According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, around 44% of people now work at home some or all of the week. But not every worker, in every town, has access to the same levels of fast and reliable broadband in the UK. A new analysis of Ofcom’s Connected Nations data, by HR software provider Ciphr, has revealed significant regional variations in the connectivity available to the nation’s remote and hybrid workers. While Hull is the city to beat – by some margin – thanks to its average (median) download speeds of 185 megabits per second (Mbps) and significant 98.2% full-f ..read more

All organisations want the payroll process to run as efficiently as possible. Done well, this will ensure employees receive the correct amount of pay each month, and that the organisation itself meets its various compliance obligations.  But an inefficient process will cause huge issues for businesses, both through disgruntled employees but also unnecessary stress in HR or payroll teams, as well as potentially leaving the organisation exposed to fines as a result of failing to adhere to legislation.   Then there’s the issue of in-house vs payroll outsourcing costs to consider, a ..read more

If you’re thinking of having your payroll outsourced, you will need to understand and assess any risks that may come with that. Outsourcing payroll may not be for every organisation, so it’s important to weigh up what’s right for you. If you do want to benefit from outsourced payroll, it’s vital you ensure that any risks are mitigated, so check with any potential provider that they are able to offer the necessary reassurance.   The following are five risks you should be aware of, and how you can overcome them:   1. Data gathering and authorisation Even in an outsourced payr ..read more

On 3-4 May 2023, Ciphr will be appearing with sister brand Digits at HR Technologies and Learning Technologies’ co-located exhibition and conference ExCeL, London, will play host to both events and expects to draw a combined crowd in excess of 10,000 attendees, as well as 300+ exhibitors. Whether you’re ‘team HR’ or ‘team L&D’, these unmissable events will be brimming with insightful seminar sessions to pique your curiosity, an array of leading learning and HR exhibitors, and visitors representing 50+ countries; there’ll be something for everyone to enjoy. What you can look forward to at ..read more

Deployed carefully, sentiment analysis tools can HR teams spot the warning signs of disengagement, flight risks, and even regulatory breaches During its investigation of Enron – one of the biggest corporate collapses in history – the Federal Energy Regulatory Authority gathered around 500,000 emails generated by employees. The signs had not been picked up at the time, but data analysis of the content of these emails years after the company filed for bankruptcy, in 2001, tells a salutary tale. When data analysis company KeenCorp tested its own software using the email dataset, which showed comm ..read more

HR software has the potential to capture more HR data than ever. Is your HR team making the most of this opportunity to gain real insight into your people? When the pandemic turned business as usual upside down in early 2020, HR teams were faced with more questions than they had answers for. Did their organisation have the capacity to support the shift to working from home? How would furlough impact pay and staffing levels? How could essential departments deal with potentially high levels of sickness absence? Research carried out by the HR Analytics ThinkTank, a partnership between universitie ..read more

Good human resources management systems are the beating heart of an organisation – but securing investment can be challenging Great HR systems are the foundation for great HR teams, which are the foundation for great organisations. The right HR software simplifies people processes across the employee lifecycle, reduces costs, identifies efficiencies, and moves the needle on your biggest HR and business goals. But convincing decision-makers to invest at a time when budgets are already strained can be difficult. In this guide, we’ll unpack five objections you’ll likely face when building your bu ..read more

From automating certain HR processes and increasing employee engagement to helping manage administrative tasks more efficiently, there are numerous advantages associated with using modern HR software. Selecting the right HR software is an essential process in helping you to meet compliance requirements (such as the GDPR) and overall performance objectives. If you’re considering upgrading or purchasing new HR systems, one of the first decisions will involve pricing; how much should you budget to obtain the tools your business needs? In this article, we’ll explore some key factors that impact HR ..read more

Not sure what to ask during an interview? Try these unique interview questions to ask an employer – plus, our top creative questions to ask as an employer While modern recruitment systems enable employers to screen and filter candidates using so-called ‘killer’ questions, it’s at the interview stage that HR professionals and hiring managers have the best chance to gain deep insight into a candidate’s background, expertise and aptitude. It’s worth remembering, too, that the interview is an opportunity for applicants to find out more about your organisation, the vacant role, and if it’s the righ ..read more

Ciphr survey reveals that 98% of leaders and senior managers find their jobs stressful in some way, with the cost-of-living crisis cited as the biggest cause of stress The cost-of-living crisis is the top cause of stress at work for people working in leadership and senior management roles, according to the findings of a new survey by HR software provider Ciphr. A staggering 98% of the 265 leaders and senior managers polled found at least one aspect of their work stressful, while two-fifths (83%) are affected by three or more work-related stressors (the average, per person, is eight). Yet, desp ..read more