PBS HR Newsletter – Christmas 2018
Is your Business ready for the Festive Season?
Staff misbehaving at the office party, issues around accommodating those with different religions, holiday request clashes, giving out end-of year bonuses and operational difficulties due to bad weather are just some of the difficulties that businesses can face at this time of year, so it’s hardly surprising that the Christmas period can be stressful for employers! Whilst we are not suggesting that you become the Christmas Grinch and ban all the festive fun, this bumper December edition of our HR Newsletter looks at some of the key issues that can arise for employers at this time of year with advice on how to deal with them, as well as preventing problems arising in the first place. Being appropriately prepared will help you ensure that your staff enjoy the festivities safely, and without incident, whilst your business can continue to operate effectively.
We hope that you’ve enjoyed reading our HR Newsletters throughout the year and would like
to wish all our customers and other readers a very happy Christmas & New Year!
What staff really want for Christmas
A study of 1,000 UK workers published in the Most Generous Time of the Year Study by Perkbox, revealed that 30% of employees haven’t received any gift from their boss or manager at Christmas. Read more…
The dilemma of the Christmas Dress Code
Many organisations choose to relax their dress code at this time of year, inviting casual dress and Christmas jumpers, especially on Christmas Jumper Day, which can help bring some fun into the office and can also be a way to raise money for charity. But not everyone is thrilled by the idea! Read more…
Winter is here and so are coughs and sneezes!
Unfortunately, it’s that time of year when staff come down with nasty colds, coughs and even the flu. For those employees who are unfortunate enough to fall ill over the Christmas period, having a clear sickness absence policy that outlines who they need to call, how they should contact their manager, by what time they must notify their absence and the rules on production of Fit Notes is essential. Read more…
Christmas benefits and bonuses – what employers need to know
As the Perkbox survey reveals, cash bonuses and other benefits can be a good way to boost staff morale at Christmas. However, some benefits and gifts can have various tax and other implications that employers need to be aware of so they can make the right decisions about how to reward their staff at Christmas. Read more…
Trouble on the Dancefloor? How to stop things getting out of hand at the staff Christmas party
New research, undertaken by telecommunications provider, 4Com, has found that nearly half of UK workers (42%) would rather go to a Christmas party with work friends, than with family and non-work friends. Employers should find it encouraging to know that their staff are building strong and meaningful relationships at work, so much so that it is important for them to have the opportunity to celebrate the Christmas festivities together. Putting on a Christmas party or other event can, therefore, be a good way for employers to show their appreciation, as well as encouraging further team building. However, in reality, 90% of employers have experienced an issue arising from a Christmas party. Read more…
When good times go bad: dealing with the aftermath of the Christmas party!
We hope that if you follow our advice, all will go smoothly at your Staff Christmas party but, even with the best planning in the world, things can still go wrong – so how should you deal with the fallout? Read more…
Tips to help your business keep going over the Christmas break
It can sometimes prove difficult for employers to manage the operational needs of their business over the Christmas break. To help with this, we answer some of the questions we are most commonly asked by our customers in the run-up to Christmas.
Q: Can employers compel their employees to work overtime in the run-up to Christmas? Read answer…
Q: Can an employee insist on taking holidays during the Christmas period? Read answer…
Q: Can employers require employees to take annual leave if the business is shut down over the Christmas period? Read answer…
Q: What can we do if staff cannot attend work because of severe weather and/or travel disruption? Read answer…
Help your staff beat the winter blues
Winter has a huge impact on the mental health and wellbeing of British workers, according to a new survey from workplace consultants, Peldon Rose, which reveals that over two-fifths (44%) of employees say winter has a negative effect on their mental wellbeing, half (51%) believe it adversely affects their mood and 30% state winter affects their productivity. Read more…
This newsletter was curated by Nicole Squires, MA, Chartered MCIPD, an Executive Consultant at People Based Solutions.People Based Solutions is an HR support company that specialises in supporting small and medium sized businesses meet all of their HR commitments. If you want to know how People Based solutions can help you meet your HR and Employment Law obligations click here for your free HR Health Check. Alternatively, you can call us on 01925 425 857, send an e-mail to enquries@peoplebasedsolutions.co.uk or Click Here to visit our website.
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