Financial wellness: what will drive demand in 2018?
Employers are responding to rising financial stress among UK workers, with research showing 27.5% report increased financial anxiety and 71.9% say stress levels haven’t improved. Effective financial wellness programs addressing debt management, budgeting, childcare costs, and savings goals can help improve both employee wellbeing and productivity.
Auto-enrolment: the great British success story. But how do we maintain the momentum?
Auto-enrolment has become a major British success story, with nine million people now saving into workplace pensions. As staging deadlines end and contribution rates rise, maintaining momentum requires greater employer awareness and worker engagement to prevent opt-outs.
The Go-Live Milestone: Getting it out there!
The go-live milestone marks the transition from preparation to execution in HR technology implementation. This critical stage involves activating security profiles, switching system settings, publishing access links, and managing data cutoff points while mitigating organizational and cultural risks. Proper preparation across earlier project phases—data management, testing, and engagement—is essential for a successful launch.
Women still await their seat at the law firm partnership table
Women comprise only 24% of law firm partners despite making up over half of newly qualified lawyers for more than two decades. At current rates, gender parity at senior partnership levels won’t be achieved until 2037, highlighting the critical need for cultural change in the legal profession.
Improving pensions engagement: what’s HR’s role in 2018?
HR professionals must communicate pension changes clearly in 2018 as minimum contributions rise, potentially prompting employee opt-outs. Using simple language, technology, and personalized engagement strategies can help HR combat financial jargon and encourage better retirement planning.
Benefits uptake: are you doing enough?
Employee benefits significantly influence job satisfaction and retention, with 62% of workers citing them as key hiring factors. Yet awareness and uptake remain surprisingly low, costing UK employers £2.7 billion annually in lost productivity. Effective communication and personalized benefit strategies can help organizations maximize engagement.
GDPR compliance: practical steps to take control of your HR data
Ensure your HR data meets GDPR requirements by securing employee information, maintaining accuracy, responding to access requests, managing consent properly, and deleting data when no longer needed. HR departments must implement technical and organizational measures to control how personal data is collected, stored, and managed.
Family friendly benefits under threat from new gender pay rules
New gender pay gap reporting rules requiring companies to publish salary differences between men and women may inadvertently discourage family-friendly benefits like childcare vouchers and flexible working, potentially harming working parents who rely on these support options.
Pensions communications: change the what, not the how
Effective pension communication should focus on benefits rather than features—explaining how pension schemes improve people’s lives rather than just describing technical details like percentages and fund choices. By adopting marketing principles and connecting pensions to what matters to employees, employers can drive genuine engagement and help members understand the value of their pension offering.
Pensions communication: helping employees differentiate between DC and DB
Most employees now participate in defined contribution (DC) pensions with no guaranteed benefits, requiring them to make important investment and retirement decisions. Employers can help through education, engagement, and clear communication to ensure employees understand their pension options and avoid poor retirement outcomes.
Benefits take-up – the why of getting it right
Understanding employee benefits take-up is crucial for effective benefits strategy. Core benefits achieve 100% take-up, while voluntary benefits vary significantly based on factors like tax efficiency, employer funding, and discounts. Flexible benefits schemes with employer funds typically see 10-15% higher take-up rates than those requiring employee payment.
HR technology: Talking about Training and Communications
HR technology projects require both cultural change management and practical technical training to succeed. This article explores how to balance “soft” communication strategies with “hard” education about system functionality, emphasizing that correct technology usage by end-users is critical to project success.
“When I was told that I would never walk or talk again it put fire in my belly.”
Andy Ibbott defied medical expectations after a 2011 stroke left him unable to walk or talk. The former motorcycle industry executive completed the Marathon Des Sables and now pursues public speaking, inspiring others to overcome personal challenges.
Will we see you at Unleash 2018 in London?
Unleash 2018 in London (March 20-21) brings together HR professionals to explore people performance, technology, and innovative HR practice. The event features keynote speakers and insights on global talent markets, technology trends, and organizational change.
The Good Work plan: has any real action been taken to improve employment rights?
The UK Government’s Good Work plan responds to the Taylor Review with proposed reforms including guaranteed holiday and sick pay for casual workers, higher tribunal awards for employment violations, and scrutiny of unpaid internships. However, implementation timelines remain unclear, with four further consultations needed before changes take effect.
2018 HR trends: what’s in store for the industry this year?
In 2018, HR is shifting focus from automation to business impact and employee engagement, with trends including transparency and trust-building, replacing loyalty with respect and career development, and increased use of AI in HR processes.
How HR can help close the gender savings gap
Women earn significantly less than men and save substantially less for retirement, with female workers twice as likely to have under £5,000 in workplace savings. HR departments can help close this gender savings gap through financial education and workplace benefits that support better financial decision-making for all employees.
How home working can help people with cancer maintain a work-life balance
Home working can help cancer patients maintain employment and mental health by reducing workplace stress, allowing them to manage treatment side effects privately, and eliminating commute fatigue. This flexibility enables people undergoing chemotherapy to stay connected with colleagues while performing their roles effectively.
How to achieve diversity through fair assessment
Achieve workforce diversity through fair assessment practices rather than positive discrimination. Implement structured interviews, unconscious bias training, and objective psychometric assessments to ensure every candidate has an equal opportunity to demonstrate their abilities regardless of background.
Why resourcing is everyone’s business
Effective resourcing requires full business engagement, not just HR expertise. As workplace change accelerates and employer branding becomes crucial to attracting talent, managers play an increasingly vital role in workforce planning, identifying skill needs, and authentically representing company culture.
