Staff Management

Manual scheduling could be a time sink and a serious drain on productivity and morale. According to a 2021 report*, 35% of managers spend from 3 to more than 10 hours per week on creating and managing schedules. 

Additionally, research** from the Royal College of Nursing revealed that 62% of nursing staff said patient care was compromised during their last shift due to staffing shortages. This shows how inadequate shift planning can harm both employee well-being and the quality of service delivery.

In this article, we’ll help you optimise your scheduling efforts and redirect your time to more important activities, so you can build smarter rotas, reduce errors, and keep your team running smoothly.

Workforce pressures don’t pause while HR catches up with the need to scale resources and adapt to expanding business demands. In today’s environment, human resources teams are not just planning for the next hiring cycle, they are shaping the workforce their organisation will depend on five years from now. As roles evolve faster than job descriptions, recruitment pipelines face increasing volatility.

According to a 2023 survey*, 9 out of 10 organisations expect significant skill gaps to emerge within the next five years, yet only a third feel fully prepared to address them.

With that gap between awareness and readiness in mind, this article looks at what long-term workforce planning really means, why it’s critical now, and how HR teams can build a practical, future-ready strategy step by step.

For many families, the first steps into parenting come with a handful of major readjustments. Not just for the parents, but for the whole household. Among the many things to consider and plan before the arrival of a new family member is employment. This is where Shared Parental Leave comes in, offering families more flexibility to divide time off in a way that works for their needs, both emotionally and practically.

Onboarding is often seen as a checklist item — something to complete once contracts are signed and systems are set up. But poor onboarding does more than cause a slow start; it impacts retention, productivity and long-term engagement.

Only 12% of employees strongly agree their organisation does a great job onboarding new hires. Additionally, research indicates companies with structured onboarding see 82% higher retention and over 70% greater productivity. Still, many programmes remain inconsistent, underdeveloped, or simply overwhelming.

To keep up with today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, implementing the right HR software has become essential for organisations of all sizes. With the increasing complexity of workforce management and the need for streamlined HR processes, choosing appropriate HR solutions can significantly impact operational efficiency and employee satisfaction.

The workplace landscape is evolving at a rapid pace, and flexible working has become more than just a buzzword – the concept now represents a fundamental shift in how organisations operate. With changes to UK legislation and growing employee expectations, understanding and implementing effective flexible working arrangements is crucial for modern businesses.

The workplace landscape has transformed dramatically in recent years, with hybrid work emerging as the preferred model for many forward-thinking organisations. By blending remote flexibility with office-based collaboration, companies can enhance productivity while meeting evolving employee expectations. But this shift represents more than a temporary adjustment — it reflects a fundamental rethinking of how work can be structured to benefit both employers and employees.

The transformation of human resources from a purely administrative function to a strategic business driver stands as one of the most significant management evolutions of the past two decades. Human resource management (HRM) has transcended its traditional personnel management roots to become a sophisticated discipline focused on maximising organisational capability through people. 

Calculating holiday pay correctly might seem straightforward, but it’s one of the most complex aspects of payroll management. With varying employment types, fluctuating work patterns, and evolving regulations, knowing how to calculate holiday pay accurately is essential for every UK employer. Getting it wrong doesn’t just create administrative complications — it can lead to tribunal claims, financial penalties, and damaged employee relations.

This comprehensive guide breaks down exactly what you need to know to calculate holiday pay correctly for every type of worker in your organisation, helping you stay compliant while maintaining an efficient payroll process.