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…
While you might trust that your supplier is keeping you compliant, as a business you should be paying attention to the finer details when it comes to payroll compliance with your outsourced supplier. Your supplier might talk the talk, but can they walk the walk too? Here are our top tips for getting greater compliance visibility from your supplier. Look for the badges From the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professional’s PAS (Payroll Assurance Scheme), to relationships with HMRC, accredited by the Bacs Approved Bureau Scheme,…
Unfortunately, just because you outsource your payroll doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed accurate payroll processing. You and your employees could still end up on the back foot. Here’s a few tips for ensuring a timely and accurate outsourced payroll. The bottom line is even outsourced providers get it wrong sometimes, and that’s why it’s important as a business to keep tabs on payroll accuracy. So, what can you do to ensure payroll accuracy? Select an experienced supplier Let’s go back to the very beginning. When selecting…
According to a recent UK-wide survey, 26% of employees feared their manager wouldn’t consider period pain a legitimate illness, and therefore not a good enough reason to be absent from work. As such, up to a quarter of those surveyed admitted to lying to their manager about their true reason for absence. How should employers approach period pain when cited by an employee as a reason for absence? Are the symptoms a good enough reason for employees to be absent from work? And should an…
Barely a day goes by without an unfair dismissal claim hitting the headlines. Many of these claims are down to employers failing to follow a full and fair procedure. So, read on for our six ways to avoid unfair dismissal claims. Follow your internal procedures It’s important that you as an employer, follow your organisation’s HR procedures, including any that could lead to an employee being dismissed. You should also be mindful that employees have access to an abundance of information on unfair dismissal claims…
Since the government encouraged employees to work from home where possible during the pandemic, many employers have adopted remote or hybrid working for good. But how do you ensure working from home remains productive now that the novelty has worn off? How can employers encourage the productivity of their remote workforce as time goes on? Here are the top recommendations from our HR experts. Train your line managers This may not be the first time that your line managers have ever managed their team remotely,…
