The Chief Executive of P&O Ferries said he stands by his decision on the mass-redundancy over video call. In the wake of P&O Ferries' termination of some 800 employees jobs, there has been a lot of negative press coverage, government involvement and likely future claims from ‘sacked’ staff. Despite this, Peter Hebblethwaite, Chief Executive of P&O Ferries, claimed that he would make the same decision again because it had saved the business. The case Hebblethwaite stated the reason for this was to save on staffing…
Some changes in National Insurance, the Employment Allowance, and income tax will significantly impact payroll professionals - as well as 70% of households in the UK. In the Spring Statement on 23 March 2022, Rishi Sunak announced that, among other things, workers will be able to keep more of their income before they start paying National Insurance from the beginning of July. Here's what the changes are and why the news is so significant to payroll professionals and employees. A quick summary of changes The…
Data shows that nearly two thirds of UK businesses offer maternity pay above the statutory minimum, and three-fifths offer enhanced paternity pay. But would it be effective – and cost effective - in your business? Families have faced many challenges in the past few years, with childcare labelled the leading cause of stress by people working from home. Many businesses are facing recruitment and retention issues as employees look for stable roles with better benefits. Supporting colleagues taking maternity and paternity leave might just be the…
Many organisations can face challenging times where employee reductions are inevitable, once all other options are exhausted. When it affects those on maternity leave, things can get complicated. We advise how to manage this effectively and sensitively, and how to avoid any potential discrimination claims. The introduction of the Equality Act 2010 meant that pregnancy and maternity became a protected characteristic – rather than having to raise claims under “sex discrimination”, which happened prior to 2010. This means that any woman who is treated differently…
Integration is the harmony every department is hunting down. We all know the joys it can bring payroll and HR teams, but what does it mean for your employees? Reduced pay errors While your employees might like to see an extra 0 on the end of their gross pay, cutting them short is a sure-fire way to raise anarchy within your business. In a survey from CIPP, 53% stated the most popular reason for queries to the payroll department was in relation to issues with…
It’s nearly Christmas, which means many people can look forward to a well-earned rest. But if you are an employer or payroll professional, Christmas and New Year brings a number of potential challenges that you need to be aware of and prepare for before you can start your Christmas break. Here are our top four tips to make sure you don’t run into any payroll problems at Christmas… 1. Changes to payment dates This year, both Christmas Day and New Year's is on a Saturday,…
During the fuel panic of 2021, we all became used to squeezing the last few fumes from the tank as we scurried round in the desperate hunt for petrol or diesel. With queues snaking round the block and many petrol stations running out completely, it was tempting to ask that lucky member of staff with a full tank to make a business trip for you in their own car. Is there a risk? Well, yes, actually there is. In certain circumstances you can be held…
There are many ways to manage stress in the workplace, but are employers taking it far enough? What can you do to prevent stress in the first place? We all know stress not only hurts our employees, but our business goals as well. Due to this, managing stress is a key part to any HR or Health & Safety professional’s daily duties. A good Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health service are common (and effective) methods to manage stress, but they only fix the effects,…
According to research from YouGov 70% of organisation outsource part of their business to external suppliers. If you’re outsourcing payroll with a managed payroll solution, how are you measuring the true value? We’ve pulled together a few killer questions to ask yourself when thinking about outsourcing value. Does a managed payroll solution help me reduce headcount? Outsourcing your payroll might mean you can reduce the headcount in your payroll team, or wherever this function sits within your business. This extra flexibility may allow you to…
We live in a world where everyone is a self-confessed expert, with millions of years of expertise and a degree in payroll compliance. While you should be able to trust your outsourced payroll provider, here are a few things you should be checking up on. Accreditations Yes, we’re talking those shiny badges. Lots of outsourced payroll providers will be accredited, but is their accreditation up to date? And what does it really mean? When trusting an outsourced payroll provider you’ll want to keep tabs on…
