It’s back to school (at last!)
Did you know that a survey of 2,000 UK adults by Phoenix Group, found that the average monthly cost of childcare and children’s activities is £1,683 higher in the holidays than it is during school time, representing 51% of the average UK monthly household income?
A lack of flexible working arrangements – such as the ability to work flexible hours, in different locations or part-time working – exacerbates costs and prevents some parents from staying in work.
40% of those surveyed who could work flexibly said they would quit if this option were no longer available. More than half (55%) said they would benefit from the ability to work remotely over the school holidays but do not have the option.
I personally have to manage this juggle during the holidays – lucky I am flexible with myself!
If you need advise on managing flexible working requests, implementing a policy or changes to terms and conditions please drop me an email.
Talking of back to school, what about your employees continuous development?
92% of employees in a survey agreed that training programmes have a positive effect on their engagement, while 68% of employees said that training and development was the most important policy.
By providing ongoing training opportunities, employees have the chance to continuously refine their skills and stay afloat of all the latest industry trends and advancements in their sector, enhancing their performance and equipping them with the tools necessary to take on new challenges and responsibilities. Not only does it help with productivity, it also helps with employee engagement and retention.
Training and development is a strategic investment in the long-term success of your business. Every organisation needs to have a budget for training and development and a plan!
Start with a training matrix – what do you have already. Then look at the future, what do you need? identify training requirements not only for the individuals but to take the business forward and build in succession planning. You need to think about training from a legal requirements point of view and training which will grow your business.
Don’t forget that I can offer training for managers and staff, here’s a few I offer:
- Menopause
- Harassment and Bullying
- Absence Management
- Grievance and disciplinary investigations
Contact me if you need a bespoke course and we can arrange a conversation.
Homework
No one likes homework, but here’s some HR homework for you…
- Review and update your company policies
- Review and update your contracts of employment
- Refresh employee training programs
- Streamline onboarding processes for new recruits
- Conduct performance evaluations and set new goals
- Boost communication and team-building activities
Now’s the time to take a look at what needs to be worked on and then engage my services to assist you.