Better HR Strategy

More than anything, this year’s data highlights the need for a new and more agile approach to HR. Conservative strategies simply aren’t going to cut it going forwards, because by the time the ink is dry, things will have moved on. Increasing business agility is now the #2 business driver for 86% of HR professionals, second only to increasing performance and profitability.

Where to start when implementing a T&A system - Part 1

This article covers all aspects of T&A functionality ranging from how to create effective workload plans, building rosters, collecting and validating variable time information, implementing business and legislative validation, and finally ensuring correct payments to employees by integrating with an industry-leading payroll solution.

Why Payroll should embrace disruptive technology

‘Disruptive’ technology is technology that replaces old ways of doing things. For example, the smartphone has revolutionised the way we interact with friends, family, institutions & media. When SD Worx launched online payslips in 1999 this was met with concern around security & access. Fast-forward to 2018, and no credible provider is without a mobile payslip. In short the smartphone has disrupted the market and most people have moved on from paper.

Pick n Mix - How to reward your employees! Part 2

How do UK businesses tend to approach reward currently? Is there a shift in approach and if so, what is causing this?

Pick n Mix - How to reward your employees! Part 1

How do UK businesses tend to approach reward currently? Is there a shift in approach and if so, what is causing this?

Does a rigid payroll cycle meet the needs of a flexible workforce in promoting Financial Wellbeing

Financial wellness is a hot topic across all worker types and generations. Employees are demanding more control, greater flexibility and better access to their finances. How can employers better support their employees in this regard?

How to get more done in 12 weeks than in a whole year

Have you ever felt that you and your team could achieve more, be more productive and efficient at work, but every time you started, you get caught up in the detail and lose that laser-sharp focus? Even from a personal perspective, you want to explore a new health-kick, but life just keeps getting in the way? Well this blog for you...

2018 is all about Digitising your HR Function

Autonomous Vehicles And Smart Warehouses Are So Last Year – 2018 Is All About Digitising Your HR Function.

Hear from our CEO Steven Van Hoorebeke during an interview with The Business Debate.

SD Worx European Conference: Driving Collaboration in the HR and Payroll Industry

On 6^th February at Hilton Park Lane in London, we joined HR and payroll professionals from across the globe for the SD Worx European Conference 2018. With the "Future of Collaboration: HR leading the way" theme, this one-of-a-kind event played host to industry-leading experts, practitioners and organisations.

Time, technology and talent: what five generations want from today’s workplace

Millennials: entitled, lazy job hoppers. Gen X: cynical and poor team players. Baby Boomers: out of touch, independent, money-driven workaholics. And what about the iGen: those house-bound, tech-obsessed kids who were born with a smartphone in their hand? These stereotypes are bandied around regularly, but is there really any truth in them? And do different generations expect to be treated differently by their employers?

Payroll Services Alliance attends SD Worx European Conference 2018

On Tuesday 6^th February, at Hilton Park Lane in London, we were delighted to join our partner SD Worx at its European Conference 2018.The theme for the day was close to our heart: ‘The Future of Collaboration’. This unique event played host to the industry's most influential experts, practitioners and businesses, attracting leading HR and payroll professionals from all over the world. 

A reflection of my first SD Worx European Conference

Adam Burgess, Business Development Manager at SD Worx UK & Ireland reflects on his first experience of an SD Worx conference. SD Worx hosted its 22nd Annual European Conference at the Park Lane Hilton in London in February 2018, with "The Future of Collaboration" as its 2018 theme.

Multigenerational workforce; are the differences a myth?

At the SD Worx European Conference, held at the Park Lane Hilton on Tuesday 6 February, a panel of six individuals from different generations gave their thoughts on age-based stereotypes, their personal values, career aspirations, the challenges they’ve encountered and what, if anything, can be done to address the differences between the age brackets within the workplace.  

Egos are not present within our business: A reflection of BKO 2018

As a Business Development Manager, I am often invited to most company events. Certainly anything client or prospect facing, and usually internal gatherings too. The SD Worx Business Kick Off 2018 was no different. Hosted in Manchester over the course of 2 days, we had a packed agenda and over a hundred colleagues in attendance, all ready to be WOW’ed.

Top 3 technology trends set to shake up HR and Payroll

Technology is the wheel that never stops turning. If Moore’s Law is to be believed, the sheer power of processing units will have doubled within two years – and that means plenty of new pieces of tech that could shake up HR and payroll processes. With that in mind, here are three technological trends that could significantly alter your industry.

Don’t believe the hype! Lip service with the ISO 27001 standard

As an employee who has the privilege of representing SD Worx to an awful lot of prospective clients, I get to hear what’s important to the market straight from key decision makers. ISO 27001, and data security in general, is one of the hottest topics in our market space.

The end of the road for the company car?

With the ever-increasing benefit costs for company cars for both the employee and the employer, and the new rules for Optional Remuneration Arrangements (OpRA), is a company car as cost-effective as it once was?

Christmas is coming to payroll teams

During Christmas and the associated holiday season, payroll managers experience some annual adjustments and events. Simon Parsons takes us through some of the festive benefits – and the associated tax implications.

New Year resolutions – preparing for the UK new tax year

UK payroll managers have a new year window of 3 months to prepare for the much older UK (and Isle of Man) new tax year start. With the setting of new year resolutions, it is a good time for payroll professionals in the UK to review their preparations on items which are not purely system change, but challenge process and rules within employment.

It's all a question of gender!

Read Simon Parson's latest blog where he answers the frequently asked question: 'Do you know if HMRC are likely to want us to include more options for employees that may be transitioning or don’t identify themselves with either gender?'

AI & HR: the impacts on the transactional processes in Human Resources

The terms artificial intelligence and robotics are often used synonymously but are quite different, albeit complementary, in their application. Robotics, in simple terms, means process automation - using technology to remove human intervention in some of the lower value add activities such as information keying, data analysis and performing complex calculations. Artificial intelligence is a somewhat different concept

The Path to Gold (Part 2 of 2)

Traditionally in a relay, the fastest team member goes last, with the second fastest giving the team a good start at the front. The other two run or swim in the middle section of the race. A smooth baton changeover is usually seen as essential to a good race – and is often where it is won or lost.

The path to gold: how better team building can put you in front

“Stand still and the rest of the world will walk past you,” said Marc Woods, speaking in February 2017. However, doing nothing would have been very easy for this particular speaker. When Marc was aged 17, he was diagnosed with bone cancer and subsequently had his left leg amputated below the knee.

Do you recruit for skills or character?

The payroll industry is fundamentally no different to any other in that success is typically delivered relevant to the quality of the individuals providing a service. As such, attracting and retaining the right people is critical. The job market has changed significantly over the last twenty years and the pace of change continues to be even faster. People displaying the right attitude and aptitude is appearing to be more important than those with just job skills and experience.

Millennials & HR Technology: How compatible are they with each other?

Two thousand and seventeen; another major year of technological advancements. Technology evolution has been at its fastest pace and for ‘Millennials’, technology has become an important part of their daily routine. For the purpose of this blog, we specifically refer to mobile technologies and pair ‘mobile’ with ‘cloud’ as we can hardly talk about mobile unless we associate it with its equally important partner, the cloud.

Why is customer success important? (Part 2 of 2)

In Part 1 of Peter's blog, he went into detail on the importance of customer success and the value of customer relationships, growth and retention. This week, Peter talks about strengthening these relationships by community-building.

Why is customer success important? (Part 1 of 2)

In 2015, our customer team delivered its growth target with 80% coming from strong NPS promoters; the vast majority of these opportunities were uncompetitive. It’s pretty clear that customer success should be of paramount importance to any organisation, but how does one go about ensuring this success?

HRevolution1

Surviving the next industrial revolution

Welcome to the fourth industrial revolution, hailed by many as an era of change in which industries and organisations adapt to rapidly developing smart technology that automate working processes which would previously have been undertaken by humans. But is this something to celebrate when we consider the potential upheaval or individuals and businesses?

HRSS 2017: A (not so) unanimous display of new technology

The 14th and 15th June marked the Human Resources Software Show (HRSS) hosted by CIPD. Whilst some of us were making our way to the beaches and ice cream parlours, HR professionals were flocking to Olympia in Kensington for updates in HR technology and ice-cold slush puppies!

How to make your one-to-ones more productive

Having a one-to-one with your team members is vital to ensuring they feel valued. They’ll have the chance to address their concerns to you and understand their place in the organisation a little more. Our Head of HR, Fiona McKee, shares top tips on how to coordinate a productive one-to-one meeting with your team members.

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Implementing a Payroll Solution

Provided you’ve done the right research, implementing a new payroll solution will streamline your business and help you save the long run. But put the wrong payroll solution in place, or implement it in the wrong way, and you could end up having a bumpy road as you learn new systems which seem to delay your payroll rather than make it more efficient.

Is a storm on the horizon?

In this blog, our Head of Solutions, Rick Norgate, looks at the pros and cons of the cloud to really understand its impact in the future of business and GDPR.

AI and Tech fears? HR to play a pivotal role

Nobody is safe, according to many scientists and technology gurus. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robots will soon to be able to do almost everything better than humans and will take over most jobs, including that of a doctor, lawyer and other professionals. Our Managing Director, Doug Sawers, shares his thoughts...

HR Tech World: Demos, discussions &… HARRI

HR Tech World Congress, the UK’s biggest annual HR technology show, took place at the ExCel in London last week with the theme of "The Future of Work". It was a fantastic two-day event attended by more than 3,500 exhibitors and delegates, with plenty of interesting speakers! Read our highlights from the event...

“Revolution in the Clouds” – Streamlining the Process of Delivering Software Upgrades

The global cloud-based payroll market is growing and will post an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 7% by 2020, according to analyst, Technavio, which finds that the benefit of “cloud over on-premises solutions is a key factor leading to the moderate growth of this market over the next four years.”

Technology in the workplace; what happens when it’s the focus?

Technology in the workplace is not a new phenomenon but a continuous drive towards automation which has been taking place to varying degrees since the rise of Manchester Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution. As such, there is much we can learn from history regarding the nature of work...

The Rise of the Robots

As we have seen in the news this week robotics and AI are quickly becoming a real thing in both business and the home. In the next few years we will see more and more of this type of technology taking on more and more of the administrative type roles in businesses around the world. In this blog, I share my thoughts on this trend and some of my very own personal experiences...

Vlog - HR Tech World Paris 2016

We were delighted to exhibit at HR Tech World 2016 in Paris. Check out our short video here to get a flavour of this successful event.

Prepared & Proactive? HR & its Role in the Future of Work

Never before has it been more vital for businesses to optimise the ideas, strengths and skills of their entire workforce – and of others within their industry and beyond. Is it time for HR to become more proactive? Hear Doug's thoughts, MD of SD Wrox UK & Ireland, on HR and its role in the future of work.

Why it’s time for payroll to get into analytics

Step back in time five years and you would struggle to move for articles and white papers on big data and analytics. These were the hottest topics in technology and the excitement surrounding them was at its peak. Last year, analyst Gartner dropped its hype cycle for Big Data, confirming in an article, entitled: The Demise of Big Data, Its Lessons and the State of Things to Come” that “we did it to move the big data discussion past hype and into practice”. Certainly when it comes to the HR arena, big data and the analytics tools that can be built on top of it are now in a maturing phase.

Navigating the Brexit challenge; HR Strategies to Stay in Control

For the world of business and more specifically HR, the Brexit vote has brought on a time of uncertainty. The momentous decision taken by the public on June 23 has left employers across the UK having to wrestle with a vast range of workforce-related issues.

Pet companionship & the workplace

In the UK alone, there are 11 million households with pets, equating to 57 million animals and a subsequent market where £4.6b is spent annually on pampering these additions to our family units. Despite this; pet owners do not feel confident to use their pet as the reason for a need to take unexpected absence when requesting time off or for needing flexible working. So is it not time for us to recognise the benefits that pet ownership has on both our employees and our businesses, and put stronger policies in place that continue to nurture and support our employees’ relationships with their pets?

Talent Management - Tell me I am wrong

I recently attended a seminar in London with over 100 Talent Managers from some of the biggest brands in the UK. During this excellent seminar we looked at Talent Management processes and explored whether we need to rethink our approach for the modern world. This session provoked me to reflect on all the performance and talent systems I have seen, designed and implemented over the years. After reflecting on this I think the answer is a resounding YES! We do need to change, but not in the way you might think. So please allow me a few minutes to explain...

The Impact of ‘Brexit’ – Is Your Business Prepared?

On 23rd June 2016, UK voters decided in favour of leaving the European Union (EU) in a landmark referendum. Since then it’s fair to say that UK politics has seen a fair amount of turmoil. One thing we can be sure of is that, whenever it does happen, the UK’s withdrawal from the EU will have implications for workers and employers. In this blog I want to focus on what this could mean...

5 Peaks; it’s all about the teamwork

On Thursday 23rd June 2016, a team of 25 SD Worx colleagues completed the epic challenge of walking the UK 5 Peaks challenge in 48 hours. In doing so, the team drove 2600km and walked 55km, raising a record breaking £30,100 in the process for The PayBack Foundation.

The potential Brexit effect on UK workforce

With the upcoming referendum later this month, which will decide whether Britain should leave or remain in the European Union, UK businesses – employing EU workers – will need to contemplate how “Bexit” might potentially influence their future hiring, talent management and overall workforce management best practices. Currently, millions of highly skilled EU immigrants work in the UK. The following article examines a few possible scenarios and outcomes of Brexit and its potential impact to the UK – and increasingly global workforce. I will also review how human capital management technology can help businesses comply with the current and future new world of work.

True Love Lies in Payroll and HR

In today's world, "human capital management" seems to be the hot topic of choice. A complete HCM solution covers all the people related processes and data in an organisation, and by its very nature can get pretty full on and complicated to implement, with greater upheaval and cost involved. For that reason, it is not always appropriate for an organisation to consider changing all aspects of their HCM in one fell swoop.

5 key questions that can help improve employee-manager relationships

Do you believe that above all else, the most important factor behind an employee’s engagement and productivity is their relationship with the direct supervisor? If you do, you’re not alone. Many believe that if people get along with their managers well, they’re likely to work well – it’s often as simple as that!

4 tips for fostering a culture of innovation

It is up to management to create a culture that fuels innovation, and there are some steps leadership should take to achieve that sort of workplace. Innovation doesn’t just happen. It is the result of the sort of office culture that idolizes a forward-thinking approach. New strategies and products are hard to come across in a workplace that doesn’t actively seek them. That sort of pro-innovation attitude is a top-down value. It is up to management to decide whether the company should be one that promotes innovative work.

Vlog - HR Tech World 2016

Interview by FDE TV at HR Tech London 2016. David Woodward, our Chief Product & Marketing Officer, speaks with Darina Ivanova from FDE about HR and Payroll technologies, workforce optimisation and what it means to be "digital" from an enterprise level perspective.

How to get the most out of a WFM System: Be Prepared to Change & Prepare for the Change (part 4)

I’ve been working in a software implementation environment for nearly 20 years ,and in that time I’ve seen many successful projects. Sadly I’ve also seen a number of less successful projects and if I were to pick a main cause for each of them the two recurring themes would undoubtedly be...

Conference 2016 - Survey Results

600 people attended the Ceridian Conference 2016; find out their biggest challenges in new HR and Payroll legislation.

The Apprentice

In the 2015 Queens speech, the Government set out to create 3 million new apprenticeships by 2020. As part of the Enterprise Bill, apprenticeships would gain the same legal treatment of degrees. ‘The Richard Review’ brings new standards being developed by ‘trailblazers’ and new funding trialled giving employers greater control over spend on training delivery.

How to get the most out of a Workforce Management System: Empower Your Workforce (part 3)

In my last two blogs I described how important a transparent labour model and flexible workforce are to the successful implementation of a WFM system. Today I want to focus on how such a system can help re-engage your workforce, improving morale and colleague retention.

How to get the most out of a Workforce Management System: Get Flexible! (part 2)

In my last blog I described how keeping the labour model as simple and transparent as possible increases the chances of user buy-in whilst still generating an accurate labour forecast. Today I want to talk about how critical the flexibility of your workforce is to the successful implementation of a WFM system...

How to get the most out of a Workforce Management System: Keep it simple! (part 1)

Our WFM System experts, describe how keeping the labour model simple and transparent could increases chances of user buy-in, whilst still generating an accurate labour forecast.

Addicted to work: Breaking the habit

In today’s working society, being busy has suddenly become the new yardstick in the workplace, the key measure of a person’s success and contribution to the business. If we don’t look very busy, we worry that people might think we’re not working hard enough. We pride ourselves on being too busy to take a vacation or relax, and taking on so much that we risk getting ill, all to prove how hardworking we are.

5 tips to organising a successful event

So what’s the top secret to organising a successful event? In one word: preparation! Preparation is an imperative to ensure a successful outcome for everything in business and life. Kick-start your event planning with the following top 5 tips and you’ll quickly see the importance of preparation, allowing you time to delve into the detail…

6 Technology Predictions that will impact the world of HR & Payroll

Welcome to the future! I am back with a new blog, this time I look at 6 technology predictions over the next 5 years that will impact the world of HR & Payroll. Who knows where we’ll be in 2020? My predictions are based on detailed research, analysis of past and current technology trends, and consumer purchasing behaviour.

5 ways the resume is changing in modern recruitment

Before the advent of the internet, applying for jobs was a fairly straightforward process. Now, with an incredible amount of technology infused into the recruitment process, there’s an entirely new approach to talent acquisition. Here are 5 ways the resume is changing in modern recruitment...

Top tips for improving employees’ productivity

HR professionals deal with a lot of challenges on a daily basis, but at the root of it, the primary goal is to maintain a high level employee retention and productivity. Read our top tips for improving employees’ productivity in the new year.

5 tips for finding your most productive work time

As an HR leader, your assignment from day to day and from month to month is to maximise employee engagement, while increasing employee retention and productivity. Your company is investing a great deal in talent – and you want to make the most of that talent. So what makes us productive, and what doesn’t?

Paying the living wage: Retail & Hospitality

Paying the living wage isn’t optional for survival, but neither should it be a problem. Lidl were the first supermarket to recognise the benefits of paying the living wage. Their stores may be no frills but their operation is efficient. Lidl’s customers, many deserting the likes of Waitrose and Sainsbury’s for all or some of their purchases, have clearly embraced the shopping experience...

The PayBack Foundation: how far we've come (Part 2/2)

Following on from part 1 of my blog, part 2 highlights the tops secrets to motivating colleagues into digging deep and getting behind a company charity. I believe there are 3 elements that need to be present...

The PayBack Foundation: how far we've come (Part 1/2)

People often ask me why I enjoy working for SD Worx; there are many answers I could give: the great people I work with, that no two days are ever the same, or that I'm empowered to do things my way. But truly, one of the greatest aspects of my role is knowing that we change the lives of children who need a helping hand.

5 things to look for when recruiting via social media

The initial challenge of recruiting can be divided into two important parts - first is the step of sourcing, and second is evaluating whether they're a good fit. HR offices everywhere are looking for new, innovative strategies for improving in both of those areas. But is corporate recruiting via social media a worthwhile use of your time?

5 Strategies for Building an Exceptional Company Culture

At all places of business, large and small, there's a growing expectation that HR's role is to increase employee retention and productivity. A productive workforce is the lifeblood of a successful company. If your employees are willing to stay in their positions and work hard, your business is more likely to make money.

HR & Marketing: A perfect blend (Part 2/2)

Through HR and Marketing, you can promote internal success and employee achievement to greater extents. HR can pinpoint outstanding employee performance and Marketing can spread these positive actions through internal communication channels

HR & Marketing: A perfect blend (Part 1/2)

Like many, I believe that HR and Marketing are, and will, continue to move closer and closer. This belief has been further accelerated by increased and dominating use of both social media and mobile.

Favouritism in the workplace

We often hear about favouritism occurring in classrooms, amongst friends, or even families, but how about in the workplace?

Infographic: Technology in the Workplace

Technology is moving at such a pace, I wonder if Usain Bolt could even keep up with the advancements?! The truth though is that if you don't embrace the changes, you are impacting the success of your organisation. Customers want it and employees want it and the last thing you want is for them to be ahead of you.

5 ways to encourage collaboration between Generations X and Y

A great deal of the conversation in human capital management concerns the on-going movement of generations through the workforce. There are two undeniable trends happening in the present day - one, the baby boomer generation is gradually moving into retirement, and two, millennials are entering the office in full force.

Managing conflict in the workplace

Every organisation experiences conflict in one form or another, not only in the workplace but in our homes and our social life. Honestly, it's bound to happen with people working and being together with different personalities, values and culture but actually in some situations conflict can be the base for a healthy debate. However, it's not so much the conflict that causes problems and issues but how it is managed.

HR transformation and the importance of the little "i"

There is little doubt that HR transformation is big business with many of the leading advisory firms reporting strong demand and healthy pipelines of future work. However, while we support the importance for the HR function to evolve in ensuring it delivers optimum value to the business, we see scope for improvement in the execution of such programmes

Social Media in the workplace - does it really present opportunities?

Social media presents great opportunities for businesses of all sizes, and it has created a step change in the way we communicate with employees and customers. Read about our own experiences with rolling out social media in the workplace...

Tough Mudder: Lessons in Leadership

23 SD Worx colleagues took on the Tough Mudder challenge, a truly valuable learning experience. As a leader, it's not about you. It's about inspiring and empowering everyone around you so they can to perform to their potential. Success is much greater when teamwork and collaboration is involved!

3 tips for improving workforce productivity

The long-term goal in HR is always to drive employee retention and productivity upwards - you're given a staff with a certain number of employees on board, and your job is to maximise their output. You want every single worker under your roof to have the highest possible impact on the achievements of the company, so that in the long run, the business stays profitable and everyone's happy.