Up until recently, for most people across the globe, a commute to work was something of a given, with the length, breadth and challenge of these commutes varying.

For some, your workplace could be your home, or a few streets away. For others, getting to work involves a stressful mix of trains, busses, car journeys & speedy walks in the rain, culminating in a multi-hour commute.

But in 2020, is this necessary? In the face of the recent global Covid-19 pandemic, businesses worldwide opened the floodgates for flexible working arrangements in multiple sectors, as the struggle to contain and delay the virus grew. Despite this, there is a chance that many of these businesses could revert to their old customs. Here’s why avoiding the rush hour commute could be positive for your business.
 
The Ever-Increasing Irish Commute
Irish workplace culture remains very much on a 9-5 basis, yet the commutes seem to grow increasingly worse.
1 in 10 Irish commuters spent an hour or more commuting to work in 2017, a 31 % increase in the 5 years previous. Meanwhile, AA found earlier this year that over half of Irish drivers spent longer commuting from work than they did in 2019.

While urban areas such as Dublin & Cork bear the brunt of Irish commuter woes, rural areas consistently suffer from poor transport connections, leading many people to overcrowd Ireland’s cities and only add to the increasing traffic pressures.

Something clearly must give – could it be your business’ working hours?

While our previous article delved into the possible pitfalls flexible working arrangements can present to your staff & business, flexi-time also provides the opportunity to calm the pressure on your commuting colleagues, leading to better performance & better work-life balance.
 
The Benefits & Necessity to Calm The Rush Hour Commute

1. Better Workplace Health

We’ve all been there. Started our early morning commute calm & collected, only to be met by burgeoning traffic delays, cancelled trains or the odd extreme weather element just to add into the mix. Arriving to work stressed to the hills is not a sign of a healthy, satisfied worker, but the opportunity for this stress to impact on your colleagues’ ability to work & your business’ performance as a result.

Introducing the opportunity to be flexible on working hours will allow colleagues to stagger their commutes, meaning less time in a car, bus or train, and more time in work, happy & ready for the day ahead.
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Meanwhile, for colleagues with personal dependents, flexi-time will give them the opportunity to get back home when they are needed, and not worried about the evening rush-hour commute ahead of them which could mean a missed swimming lesson, or a late departure from childcare.
 

1. Better Talent Retention

If your staff are unhappy with any aspect of their job, they could go walking. ‘Location, location, location’; where a workplace is relative to where you live is a vital part of any job. The shorter the commute, the more ‘me’ time you have left at home. In fact, 40% of Irish commuters claim they would take a pay cut if it meant being nearer to home.

By providing flexible working arrangements, this can ease staff stress around commuting, giving them back more time to be at home rather than travelling to and from work.

By doing so, you will most likely retain more talent and avoid the risk of a skills gap simply due to the location of your offices.
 
3. Better Business Performance
Psychologist Shawn Achor reflects: “Happiness inspires productivity” - the same can be said for your workers. Replacing the stress & pressure of the traditional rush hour commute with more flexible working hours will mean that your staff can enjoy shorter & less stressful commutes.

Coupled with the result of increased home time and a calmer start to the working day, your colleagues will be ready & willing to perform to a much greater capacity without the dreaded evening commute looming over them as the day wears on.

By taking this small step to changing the way your organisation & staff work, your business performance will increase - make flexible working arrangements beneficial & necessary for your business this year.

Dominating headlines since the rush of Brexit was swept away and the health crisis began to take a turn during 2020’s Chinese New Year, Coronavirus is on the tip of everyone’s tongue.
With numbers now hitting over 118,000 across the globe 43 in the Republic of Ireland (as of 11th March 2020), this health scare has swept the world’s population. Take a run to your local supermarket and you’ll be hard pressed to find a bottle of anti-bacterial hand wash, soap or hand sanitizer, while people stockpile as the threat begins to loom much closer to home.
Meanwhile, businesses are also feeling the pinch. Flybe has ground to a halt, while businesses within the hospitality & tourism are beginning to feel the domino effect as people decide to stay at home rather than book their summer holidays. Other businesses are awaiting what the impact will be on the wider economy; how many workers will have to take sick leave, either for themselves or a dependent? How will this impact performance? Will businesses simply have to shut up shop?
As the uncertainty rises, it is crucial that you get your HR team ready & waiting for the coronavirus to hit your workforce. Here’s what you can do about it.
 
Health First
Before we delve into the practical steps that you can take to protect your workers, customers & business during this health epidemic, it is important to note one crucial thing: remember to take health first above all else.
The threat to your business is very real, it’s clear for many businesses across the globe. And while it can be easy to fall into the trap of worrying over the books, it is crucial that you ensure workers, at any level, put their health first. While it is hoped that the hype will die down in the coming months, prepare for the worst-case scenario. You need your staff and they will need you – ensure they have all the support that they need to get back to work healthy and fit in the weeks and months after this virus begins to wane.
 
What Can Your Business Do About Covid-19?
No doubt about it, Coronavirus is a major threat to your business, your livelihood and Ireland’s economy. But here are some steps that you can take in the fight against this illness:
 

1. Safety First

Protecting your staff and your customers is paramount. Whether you are a coffee shop, a newsagent, hotel or library, most workplaces will involve the interaction of many groups of people; staff, customers, stakeholders, suppliers, delivery drivers – we could go on.
As people come & go, it is important to put safety first. Display official HSE signage throughout your place of work as well as electronically to all staff and customers. Encourage staff to take regular breaks to wash hands and care for their hygiene. Ensure the necessary hygeine products are available for all staff & visitors nd if needs be, enforce people to care for their hygiene.
Understandably, there is no need to treat your workforce or customers like children. However, kind but firm & consistent reminders will work best in getting the necessary messages across for hygiene purposes.
 

1. Be Clear On Sick Leave

As the media rushes to provide the latest developments on the virus, it can be easy for your staff to feel overwhelmed by this flood of information, which often could be misconstrued or over-hyped by news publications.
To tackle this, ensure you provide clear policies from your own employer perspective. Ensure all staff are clear on the procedures that they should follow if they feel that either they or someone close to them may have caught the virus.
Task management with the role of overseeing all staff, maintaining regular checks on how their staff are feeling and identifying any possible signs of the virus which should lead to testing of an employee.
If an employee is unfortunate to catch the virus, ensure that they are clear on what sick leave rights they are entitled to and ensure that you fulfil these policies. Maintaining consistent communication between all staff will build trust & provide some clarity to ease any worries staff may feel during this period.
This may sound somewhat regimental, but it is a must if you are to ensure that your business and staff battle coronavirus the right way.
 

1. Provide Work From Home Arrangements Where Possible

We get it – it isn’t always going to be possible to let employees work from home. If they run a warehouse of delivery goods, run operations in a hotel or if your business’ systems are simply impossible to access remotely, working from home will not be possible.
However, many businesses in 2020 have the capacity to allow staff to work from home during this epidemic. If your systems are on a cloud and if staff can operate simply from a laptop and/or phone, this will provide the opportunity for staff to self-isolate form the office, better protecting your workspace, colleagues & customers from the virus.
While it could impact some of your operations, this would allow staff to avoid interacting with large groups of people, making infection less likely and the road to a plateauing of the virus much nearer.
 
 

​Recruitment & diversity are high on the agenda for 2020 – and they will most likely remain for some years to come. But there is one final HR element that could help make your business a success in 2020 – inclusion.
Since 2016, 189 complaints of workplace bullying have been made to Ireland’s Health & Safety Authority – the lack of inclusion in a workplace can be detrimental to your business.
Inclusive, supportive, approachable – invincible. Why wouldn’t you want your workplace to be like that?
Here’s why inclusion will be crucial in 2020 & how your HR team can help make this a reality.
 
Inclusion: Why So Important?
If you have read this series so far, the talent war in Ireland won’t be new to you. With around 40,000 potential new jobs to be created in Ireland in 2020 forecasted already, recruitment is a busy sector. It’s safe to say that this, coupled with low unemployment, leaves Ireland in a stalemate when it comes to talent retention.
When somebody is working for your business or considering applying, the atmosphere, the team & the culture are everything. Yes, commutes and salaries are things to consider – but if your workplace isn’t inclusive of everyone, if colleagues do not put in the effort with each other, if the working environment is negative or toxic, then talent will simply move on.
Everyone is different and difference should be embraced by all throughout the organisation, with everyone’s strengths spotted and encouraged to grow.
An inclusive workplace where all people feel valued by each other, get on with each other and feel approachable with each other, is an invincible workplace.
 
Building An Inclusive Workspace
Inclusion is easier said than done – you have multiple hurdles to jump over; personality traits, age differences, varied interests, different backgrounds, the list is endless. Building an inclusive working environment can be a challenge, but it is a must if you want to keep staff satisfied & happy, and productivity at its peak.
Here’s just some ways in which you can lay those foundations to build a better inclusive workspace for your colleagues:

• Team Meetings

Often these can be tainted in negativity – yes, some meetings could have been communicated via email. However, businesses shouldn’t become too reliant on email or other communications tools like Slack. If you want your employees to feel like a team, make sure they are having literal face time with their colleagues.
Team meetings need to be a regular occurrence – whether that’s in a boardroom, at the local coffee stop or over lunch, regular and productive team meetings will help build your team’s relationships with each other, make them feel that their work is valued by their colleagues and help to advance productivity in the long-run.
Holding regular team meetings lends more benefits than just making sure your team get on – it helps to get stuff done quicker and more efficiently; colleagues will feel that they can approach staff much more easily.

• Zero Tolerance for Exclusion

Have you spotted any signs of exclusion in your workplace recently? Is there a colleague that always seems to miss out on an invite to Friday lunch? Isn’t offered a coffee when the rest have? Or perhaps has made you aware of more serious workplace bullying?
Come down hard on this – don't just hide behind your office door hoping change will happen overnight and all your colleagues will begin to get on. That isn’t going to happen.
Work cohesively with your HR team to carefully monitor for any signs of exclusion or bullying and once spotted, deal with it.

• Workplace Culture

Once you have nailed this zero-tolerance approach, what next? Embed it into your workplace culture.
Depending on the size of your business, this might be a short-term or long-term change. Mixing departmental reams regularly will offer colleagues an added opportunity to get to know different colleagues and branch out their work networks.
If you’re a smaller team, demonstrate with leadership that inclusion is high on your agenda by practicing it yourself – treat your colleagues to a coffee, include them on more client meetings – ensure that you practice what you preach in order to embed this approach within your culture.
 
Inclusive = Invincible
Make 2020 a success by ensuring your workplace breathes inclusion. Win the talent war by demonstrating that you take inclusion seriously and improve the working lives of your colleagues by taking a zero-tolerance approach to exclusion of any manner.
In 2020, an inclusive workplace might well mean an invincible workplace – make 2020 a success and get building an inclusive working environment. 

Irish professionals are taking their career beyond the limits of the 9-5 contract with the side hustle and improving their quality of life in the process.

Known as ‘slashies’ because their job title contains more than one occupation, these workers create a secondary job for themselves by turning a hobby into a second source of income. 

With Generations Y and Z entering the world of work, this multi-faceted professional lifestyle is here to stay as today’s worker becomes more and more professionally multi-faceted.

Employers may think ‘Why should I risk hiring a side hustler?’. Anyone not 100% dedicated to the company is a liability, right?

Wrong.

Having a passion outside of the business doesn’t make workers any less dedicated within the business, it allows them a creative outlet which speaks to who they are.

Against the background of high competition for talented staff, it is vital that employees’ hobbies are accepted and supported especially when they turn it into a side business!

While there are no official Irish statistics, the Independent revealed that almost two-fifths of UK employees have a side hustle and this figure is expected to continue to grow.

Are you ready to find out why these individuals are key to your workplace’s future? 
 
Here are the HR Department’s top 5 reasons why you should encourage your workers get in on the hustle…

1. Passion

Your employees’ passions come in all different forms so it’s important to encourage them to pursue them. Support for their personal interests outside of work will upkeep their passion for their job with you. This zeal will add a quality to employees’ work which is otherwise difficult to manufacture.

Encouraging new lifestyles for your workers to accommodate their outside interests whether through remote working or some other method will drive employee motivation during working hours because their personal needs are being met.

1. Security For You and For Them

With multiple sources of income, your employees will have improved job security and therefore, an improved sense of wellbeing. With less stress about paying for their expenses, employees will be more content with their salary.

This is not to suggest that you shouldn’t promote employees who deserve it but for SMEs who have less to spend on wages, it can be a great way of building profits until you can properly afford raises and other accolades for team members.

1. Highly Employable

One fear of employers is that the side hustle will detract from their primary job which is vastly untrue. In fact, a Forbes study revealed that 48% of side hustlers spend less than five hours a week on their external projects.  

Why are we put off by those who have start-ups or other businesses and yet we ask for self-starters on our job advertisements?

Those who are personally motivated to generate success in their spare time are often the types of individuals who take initiative and are very organised and it is these individuals who bring multiple types of experience which are invaluable to your SME!  

1. A Chance to Infuse Meaning 

Many employers focus on how their employees find meaning from their job but what about the meaning they find in their personal endeavours?

Helping employees find meaning in their life helps employees get into a forward-thinking mindset in which they feel able to create their future.

This boost in personal agency will help them feel more empowered to provide high-quality customer service and to be an integral contributor to the team.

A commitment to your employees’ meaning of life outside of work is going the extra mile for them, a gesture which will likely breed loyalty and emotional connection to your workplace.

1. The Opportunity for a Healthy Employer-Employee Relationship

One of the negative stereotypes about side hustlers is that their daily performance becomes drained by moonlighting.

It’s important to remember that a part-time passion doesn’t mean that their productivity during their full-time hours is necessarily in jeopardy.

Often while their side hustle brings them extra money and fulfilment, employees will want to stay in their fulltime job for the salary, stability and benefits it offers.

Building a give-and-take relationship with those who do other forms of work could unexpectedly boost the health of your business processes.  

An example of how this could be done would be to communicate that their other work can’t be completed during working hours but respect that you have no sway over what they work on in their own time. Boundaries and respect from both parties breed a stronger relationship.
 
Side Hustle in a Nutshell
We need to rewrite the narrative of the fickle side hustler as making passions a reality is key to your employees’ self-actualisation.

Side hustlers who are supported in their passions will feel more fulfilled and can therefore bring something extra to your business as positive company representatives, people with greater job security and unique skills from their wealth of experience.

While multi-faceted careers bring more to think about, it also gives you a greater opportunity to build a meaningful relationship with your employees, one that will last the test of time.

​So, how are you going to show your support of the side hustler today to embrace your workplace’s future? 

Running a business can be tough. Balancing time restraints alongside company targets and shareholder expectations can be a challenge for any boss. But ensuring your workplace promotes a healthy environment can bring a multitude of benefits.

The recession is no longer in Ireland. The country is experiencing an all-time-low post-crash unemployment rate of 5.3%. A talent war is underway – talent attraction and retention now relies not only on the job itself, but on what your workplace can offer staff.

During our “Fighting Fit” series, employee wellness has been explored, and how you, as an employer, can best support colleagues.

Now it’s time to ask yourself this question: Am I putting workplace health first?
 
Why So Important?
Depending on sector, workplaces can be busy minefields of deadlines, KPIs and office politics. While these are part and parcel of the daily running of a business, the health of the working environment can suffer if these things become a burden.
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• Performance

Whether your business is a coffee shop, a marketing agency or joinery team, performance is key. An unhealthy work environment can affect the performance of your business; unwell colleagues may take time off, effectively causing a loss of ‘hands’, and working hours.

Staff will grow unsatisfied with their roles when pressured by a negative workplace. Quality and motivation will deteriorate, and so too will your performance as whole.

• Reputation

A business often relies on its reputation as a key influence on sales, talent retention and attraction. As workplace health suffers, so too can your reputation. Staff may begin to resent you as an employer or organisation. Their family and friends will hear their negative views, causing a change in perspective towards your company.

If your performance suffers a result of an unhealthy working environment, your reputation amongst customers and future clients may also breakdown. Unable to attract great talent or great customers, your ability to grow successfully may be hindered.
 
How to Put Your Workplace Health First?
In this series of articles, the best approach to encouraging physical and mental health awareness amongst staff has been explored. Clearly employee wellbeing is key for your business, that’s no secret.

But this can be easier said than done. It’s time to put words into actions.
 

• Employee Wellbeing as Culture

Take a strategic approach to workplace health. While organising lunch time walking clubs and a charity marathon is great, these one-off initiatives will not produce long-term impact on your company culture.

A full employee wellbeing programme placed at the heart of your growth strategy has the potential to transform your business. Providing regular physical and mental health initiatives, such as those discussed in the previous articles, will revolutionise your company culture, get colleagues paying attention, and demonstrate your investment in the health and environment of your workplace.
 

• Employee Involvement in their Wellbeing

As you create this strategic approach, involve your colleagues from the beginning. Whether you lead a 5 person or 50 person team, all employees should have a voice on their own wellbeing.

Including your team will help identify key areas they want to focus on, including how they would like to improve their physical and mental health.

Having staff involved from the beginning will provide them with confidence to voice their concerns and ambitions, and foster a culture of openness towards the health of their working environment.

Today’s employers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of employee morale to their company. Instead of ignoring issues with team members, they are implementing ways to enhance overall employee satisfaction. One of most popular tactics is promoting creativity in the workplace. Here are some ways to use creativity, amongst other methods, to ensure your team members are in it for the long run.  
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Encourage collaboration
As a leader you should always be looking for ways to increase communication in your company. Frequent interaction will give employees a chance to get to know each other, resulting in a positive working environment. Importantly, greater collaboration translates directly into greater creativity and better problem solving thanks to the multitude of ideas and perspectives available.
 
Give workers a voice
Most workers lose satisfaction because they are made to feel unimportant or their voices can get drowned by other more extrovert personalities. Some of your employees will have ideas they don’t feel confident enough to share. Encouraging them will bring those ideas to the surface and some of them may be revolutionary to your company. One of the main reasons for lack of creativity is because it isn’t heard, so listen up.
 
Organise work stations so that your team are in close proximity, allowing them to converse. Creating a party for each employee on their birthday or milestone in their life such as an anniversary or engagement celebrations will be appreciated by your workforce. Don’t forget to arrange out of office events, including after work drinks, networking events or volunteering programmes.
 
Promote health and wellbeing
Bad health will negatively affect your workers motivation, denting your company culture. Start by educating employees on the importance of maintaining good health, provide books or organise talks.
 
Ensure your office is fully equipped with a fully running kitchen, have a microwave and fridge so that workers can bring in ready prepared lunches. Add a touch of creativity by organising health company competitions, for example have employees aim to lose a certain amount of weight and whoever loses the most wins a prize.
 
Don’t only focus on physical health, highlight the importance of mental health as well. Organise a weekly company counsellor to employees that may be highly stressed either in their work or personal life. Offer a discount for the local gym, exercise releases endorphins that helps both physically and mentally. This is important, a healthy employee equals a healthy working environment.  
 
Offer Flexitime
Flexible working hours and working from home options will accommodate all workers who each have different situations. Allowing a flexible schedule will increase overall productivity and gives increased job satisfaction, as it allows employees to get their work-life balance organised in a way that suits their lifestyle.
 
Allow regular breaks
Giving employees the freedom to take breaks will boost their productivity levels. Adding breaks into your work culture helps workers approach tasks in a calmer, but productive way. They can take five minutes out when feeling stressed about a looming deadline or project, which will help get their creative juices flowing again. 
 
Having a creative team is important for your company, so if you want to have a productive, motivated and insightful team of workers, follow these tips to ensure everyone is at their creative peak.

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​Zero hour contracts have received a great deal of media attention in both the UK and Ireland recently, and rightly so. While unemployment statistics are often cited and analysed, there is an increasing understanding of the need to look into exactly how people are employed rather than simply whether or not they have a job. It is essential to shed light on different types of contracts that are being issued to employees, not least to ensure that their rights are protected. So, what exactly is a zero hour contract?
 
In a nutshell, zero hour contracts are working arrangements wherein an employee must be available to work for a certain number of hours each week, yet employers do not have any obligation to give any hours to the employee. Employers, particularly those in businesses that experience seasonal highs and lows, tend to use zero hour contracts to increase flexibility and limit their commitment to employees.

While there are fewer employees on zero hour contracts in Ireland, it is estimated that a massive 1.4 million people are working on these contracts in the UK. Many employers have been criticised for taking advantage of employees by using zero hour contracts, as they offer next to no financial security for workers and can make achieving a comfortable work-life balance very difficult. In light of this, the Irish government is proposing a number of changes to the current legislation in Ireland that could impact both employees and employers. In this post I will discuss the current situation regarding zero hour contracts in Ireland, outline the Government’s proposed changes and detail their possible effects on Irish businesses.

The Current Legislation
 
Unlike in the UK, employees in Ireland who are on zero hour contracts are protected by the Organisation of the Working Time Act 1997. There is little more frustrating for an employee than being contractually obliged to work, yet not being given any hours. In order to protect employees on zero hour contracts falling victim to this, Section 18 of the Organisation of the Working Time Act states that an employee in this situation is entitled to be paid for 25% of the hours which they were required to be available for, or 15 hours pay – whichever one is less.
 
This at least ensures that employees on zero hour contracts are guaranteed a pay cheque, regardless of what hours their employer gives, or doesn’t give, them. It is important to note that Section 18 of this act does not cover ‘casual’ workers who are not contractually obliged to accept work from their employer.

What Changes Are Being Proposed?
 
In order to further strengthen protection for zero hour contract workers and boost their entitlements, the Irish government plans to make it illegal to hire an employee on a zero hour contract and give them no hours at all. Furthermore, in the event that a worker is called into work and does not receive the hours expected, they will get a minimum payment of three times the minimum wage or three times the rate stipulated in an Employment Regulation Order.
 
Finally, under the new proposals, employers will have to be much clearer about the terms of employment given to an employee. In fact, employers will be required to provide, in writing, five core terms of employment. This will include outlining how many hours the employer expects an employee to work in a given week.
 
How Will Employees and Employers Be Affected?

Clearly, these proposed changes are positive for employees, giving them increased financial security and more entitlements under zero hour contracts. However, employers must understand that the proposals could mean much more bureaucracy and a greater need for due diligence when it comes to employee management and drawing up contracts. Failure to properly understand and comply with any legislative changes that come into place could put employers at risk of criminal prosecution – all the more reason to keep a close eye on the status of the proposals and react accordingly.

Importantly, zero hour contracts suit certain employees and employers, especially due to their flexible nature. That being said, it is vital that businesses are transparent about the work contracts they are providing and that those contracts meet all legislative requirements. Keeping on top of changes in employment law is part and parcel of running a good, ethical business.
 
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When something goes wrong in business a common reaction is to try to shift the blame. More often than you may think, regardless of the position they hold, employees seek to find ways to avoid accepting responsibility for their mistakes. This leads to many companies having to deal with what is known as ‘the blame game’ on a regular basis. Of course blaming others - or indeed management processes - for mistakes is counter-productive and greatly decreases a business’ efficiency and effectiveness. Furthermore, it leads to companies wasting time finding out who, or what, caused a problem, rather than seeking to both solve and learn from it.

So, how can businesses avoid the blame game and encourage staff not to shift responsibility on to someone else when things go awry? Actually, one of the most effective ways of achieving this is through generating a strong, transparent and supportive company culture. Here are 4 ways in which HR can help create a company culture that turns the blame game on its head and boosts teamwork, productivity and efficiency.
 
1. Promote ‘Just Culture’ In the Workplace

Many industries, from aviation to healthcare to manufacturing, understand the importance of ‘just culture’ in the workplace. ‘Just culture’ – which makes up part of overall company culture - can be described as companies creating an environment wherein mistakes are seen as part and parcel of everyday business. Instead of being lambasted for their errors, employees are encouraged and supported to come forward if they do something wrong.

Businesses and HR departments that promote just culture facilitate honesty amongst employees and ultimately improve a company overall. It is only through employees owning up and having the confidence to face up to their mistakes that companies can learn and build upon errors that are made. A company that ignores ‘just culture’ risks having employees sweep mistakes under the rug, or incorrectly blame others for their wrongdoings, which can have hugely detrimental implications for a business.
 
As business owners and managers will know, more often than not mistakes are made because of bad management or incorrect processes. Harnessing a company culture that promotes admitting to mistakes allows businesses to learn and build upon them, ultimately improving company processes. Simply put, employees are much less likely to make the same mistake twice if their initial error has been openly discussed and they have been supported in rectifying it.
 
2. Ensure Psychological Safety
 
‘Just culture’ helps to foster an environment where employees are more honest and open, and therefore feel more psychologically safe. This is crucially important in business. Firstly, and most obviously, psychological safety of employees is essential in industries like healthcare and aviation where the psychological wellbeing of employees is vital to keep those that use the services safe.
 
However, it’s not just about keeping customers safe, ensuring employees feel psychologically safe is of paramount importance when it comes to the mental wellbeing of staff members. We all know the age-old mantra, a happy worker is a productive worker – and unsurprisingly a big part of that happiness comes from mental wellbeing. Businesses and HR professionals should empower employees to admit to mistakes by promoting the idea that, in owning up to a mistake, they are helping rather than hindering the company. This makes for a more open, happy workforce and more efficient and effective management processes. A win-win for all.

3. Encourage Looking Out For Each Other
 
Employees who feel isolated are more likely to try to cover up mistakes and, if they get away with it, they could fall into a vicious cycle of hiding wrongdoings. Making sure that employees look out for each other is an important way to improve teamwork and prevent covering up mistakes. Rather than making employees feel like they are grassing on one another, employers should encourage staff to assist those that seem under pressure and make sure workers know they can ask for assistance when necessary. Promoting the idea that employees are ‘all in it together’ is a great way to stamp out a cover-up culture and detect issues among staff early on. After all, early detection of an issue is the best way to prevent it from spreading and becoming a much bigger problem for the business as a whole.

4. Educate HR in Dealing with Reported Problems
 
Let’s be clear, mistakes in business are commonplace. There will always be issues that arise and making sure that the HR department is prepared to deal with problems which are reported is crucial to the smooth running of a business. Knowing how to support staff in need, how to correctly report, react and file an incident when it occurs, and how to treat those who have made a mistake in the correct and appropriate manner are all areas in which HR professionals should be well versed. As a department, HR is often the first port of call when it comes to reporting workplace problems – therefore it would be foolish not to ensure that all HR staff are well drilled in dealing with these situations as and when they arise.

Generating a company culture that treats mistakes as blips that are actually necessary for the advancement of the business not only empowers workers to admit to mistakes, it improves productivity and benefits a company in the long run.
 
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Rock? Classical? Pop? Or just silence? The jury’s still out on what kind of music, if any, should be listened to in the workplace. With many job postings now boasting access to great office playlists or the chance to pick the songs on certain days, employers are catching on to offering music as an office perk. There’s no doubt that in life, lots of us enjoy a good tune. However, whether that can, or should, translate into the workplace is another question entirely.

While this may seem like a non-topic, having tunes on in the office has the potential to increase employee wellness, making staff happier and more productive. But that’s not true for everyone. In fact, some people find themselves too distracted if music is blaring, or unable to concentrate even with a little background noise. As with many workplace issues, it’s all about striking a balance. So, here are 4 important points for employees and employers when it comes to listening to music in the workplace.

1. The Psychology Behind It
 
First and foremost, let’s talk about the psychology behind music in the workplace. Neuropsychologist, Dr. David Lewis, explains that music is a good management tool to be used for increasing the efficiency of your workforce and their mental wellbeing. One study back in 1972 even found that factory workers performed better when happier, upbeat music was played.

That being said, for some, music can be a distraction they can do without. Music also has the potential to trigger emotional responses in many people, especially songs with lyrics. To get around this, employers may choose to play instrumental songs, or indeed songs in a foreign language that mean nothing to those listening. This may avoid employees losing concentration and help them to focus on the task at hand. Alternatively, some suggest that it may be detrimental to listen to music while trying to complete tough, complex tasks. In this case, silence may be the way forward. At the end of the day, this all comes down to personal preference. If a consensus cannot be reached among employees, no music at all may have to be the solution. 
 
2. Think of the Genre

If you are going to pipe tunes around the office, it’s good to have a serious think about what genre you want to focus on. Maybe you want to find an eclectic playlist to try and fit in with everyone’s taste. Or, maybe you want to put the foot down and say that classical music is the only way to really focus the mind. Of course, the style of music you choose may depend on the workplace environment. No one is going to be pumped up in a gym by Beethoven’s 5th symphony and, equally, an IT consultancy may not want to play the latest trance tunes. Try to find a music genre or playlist that fits your office mood and the people you employ. What’s the best way to do this? Ask them.
 
3. You Might Need a Licence
 
Yes, you read that right, believe it or not, employers may need a licence to play music publically in the office. Here in Ireland, a PPI licence is required if you, as an employer, use copyright recorded music in public. Equally, in the UK, employers need a PRS for Music licence. These are in place to ensure that both record companies and performers are being fairly paid for the use of their music. There is a wide range of premises where the employer/owner are required to have a PPI licence – from shops to nightclubs to swimming pools. Be sure to check if your business requires a licence before putting the record on. 

4. Get The Level Right or Use Headphones
 
Finally, it’s really important that not only the genre, but the sound level of the music is appropriate to the office. Remember, you don’t want to drown out teams of employees working together with loud music. Alternatively, workplaces may want to opt for no music being played publically in the office, but instead to allow employees to listen to music personally using headphones. The downside to this is perhaps a loss of interaction between employees on the office floor – yet it may also cut down the office chit-chat. Again, it’s all about finding what suits your business environment and your employees best.
 
Undoubtedly music in the workplace can contribute to a positive company culture, a strong employer branding, and has the potential to improve workplace productivity. Just be sensible with the policy you enact, get a licence if required and make sure employees are happy with the choices you make – especially if you are in charge of the playlist.
 
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Everyone loves job perks. From flexible working hours to bring your dog to the office day, to free lunches, there are a whole host of incentives employers can offer their employees. Not only do incentives increase employee engagement and satisfaction, they are vital when it comes to promoting a creative and open company culture.
 
That being said, with so many different companies offering up a wide range of perks, it’s hard to know what to roll out to employees that’s both different and genuinely beneficial.  Of course, there are the old classics – commission, bonuses and flexible work arrangements. However, while these incentives are always welcomed, nowadays, more and more employers are looking past financial perks and coming up with more innovative, personal and carefully thought-out ways to encourage and reward their staff. 

So, here are 5 original ways to incentivise employees that you may not have thought of before:

1. Reward Wellbeing

Providing free or discounted gym memberships for employees is becoming more and more popular, especially as companies realise that a healthy workforce is likely to be a happier workforce. However, some companies are going a step further when it comes to rewarding wellbeing.  Online mattress maker, Casper, actually pays employees 2 US dollars a night for getting a good sleep – which is tracked by a fitness app called IncentFit. While this may seem over the top, there’s no arguing the need to be well rested in order to improve productivity.

In addition, there are a number of organisations, Casper included, which actively pay employees to exercise. While the monthly pay for exercise at Casper is capped at $130, this is nevertheless a great way to incentivise staff to get fit. Tech giants, Microsoft, have a similar set up - offering employees money to spend on fitness related activities. Who knew it could pay to burn calories?
 
2. Think of the Foodies

On the other hand, if exercise doesn’t incentivise staff, food will. When it comes to food perks, employers can put on quite a spread. Companies are offering free lunches, healthy breakfasts and fresh fruit all day every day – not only helping employees bond, but also ensuring they enjoy a healthy, balanced diet whilst in work. Of course, there are ways to get inventive with food incentives. Brunch on a Friday, a buffet to cure the Monday blues, or as Online Media Company, Thrillist, does, offer up an extravagant breakfast when a big deal is closed – there’s no limit to what companies can serve up. Now there’s some food for thought.

 3. Paid Birthday Holiday and Unlimited Annual Leave
 
Nothing says a company appreciates you quite like giving you your birthday off – especially when it’s paid! While it’s only one extra day of holiday a year, workers appreciate being given time off on special days to spend with family and friends. Believe it or not, there are in fact some companies - Netflix and Linkedin for example - who offer unlimited annual leave. Having a policy like this allows workers extended time to travel overseas or spend time with their families at particularly important moments and can be a very attractive proposition for those seeking a better work/life balance. Of course, employees must ensure that the work is covered while they are gone. It’s also equally important to make sure what you are offering is available to everyone to avoid facing a backlash from employees who feel they are discriminated against with regard to incentives.

4. In Office Yoga and Massages

Everbright, the event management company, believes that people who are working non-stop aren’t good employees as their productivity levels sink if they are over worked. So, to combat this, some companies encourage employees to take 40 minutes out of their working day for in office yoga, or a massage. A nice idea, especially if you have been sitting at a desk all day.

5. Free Beer
 
Yes, you read that right. Some companies actually offer free beer to their employees. Obviously, this takes a great deal of trust between employee and employer, but if managed correctly, it can be a nice perk – especially at 5pm on a Friday afternoon. Of course, it doesn’t have to be beer - staff could be offered smoothies or milkshakes to give them an extra boost throughout the day.

It goes without saying that not all of these perks are suitable for every organisation. Equally, original, innovative perks shouldn’t be limited to start ups or tech companies. The key is to get a feel for your workforce and offer what’s right for them.

There’s no doubt that original incentives are a great way for an organisation to stand out from the crowd. Not only do they get people talking, if they are well thought out, they have the potential to attract employees that are a great cultural fit for the organisation. However, always remember that when it comes to building a strong company culture, incentives and perks aren’t everything. Creating a meaningful culture that resonates with your employees and has the core values of the business at its centre is essential and will ultimately attract, and retain, talent much more effectively than a free lunch.

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