The January productivity slump
Many people suffer from the ‘January blues’, with the excitement of the festive period over, it’s back to reality and work. The bank balance is lighter and the waist bands are probably a lot tighter, and with the long dark days, people can feel tired, unmotivated, lacking in energy and focus. Have you thought how you can motivate your staff when they return to work in January? The New Year is a time for fresh starts, a time to reflect on the previous year and look to the future. Here are some ways to ensure your employees start 2017 engaged, motivated and ready for a challenge.
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Could we learn from Sweden's six-hour working day?
This year in Sweden some companies have changed to, or are trialing shorter working days, in a bid to increase productivity and make people happier. This is not a new concept to suddenly hit Sweden, there are companies there who have already been doing this for many years, and have seen great success in productivity increasing, and higher employment retention. This might seem too radical a change and something that couldn’t work for your business. But opening ourselves up to new ideas and ways of working could lead to new opportunities, and more successful ways of working, even if they aren’t conforming to old practices.
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Gender pay gap
On the 10 November it was Equal Pay Day, from late afternoon the average full-time female employee stopped earning for the year compared to the average full-time man. Before this, in October we also saw headlines that Asda faces £100m equal pay battle with shop floor staff. A tribunal ruled that thousands of women who work in the retailer’s stores can lodge a claim over the alleged gender pay gap. As a business owner it is highly likely that you have female employees. Are you fostering a culture of gender equality where equal pay is a given?
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Avoid a Christmas work party disaster
As we enter the festive season you have probably already started to organise some form of celebration or party for your staff. It should be a great event for colleagues to get together and relax. However, what happens if somebody goes too far? And then somebody else records them and it plays out on social media? Despite being out of office hours and usually away from work premises, the office Christmas party is seen as an extension of work by the Employment Tribunal, and therefore, normal working behaviour should be adhered to. Here are our tips on how to avoid Christmas party disasters and to simply enjoy the festivities.
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Managing politics in the workplace
Headlines of Brexit and the US presidential election have dominated our news this year. They may well have dominated conversations in your business too. As a leader you will no doubt have had to deal with your own office politics and may well have found yourself embroiled in a conflict between employees. Some aspects of politics will almost always occur in the workplace. As a leader you are expected to be politically knowledgeable and resolve any conflict. Read on for our advice on managing office politics and creating a working culture where conflict can be resolved.
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Business growing pains
Your business is thriving and all that hard work is starting to see real results. And yet you’re feeling more stressed than ever and wondering how you can achieve your daily tasks, let alone achieve your weekly or monthly tasks and strategies. Many leaders experience this, as their business grows at a frenetic pace and then they struggle to keep up with all the changes involved. Read on for our advice on how to manage your business growing pains.
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How to effectively manage annual leave
Christmas is fast approaching and as a leader it can be difficult to manage staff holidays. Even large corporations can find it hard but in smaller businesses with less people, covering holidays can prove really challenging. Often employees want to take their holidays in the same week, particularly at Christmas, New Years and other school holidays. Here are our tips on how you can best manage employee holidays and avoid the related issues that come with it.
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Key employment law changes
Changes to employment law affect all companies but can be particularly challenging for SMEs to navigate. Larger corporations have an entire HR department in place to administer and communicate the changes at all levels of the business. But what if you don’t have a dedicated HR department? This is the case for most SMEs. Legislation isn’t something just to be passed on to separate departments. It’s something the whole company has to be aware of. The complexity of employment law can be overwhelming, but it is essential that you are up to date and keeping abreast of it. Here are some key employment law changes that you should be aware of.
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Mental health at work
Stress is now the biggest cause of long-term sickness absence amongst workers. Our awareness of the scale and impact of mental health at work is increasing, but there is still a long way to go in reducing the stigma, and creating an open culture around mental health. Remember that people are your greatest asset, so looking after their wellbeing is essential to a happier workforce, who in turn are more productive and will take fewer sick days. If you aren’t creating an open culture you will be seen as out of touch. Read on for advice on how you can offer meaningful support to your staff.
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