Dakota Blue Consulting Blog

It's Cyber Monday! Are your staff using company equipment for personal use

Since many people spend a large part of their week at work it is unsurprising that they will sometimes carry out personal tasks during working hours and most employers recognise this. With Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the run up to Christmas many employers will notice a rise in the number of staff using work computers for shopping. As an employer how can ensure that the right balance is struck and that employees understand what your expectations are?
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Avoiding HR issues at the Christmas work party

How did your workplace celebrate the festive season last year and were there any HR disasters? Hopefully not, but a Christmas party can lead to all sorts of embarrassing indiscretions and emotional outbursts. These incidents are sometimes laughed off but can have a devastating impact, from informal warnings and disciplinaries to legal prosecutions because of drink driving and dismissals. Read our guide on avoiding an HR and PR disaster.
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The festive season can bring lots of distractions in to the workplace

Are you ready for the festive season? It is very much upon us and whilst for some it represents a time of good cheer and celebration for others it doesn’t. As an employer you are faced with challenges from poor weather conditions, increased staff absences and the associated distractions of the season. How can you support your staffs’ wellbeing and keep them focused on work during such a hectic time?
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Staff and social media - Dealing with the unexpected

At some point most of us have made a mistake on social media, whether that’s uploading the wrong image or accidentally posting a comment in the public domain that was meant to be private. Accidents happen, and, in most cases, they aren’t a problem. But what happens when something is on a large enough scale to reach thousands of people and the reputation of your company and brand is in jeopardy? This week’s blog is by our guest blogger Tabitha Fox, a highly experienced marketing expert and Managing Director of Social Brand Time, a marketing agency in Kent. She gives her advice on how employers should deal with the unexpected when it comes to staff and social media.
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Managing the expectations of your employees

Do you know what your employee’s expectations are? Do all of your employees, not just management, know what the company’s strategic objectives are? It is all too easy to get embroiled in the day-to-day running of a business, with people taking care of their individual tasks. With the new year fast approaching, many businesses will be carrying out their end of year performance reviews. This is a great opportunity to ensure that you are managing your employee’s expectations.
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National Living Wage and Real Living Wage - finance matters

As an employer you must pay the minimum wage but are you an employer who has voluntarily signed up to the ‘real living wage’? This November it has had a rise of 2.8%. A high number of the UK population have admitted that they are struggling financially. Last year it was reported that half of all UK adults are financially vulnerable. They are failing to pay bills and are resorting to borrowing money to make ends meet. This week is Talk Money Week, is your workplace supporting staff?
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National Stress Awareness Day

Today the 7 November, is National Stress Awareness Day, Mind is a charity that raises awareness and provides advice and support to empower people experiencing mental health problems. They are asking employers to start the conversation about stress in the workplace, by creating a Stress Awareness Space, where staff can share their thoughts and feelings when they are stressed. How does your workplace support employees with stress?
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