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Employment

What Those In Generation Z Are Expecting From The Workplace

What Those In Generation Z Are Expecting From The Workplace

Darren Best May 3, 2017 ,

Over the past decade, millennials have been high on the agenda. Not only as a key consumer demographic but also in terms of talent acquisition. After all, companies want to hire the best and there has certainly been an outstanding pool of millennial talent. Despite this, millennials have unfortunately developed a reputation of being ‘job-hopers’. Their lack of loyalty has certainly brought displeasure to many companies, who often spend a lot of time training and developing their human resource. With generation Z coming of age and on the verge of entering the workforce, are companies at the apparent risk of facing the same conundrum as they have been with the millennials? Early indications seem to suggest that is certainly going to be the case, as 83% of those classified as generation Z see... »

7 Interview Questions to Assess Cultural Fit

7 Interview Questions to Assess Cultural Fit

Tess Pajaron April 3, 2017 ,

One of the most important things to assess is a candidate’s cultural fit. They could be great at what they do, but if they don’t mesh well with your company, they may not stick around for very long. You need to make sure the person you hire is going to form the right kind of professional bonds in your office and feel rewarded by the work that they’re doing. Culture counts for everything. 1. What are you passionate about? Most companies hold certain causes near and dear to their foundations. This includes charities and perspectives on what they’d like to achieve. Companies need passionate people to help them reach their goals, and even if the candidate’s passion isn’t exactly the same, you need to know that the passion is there. Conflicting passions can be problematic down the road, so it’s... »

Changes To Employment Law In April Your Small Business Needs To Know

Changes To Employment Law In April Your Small Business Needs To Know

Alan Price March 20, 2017 ,

1. Gender pay gap reporting A new law introduced on 6 April will require private sector employers with 250 or more employees to report on their gender pay gap each year. Employers are required to take a data snapshot of their pay data on the 5 April 2017 and report on specific calculations by the 4 April 2018. The report needs to be published on the company’s website and uploaded to a government website. Similar provisions are being introduced for public sector employers with a snapshot date of the 31 March each year 2. Apprenticeship levy From the 6 April, large employers with an annual playbill of more than £3m are required to pay an apprenticeship levy. This is set at a value of 0.5% of the total paybill with a £15,000 allowance from the government to offset against the payment. The lev... »

Negotiating The Workers’ Rights Minefield

Negotiating The Workers’ Rights Minefield

Raphael Prais March 9, 2017 ,

With so many businesses coming under scrutiny over the employment rights of their staff, small business owners would be forgiven for feeling overwhelmed and confused by the sheer volume of employer do’s and don’ts. The recent Pimlico Plumbers v Smith case is yet another interesting development, and will be viewed with much interest by small business owners. The ruling The Court of Appeal ruled that plumber Gary Smith was entitled to basic workers’ rights despite his contract with Pimlico Plumbers describing him as self-employed. He was considered to be employed for Equality Act purposes, meaning he was entitled to complain about discrimination towards his disability, and he was considered to be a worker with regards to receiving holiday pay and unauthorised deductions from wages. It was co... »

The Uber Case: The Background, The Ruling, The Implications and The Reaction

The Uber Case: The Background, The Ruling, The Implications and The Reaction

Clare Moore & Emma O'Leary October 31, 2016 ,

Last Friday October 30, the Employment Tribunal made the landmark decision that the drivers of taxi giant Uber are to be classed as workers and not self-employed. The test case, brought forward by James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam, forms one of the first proper legal reviews of job status in this part of the gig economy, and has the potential to form a new paradigm. Background Two drivers brought a claim against the renowned company, insisting that the terms and conditions of the arrangement they had with Uber meant that they should be classified as workers rather than self-employed and, as such, were entitled to national minimum wage, holiday pay, rest breaks and the protection of the whistleblowing legislation. Kevin Gibson, specialist HR consultant at Croner, states: “This is a seminal case... »

7 ways to give your business a health kick this year

7 ways to give your business a health kick this year

Ian Baxter January 12, 2016 ,

A new year is a fresh opportunity to fix what needs fixing; does your business need a detox? For all you business owners on “dryathlons” or health kicks, here are seven ways to trim the fat from your firm and drive out toxic practices. 1. Mend broken relationships Going back to work offers us the chance to confront things that went wrong last year, rectify words that never should’ve been said and to help others to do the same. If one of your team is critical of another why not get them both in a room together to discuss the matter? This will either quieten the critic or give you an opportunity to manage your way through the issue. People should know that you don’t allow people to talk behind others’ backs but that you will deal with valid claims. 2. Ask yourself honestly if you... »

5 Reasons an Apprentice Can Benefit Your Business

5 Reasons an Apprentice Can Benefit Your Business

James Holt March 9, 2015 , ,

With the government planning for 3 million apprenticeships by 2020, I wanted to identify the key ways – from bring innovation to a company to helping your business find new talent – an apprentice can be a big benefit to your business’ progress and success. Here are just five reasons why start-ups and fledgling businesses should get on-board with apprenticeships. Apprentices deliver for employers of all sizes Nine in 10 employers enjoyed tangible commercial benefits as a result of hiring an apprentice, with employers reporting improved skills levels, service, morale and productivity as a direct result of taking on an apprentice. For instance, the average apprenticeship completer is estimated to increase business productivity by £214 per week and with gains also including increased profitabi... »

The Business of Mindfulness: How it Can Benefit You and Your Workplace

The Business of Mindfulness: How it Can Benefit You and Your Workplace

Graham Doke February 20, 2015 , ,

The subject of employee wellbeing is one that is becoming high on the agenda for businesses and employers across the UK as they consider the impact a focus on wellbeing can have on productivity. With US companies such as Google and Apple setting the standard by placing great emphasis on ‘mindfulness in the workplace’, many organisations have started to follow suit and introduce sessions in an effort to achieve a greater work-life balance. Although it is unlikely that we are going to see lunchtime yoga sessions and mid-afternoon meditation coming to an office near you anytime soon, a lot can be said for this level of employee wellbeing. After all, it is said that a happy workforce is a productive one. There are various benefits to supporting mindfulness and relaxation in your business, here... »

Does Working from Home Kill Company Culture?

Does Working from Home Kill Company Culture?

Bostjan Bregar November 28, 2014 , ,

Recently introduced laws that gave all employees in the UK the right to request flexible working has brought the subject of remote working to the fore for all businesses – including small businesses. While many entrepreneurs have welcomed the news as the key to a happy and efficient workforce, others see the change as potentially damaging to the company culture that they have worked so hard to establish. The fact that remote workers still make up the minority of the workforce in the UK shows that many businesses are still wary of remote working. However, news that any employee who has been with a company for at least 26 weeks can now request flexible working means it is more important than ever for businesses to have company-wide policies in place. By preparing properly for remote working,... »

Bring your own Device: How to Make the Growing Trend Work for your Small Business

August 22, 2014 , ,

Ask any IT team, and one of the biggest challenges they currently face is the smart administration of their business’ mobile devices. With a culture of mobility and remote working firmly established, the associated proliferation of Bring your own Device (BYOD) smartphones and tablets has turned classic client administration on its head. The competitive nature of today’s business environment demands that employees have the ability to work sequentially on the same project from multiple devices and with consistent access to apps, files and rights. It also means an increased complexity in managing coherent roll-outs across entire networks. And this is only the beginning of the complications. »

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