Employee absence from work can be costly for businesses. In 2015, the average level of employee absence increased to 6.9 days per person, per year (in 2014 it was 6.6 days). Effective absence management is essential to preventing job loss for companies and workers; it benefits both parties. The summary of the CIPD’s Sixteenth Survey of Absence Management Trends, Policy and Practice found that 60% of companies use their absence/attendance data as a KPI for their employees. These companies are proactive in monitoring and discouraging absence, therefore promoting health and well-being within their organisation.
HPC recently assisted a client in significantly reducing their absence levels. Our client’s short term absence rate was a problem. Following our review and suggested changes in practice, they reduced it by 70% - saving the business in excess of £1,000,000 per year.

Workplace disputes can be somewhat uncomfortable for all concerned, not to mention if an employee feels as though decisions that have been made are unfair or unjust. They could decide to appeal and have grounds substantial enough to support their claims, this may worry the employer who must deal with the appeal within certain timings.
HPC can assist companies by taking over the process on your behalf and ensure cases are handled efficiently and in a timely manner. Some clients may choose to utilise their ‘consulting hours’ for this service of support.

A performance appraisal, sometimes referred to as a performance review, is when an employee meets with their line manager to assess their recent performance and often set objectives for the coming year. It is a time when quite often, the employee has a chance to voice their concerns within their role and inform whoever necessary of any assistance or resources they will need access to in order to complete them.

HPC will support Management with their appraisals in a number of ways. First, may be to ensure all employees receive one and are aware of their objectives (as this is best practice for companies who aim to grow and develop). Or alternatively, Management may require some coaching in this area, our advisors can sit in and observe for you, or conduct the appraisal for you if this would be more suitable.

Psychometric testing is a structured means of testing how a candidate performs in relation to specific tasks, it measures their reaction to certain situations and the results give an idea of how the candidate will fit in with a job role and company.
At HPC, our consultants are fully qualified in conducting Psychometric Testing and can provide you with a comprehensive report on a candidate’s performance. This allows you to make an informed decision on how well the candidate will fit the role in question and what they would bring to a business as a whole - positive or negative. We would not offer you advice on employees which we would not take on board ourselves.

When growing your organisation the employer must consider which options best suit their business, whether this includes training current staff or recruiting new employees. Taking on staff is an investment and time should be taken to ensure that you do this well and that you attract candidates of the right calibre.
HPC can assist you through the recruitment and selection process from start to finish. We help with placing the advert, scoring and shortlisting applicants and also provide psychometric testing. We will work closely with you to determine what you require from a new employee and ensure that the position is filled by the most suitable candidate with your business’ best interests placed at the forefront of decisions.

Many businesses may be planning ahead for the future and have to consider making changes in job roles in order to restructure. At times they will have to consider cutting staff numbers to make ends meet, and for redundancies it is vital that Employers follow a factual and fair procedure.
HPC can provide you with guidance and support if you are having to consider any changes to your current workforce. As highlighted earlier, our packages will provide support in all areas of your HR, it is entirely up to you how you choose to use your consulting hours, we will not suddenly invoice you for hidden costs.

oneHR is a cloud based software product that can be used by employers and employees to streamline their HR admin & management. It removes hassles that paper based HR Management bring; all you need is a browser and internet connection – it is also smartphone and tablet compatible. The software is safe and secure with remote backup and an archive system so nothing will be completely lost.
It is a self-service solution, users are given login access dependent on their role in the organization. Each user has access to view and control information appropriate to their level. They can submit requests for Senior Users to manage such as, staff holidays, contracts of employment, policies and procedures, induction, appraisal, performance, sickness and other absences. The software has communication and task tracking features to ensure premium accountability within an organization.

Documentation outlining an employees terms of work, such as, employment conditions, duties, responsibilities and rights along with the organisation’s ethos and values - lay the foundations for a solid workplace relationship.
The types of policies and procedures you introduce will depend on the size and nature of your business. For example, if your staff operate machinery, we would advise on implementing a specific policy on drugs and alcohol use. If most of your staff use computers then you should create an email and internet policy. There are a number of benefits to implementing policies and procedures within your company.
A healthy workplace relationship, as we touched upon earlier is vital in all businesses. Irrespective of industry or job role, all companies must be legally compliant. Inclusive documentation for all employees is evidence for an employer that all were aware of rules and regulations within the business. Similarly, these standards set a precedent for what your company represents as a whole. Companies who focus on employee engagement, will see that productivity and morale follow suit, this also increases employee retention.
We would strongly suggest for every organisation to have a company handbook in place and that it is readily accessible to all. HPC can work with you to create clear and accessible policies appropriate for your business, sticking to legal requirements. We will then keep you updated with any changes in legislation and amend your policies accordingly.

You can use your allocated consultancy hours with your Advisor however you feel best. For example, to look at your Absence Management, Performance Reviews, Recruitment.