Spring Has Arrived!

Hurrah, today officially marks the start of Spring which means that we’ve finally made it out of the long, dark, dreary months and are hopefully, in store for some better weather. It sure has been refreshing to see sunshine this week!

Naturally, we see a shift in people this time of year, moods are lifted, people start to feel more energised and morale’s generally boosted. So, how can employers tap into this and get the most from their team during this time?

Appraisals and Company Goals

Well, for many businesses, this time also coincides with the start of a new appraisal period, so use this as a positive opportunity to reset, refocus, and look forward. These meetings are not just valuable for the individual, but when they are done right, they can hugely benefit the business. Don’t miss this opportunity by approaching these meetings as a paperwork exercise; use them to align your staff with the Company’s goals and establish how best to support them. We all know that hiring is not just expensive, it’s also arduous, so why neglect the talent you already have?! 

Wellbeing Initiatives

This time of year, also provides a great opportunity to roll out wellbeing and engagement initiatives. People are more likely to want to socialise, get outside and take on new challenges. Perhaps, this could be something as simple as setting a step challenge for the office, encouraging them to get away from their desk and reset at lunch.

With the brighter mornings ahead, it could even be something as simple as starting an early morning coffee club for your early risers or after-hours drinks (it doesn’t have to involve alcohol) for those who function better in the afternoon/evening. Find what works for your business; after all, a happy and healthy workforce makes for a productive one!

Sickness Absence

Speaking of health, you may also see a reduction in sickness absence as we move towards these warmer, brighter months. This, I imagine, will be a welcomed relief for employers as the new sick pay reforms begin on 6 April. That said, it’s worth noting that spring/summertime can present its own set of absence challenges; after all, us Brits do have a reputation for heading straight to the beer garden and getting the barbecue out at the mere sight of sun! Given that Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is set to become payable from day one, it’s vital for employers to not just have a sickness absence policy in place but to proactively use it.

Holiday Requests

We also typically start to see more holiday requests coming in at this time of year, with people wanting to maximise their days off around the bank holidays, book time off during school holidays or from those who are just ready for a break! To ensure minimal disruption to the business, employers are advised to have a clear holiday policy in place, setting out how requests should be made and how they will be dealt with. This will allow you to fairly manage requests whilst maintaining operational efficiency.

If you are noticing as we near towards the end of the first quarter of the year that some individuals haven’t got any plans to take leave yet, or you have individuals who notoriously fail to book time off, then it’s time to start prompting them. This will enable the business to evenly distribute leave throughout the year rather than it being crammed into the later months.

If you would like further information on any of the above or require HR support creating and implementing legally compliant policies or employment issues. Please do not hesitate to contact us.