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

In-house vs outsourcing payroll costs – is outsourcing payroll cost effective?

If you’re wondering whether outsourcing payroll costs less than using an in-house team, take a look at all the ways outsourcing can be more cost effective.

How to effectively manage raise and promotion requests

No matter whether you're an experienced HR manager or a long-time business owner, raise and promotion requests are an aspect of HR that many people struggle with. In this guide, our HR experts are showing you how it's done. 

How to adapt your onboarding strategy for a remote working environment

The pandemic has forced businesses to adapt their onboarding strategies to overcome new workplace challenges. With social distancing minimising face-to-face contact, and more people changing occupation than in pre-pandemic years. In this guide, we'll show you how to approach this change from a HR perspective

How payroll can prevent a breakdown in employee trust

With workers concerned about their health and job security, it is vital payroll teams look at what they can do to improve confidence, so workers don’t lose faith in the company they work for. This blog examines how good payroll and workforce management can increase employee trust.

How to turn your workspace into an employee experience centre

COVID-19 has a great impact on employees, with mass homeworking as one of the most remarkable outcomes. Many companies are pulling out all the stops to establish viable homeworking policies, implement digital tools and create a renewed organisational culture. What’s often overlooked is the physical workspace. Although traditional offices are on their way out, they can re-emerge as employee experience centres.

Is a skills gap threatening your digital transformation?

Digital transformation has led to an overhaul of the current workforce, with the Covid-19 pandemic compounding the need for change. But a skills gap in key areas could leave some businesses trailing behind. 

It's time for finance leaders to get serious about payroll

Businesses are waking up to the power of payroll. Agile financial leaders are prioritising investment in payroll technology and automation through SaaS or outsourced solutions. Read our blog to find out why.

Why more CFOs are turning to outsourcing post-covid

Savvy CFOs and finance leaders have spotted an opportunity to maximise ROI and increase operational resilience by outsourcing payroll operations. We explain the financial benefits in our blog.

National Payroll Week 2020

National Payroll Week: Championing your payroll pioneers. At SD Worx, we’re known for being the ‘Payroll People’ and we have some pretty amazing individuals who love payroll just as much as we do. But now it’s over to you. Who is YOUR payroll hero?

5 things to consider when assessing your payroll maturity

As we emerge from Covid-19, one of the most economic and socially disrupting periods of our lifetime, it's critical for businesses to scrutinise and challenge their payroll operations. This is where the degree of your payroll maturity matters: it impacts your whole organisation, from operational efficiency and exposure to risk, to employee experience. 

7 ways a workforce management solution adds value to your organisation

Working smarter, becoming more efficient and driving cost savings are top of the list for most organisations, but many haven’t uncovered the missing link in their strategy: workforce management.

Flexible furlough - Changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has updated guidance in readiness for the commencement of the second part of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). Simon Parsons, Director of Payments, Benefits & Compliance Strategies at SD Worx UK, shares his interpretation of the changes and what this could mean for employers.

6 tips to boost engagement in your virtual workforce

Are you prepared for the rise of the long-term home worker? Help your employees thrive while they are working from home with these top tips.

5 best practice tips for payroll continuity

As the pressure of payroll continues to amplify, here are some best practice tips to improve payroll continuity.

Q&A with our Payroll guru: Your furlough & SSP questions answered

Our resident payroll and legislation guru answers your questions about furlough and SSP.

5 ways our Payroll Gurus can support you through COVID-19

We’re here to help your payroll stay consistent during uncertain times. Find out how our experts can support you during this time.

Workforce management, your secret weapon in a crisis (and beyond)

The right workforce management module can help businesses stay afloat during these tough times and avoid common pitfalls.

3 measures to support your home workforce

Hundreds of UK businesses have asked staff to work from home to combat Coronavirus. Can these measures help your remote workforce?

Our Sales Director's guide to motivating your remote team

In our second #KeepItHuman interview, Oliver Mead, SD Worx Sales Director, discusses how he’s helping his team to adapt to remote working.

How does COVID-19 affect employee pensions?

Discover how Coronavirus is affecting employee pensions and get to grips with The Pension Regulators advice.

Latest SD Worx Covid-19 Customer Information

Discover the latest customer information update from SD Worx regarding the Covid-19 virus. 

Our Payroll Services Director's tips to keep operations running smoothly

Paul Thickett, SD Worx Payroll Services Director, shares how he’s keeping the UK paid and motivating his team during this challenging time.

Keep Britain Paid: Statutory Sick Pay Guidelines for employers

We’ll help you make sense of the government’s advice on Statutory Sick Pay and taking care of your employees during COVID-19.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – What you need to know about ‘furlough’

Has your business temporarily closed? Find out how the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme could support your business. 

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?

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.

4 ways to practice healthier habits around the office

Most Human Resources departments work to maximise the bottom line of organisations, many HR professionals tackle this objective by focusing primarily on corporate health and wellness. The thinking here is fairly simple – if you can build a healthier workforce, they’re likely to be more productive each day, which ultimately translates to a more profitable business.

Top 10 benefits of working from home

Improved productivity heads the list of the top 10 benefits of working from home. As more workers seek a greater work/life balance, working from home is becoming increasingly popular.

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?

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.  

The new era of HR: digital transformation

With the aim to build a model employee experience, HR departments are compelled to rewrite the rules by revolutionising talent practices. Human resource management is designed to maximise staff performance, and the HR department should be a key component in an organisation’s digital transformation.

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.

It works to say 'Please' and 'Thank You'

In our fast paced world, it can sometimes feel like people are out for themselves, chivalry is on the way out, and people say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ less and less. I find myself more often than not standing in front of till making a purchase, and when the transaction is complete I say ‘thank you’ but receive no response in return. I leave annoyed.

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.

Smart working: a new way to work

There was once a level of anxiety surrounding smart working and its impending implementation in the workplace. Once thought of as merely a fruitless buzzword, smart working has caused a lot of confusion due to its previously indefinite or unclear meaning. Surely we should all be working smart? And how exactly can you define ‘smart’?

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?

Part-time working, full time commitment

There’s no real definition of part-time work in terms of hours. The definition just means fewer hours per week than a full-time job. But there’s still a stigma attached to part-time or flexible working. Flexible working is often associated with women returning to work after maternity leave or having to fit jobs around a school run or even working in low paid or low skilled professions. This view is a tad outdated to say the least.

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...

Brexit – what does it mean for Employment Law?

You will be aware that a great deal of our Employment Law is what we call “European law”. What will happen to those laws when we are no longer a member of the EU?

“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.”

April 2017; where the work of preparation begins

2017 is going to be both interesting & challenging. With Brexit and changing government leadership much is to be done and quickly. Now is the time for the business to come together and plan for change...

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...

Say goodbye to payroll pitfalls: Going global in 2017

As the business world becomes ever more disparate and global, it comes as no surprise that managing payroll across multiple markets is presenting more challenges than ever before. To delve into the issues at hand, our SD Worx Global solution and services team recently conducted pan-European research to gauge a better understanding of the key payroll challenges impacting modern multinationals, as well as the changes that industry professionals want to see in the New Year.

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...

Don’t work harder, work smarter: Why 2017 will be the year of global payroll

2016 has been an eventful year, with lots of social and political change occurring around the world. Change, of course, can be a great thing – it can bring new perspective and a fresh outlook, something which also holds true in the context of business and HR. And with the New Year fast approaching, now is an opportune time to start planning.

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.

Apprenticeship Levy: Are You Preparing?

The way the government funds apprenticeships in England is changing. The 6th April 2017 sees the introduction of a new employment tax on United Kingdom employers. Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland, each having their share of the levy, will have to decide how apprenticeship spending will take place. In this blog I cover some key points that employers should be considering in order to prepare for the upcoming changes...

National Insurance, New Starters, & Irregular payment after leaving

As a union, the UK has voted to leave the European Union with some Scottish politicians hinting of a further independence referendum, and some in Northern Ireland wanting a joint Irish nation! At the same time, Job Centre Plus has run out of National Insurance numbers and in June 2016, decided in to start issuing NINOs with prefix ‘KC’ - but there is an issue with this...

Scotland vs. UK Payroll - Q&A with Simon Parsons

With the result of the UK referendum to leave the European Union and indication by Scotland's first minister to run a further Devolution referendum, Simon Parsons considers the potential implications for the next few years for Scotland and Payroll services...

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?

Keep calm and carry on! Brexit's effect on the UK Workforce

So the nation has chosen to progress leaving the EU with a popular vote of 52%. So what's changed, apart from volatility in currency and stock markets? And what major action do we see impacting payroll?

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...

Maternity and Pay Rises

The National Living Wage (NLW) became compulsory for employees aged 25 and above, at a new minimum rate... Have you considered the implications and reviewed your maternity leave payments and made top-ups of SMP?

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.

Is your employee guilty of fraud?

April 2016 saw some of the most significant legal changes to impact payroll operations and software. I would venture that this year’s new changes have been some of the most impactful yet, more so than the introduction of Real Time Information (RTI). New requirements for Scotland including the Scottish Rate of Income Tax and changes to Earnings and Maintenance Arrestments. A revolution in national insurance with the removal of Contracting out and Under 25 Apprentice NICs being introduced. The list can go on.

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.

Maternity Rights and Childcare; as clear as mud!

Following the judgement of the Employment Appeal Tribunal (9th March 2016), the question of salary sacrifice and maternity rights has been thrown into question! Was HMRC errant in providing guidance? Are employers now off the hook with provision of non-cash benefits in kind during maternity?

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...

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.

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 reducing office stress during the holiday season

There can be numerous challenges to staying productive throughout December. Employees may not be working as much as they’re frequently taking time off around the holidays. They’re traveling all over the place, shopping and making plans with family and friends. They may also become stressed! Here are our top tips for reducing office stress during the holiday season.

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?

Easing Stress in the Workplace

Many factors contribute to stress and overload in the workplace, including organisational change, demanding workloads, poor communication, and interpersonal conflicts among individuals or groups. Read our top tips on how to tackle these challenges...

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...

5 ways to reduce stress around the office

Stress has an enormous effect on the workplace on a daily basis. If and when employees are feeling overworked, their negative attitude makes it very difficult for them to tackle everything on their plates. Check out our top tips on how to reduce stress in the office!

5 tips that will boost your productivity

National Work Life Week 2015: Fitting Work and Life Together

To celebrate National Work Life Week taking place this week, we share top tips on how to maintain a Work and Life balance. Read our NWLW15 blog and download infographic...

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.

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...

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.

Is "trust" vital to win?

Andrew Strauss, the new director of cricket for the England & Wales Cricket Board this week announced that Kevin Pietersen would not be selected for England in the short-term due to "massive trust issues". This was after Pietersen scored a career best 355 not out for Surrey and a dismal run...

Mindfulness - What's it all about?

Everyone's talking about mindfulness right now, including the Mental Health Foundation as part of their Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from 11th - 17th May, 2015. You may still be sceptical, but there's more and more evidence to support the art and practice of mindfulness, particularly in relation to mental health.