News
Return to work protocols for Irish businesses
As we approach the fourth and final phase of the lockdown many more businesses will be reopening. But how much responsibility do employers hold? For businesses that have already reopened, the new ‘normal’ is very different. New return to work protocols and practices such as regular cleaning, physical distancing and, if necessary, the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be implemented. What are the mandatory and recommended workplace measures? Face masks in the workplace The use and supply of face masks in the workplace is not a mandatory measure. However, it’s important to assess your own workplace with measures [...]
Why outsourcing HR is better for your business
Ongoing HR support for employers removes the headache caused by staffing-related issues and provides peace of mind regarding employment law compliance. Outsourcing HR is usually more cost effective than employing full-time, salaried employees. The national average in the UK for a HR manager salary is £43,000 and €51,459 per year in Ireland. Would you rather pay this or avail of HR Team’s fully-outsourced HR management service. There is no obligation to sign up to lengthy contracts – clients can choose a fixed monthly fee or a pay as you go option, allowing you to benefit from our knowledge and experience [...]
The six step process to providing constructive criticism
Managing employee performance can be the most challenging aspect of your job as a business owner or manager. A large part of successful performance management revolves around clear communication and the provision of regular feedback to employees - in fact these are vital to the continued efficiency and performance of your team(s) and your overall organisation. HR Team director, Martina McAuley, advises the best approach when addressing an employee’s underperformance: “The best approach is referred to as a ‘positive sandwich’. Begin with positive feedback, feed in with addressing the negative issue at hand and finish with a positive statement. This [...]
Managing an underperforming employee in the workplace
Although the world has changed, the importance of performance management hasn’t. Your overall strategy and team goals need to be set and communicated, and performance progress still needs to be measured. HR Team Director, Martina McAuley, says: “Good performance management is built on clearly setting expectations, ensuring employee accountability and providing regular feedback to staff. Communication is key – daily team briefings, regular management meetings and one to one meetings with employees should be implemented. “Establishing an employee’s skill or will; the establishment of basic standards, expectations and targets (BET); adopting appropriate management style and clear communication are the four [...]
10 Methods To Effectively Manage and Motivate a Remote Workforce
Keeping remote workers engaged through a period of permanent or temporary home working can be challenging but there are simple steps that can be taken by both employers and employees to overcome the challenges. In this article, HR Team co-director, Martina McAuley, provides her expert advice on optimising performance while working from home. Reasons identified by HR Team for lack of motivation or underperformance: Lack of clarity on employer expectations. Poor job design – non-flexible when moving to remote working. Employees not receiving effective training or induction into the workplace. Unsuitable reporting structure or lack of clarity surrounding reporting structure. [...]
Can you send an employee home for having a hangover?
As St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year, your employees may be hungover or drunk at work. The St. Patrick’s Day parades are cancelled, but staff may still be worse for wear the following morning. What are your rights when dealing with this matter? Problems with workplace hangovers Lower productivity. Reduced workplace morale. Customer service is of a lower standard. Co-ordination, attention span and reaction speed is slowed. Employee suspension or termination. How do you manage an employee that is over the limit at work? HR Team Director, Breda Cullen, says: “It is recommended to have a witness [...]
How employers can reduce workplace procrastination
It’s ‘National Procrastination Week’ so there is no better time to examine the effect’s procrastination can have on your organisation - and how to best manage it. A recent study discovered workers are spending more than two hours per day procrastinating. Statistically it found employees are only working 73 percent of the hours that they are employed to do. And the study found chronic procrastinators make up approximately 20 percent of the workforce. HR Team Director, Martina McAuley, says: “Procrastination can negatively affect the productivity of an organisation and reduce employee morale if it is not managed effectively.” Potential reasons [...]
Employee Appreciation Day – The benefits of appreciating your employees
The first Friday in March is officially ‘Employee Appreciation Day’. This has been devised as an opportunity for business owners to show their appreciation for their employees. Unemployment in Ireland is at its lowest level since 2007 with turnover increasing to 11% in 2019. As the Labour Market is currently the tightest it has been in many years, Irish employers are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain talent. HR Team Director, Martina McAuley, says: “Expressing employee appreciation can increase engagement, improve job satisfaction, workplace happiness, and employee morale - all of which are desirable for any business. “In [...]
Should you ban workplace relationships?
To mark Valentine’s Day, we take a look at the taboo topic of workplace relationships and how employers navigate the legalities of imposing restrictions on them. A recent survey revealed an incredible 58% of employees have engaged in a romantic relationship with a colleague. This should be a wake-up call for employers to manage workplace attraction and ensure an acceptable policy is in place. “A policy on workplace relationships which is clearly communicated to staff could save an employer a lot of stress and financial risk in the long run” says HR Team Director, Breda Cullen. Almost half (41%) of [...]
How employers can avoid summer holiday headache
Summer has arrived and with it comes the balancing act for employers of addressing a mountain of employee requests for annual leave. In a perfect world everyone could be granted annual leave to soak up the only few days of summer sunshine we’re likely to get. However, in most cases those summer periods when the kids are off school and sun has got its hat on, it’s business as usual for employers. That means that unless there is a mid-summer forced closure period of the organisation, there’s no way that every staff member can take annual leave at the same time. [...]