4 ways for your business to survive and thrive despite Plan B
If you’re like us, you probably thought by Christmas 2021 we’d have seen the back of the coronavirus pandemic. However, following the Government announcement yesterday it seems that we’ve not seen the end of it just yet. With working from home arrangements recommend again, we’ve put together some tips on how to ensure your business can keep on performing to a high standard, in spite of Plan B
Foster Company Culture
Company culture can be one of the most important things for employees. But in a recent poll of UK workers, it was found that only 26% of employers have effectively fostered a strong company culture since the start of the pandemic. This is concerning, considering that workers are reporting a lack of social interaction being the biggest detriment to their wellbeing.
It’s true that instilling your culture remotely can be difficult. But there are a few things you can do to help improve company culture while running a business remotely:
Get employee feedback regularly and make adjustments accordingly
Implement a buddy or mentor system
Create regular team or company rituals
Make sure managers are explicit about what is expected from their teams
Onboard new employees in the office
The last point is one of the most important. At Personnel Checks, all new employees are onboarded in the office for 1-2 months. This helps them create good working relationships which improves their communication when working remotely. Where this isn’t possible having a buddy or mentor can make all the difference.
Don’t force people back to the office
Around a third of employers are planning to return to how they ran their businesses pre-pandemic, as soon as they have the chance. All the evidence suggests that forcing people back to the office is a bad idea. Employees have had a chance to reassess their priorities through the pandemic and this is reflected in their attitude to work. Half of UK employees would consider leaving their current employer if hybrid working was removed as an option.
Research shows most people have no objection with working in the office, but they want more flexibility in their working lives. Organisations that have embraced this are reaping the rewards. The charity, Blood Cancer UK, have seen their staff retention rate increase by 24% since they implemented their policy. On top of this, the number of their staff recommending them as a place to work rocketed from 41% to 93%. Considering businesses are struggling to recruit, increasing retention and referrals is beneficial for any employer
Adapt your training programmes
Whether is training new employees or upskilling your existing staff, you need to adapt your training for a hybrid/remote workforce. Trying to deliver in-person training remotely doesn’t always yield the best results.
Working remotely means that opportunities for casual interactions with more experienced employees can be lost. Implementing a buddy or mentor system can help counteract this. If newer employees know exactly whom they can turn to with their questions it can help them feel more comfortable. It also makes sure that they are learning how to do their job effectively.
Your training also needs to focus on improving digital skills in your existing workforce. This is one of the biggest problems for a large portion of employees. A lack of digital skills not only negatively impacts ability to perform in a remote/hybrid role but it can impact wellbeing as well.
Carry out background checks
Trust is a big challenge for businesses when hiring or managing remote workers. Many worry that they are going to fall victim to criminals or frauds. Considering the rise in employee fraud in recent years, this is understandable. But background checks can give you the information you need to hire confidently. No matter where your employees are based.
The most common check carried out in the UK is the Basic DBS Check. This is a criminal record check that will show any unspent convictions on an individual's records. But there are other types of check that could be useful depending on the area of your business you a recruiting for.
For roles where someone is handling money, there are different types of adverse financial checks. These will reveal any CCJ’s, bankruptcies, voluntary arrangements, decrees in Scotland and administration orders.
If you need more information about how background checks can support your business while you’re working remotely, get in touch! You can give us a call on 01254 355688 or drop us an email to letstalk@personnelchecks.co.uk and we’ll be more than happy to talk through the best solution for you!