Coronavirus brought such a lot of disturbance and changes to our way of life that we’ll all be happy to see the rear of it. In any case, it’s hard to deny it carried some certain progressions to working life. From bosses receiving more open perspectives towards adaptable working to far and wide computerized change, numerous associations needed to fundamentally rethink workspaces, with HR pushed into the spotlight to assist organizations with navigating their employees, operational changes, and communication procedures every step of the way.

One part of HR’s boosted import was the employee experience, with most HR pioneers intend to focus on the Employee experience more exceptionally now than before the Pandemic hit. The Employee experience is approximately characterized as all the touchpoints an employee has with their boss, which incorporates each one of those regular minutes, for example, asking for a leave, finding data and the innovation/technology experience. A positive Employee experience implies happy employees, and happy employees are more engaged with their work, have higher job/position fulfillment, and are more efficient overall, Basically all the factors that have a positive impact on the business.

During COVID-19, its significance was given a boost, as employees inclined toward their bosses like never before to address their essential necessities of wellbeing, financial stability, and security. In any case, post-COVID-19, most Employee experience needs are advancing, with 2021 introducing an important chance for organizations to reconsider this imperative part of HR. We will distinguish five Employee experience patterns driven by COVID-19 that all HR chiefs should take forward into 2021.

 

Flexible Work Ethic

Coronavirus has without a doubt expanded the craving for remote/hybrid working. Employees who have a decision in when, where, and how they work to have more elevated levels of fulfillment, advancement, and job performance, which clarifies why almost half of employees will probably work distantly probably a portion of the time after COVID-19. 

Thorough research and social trends have discovered that employees working remotely see more beneficial outcomes on their everyday work are more drawn in, and have a more grounded feeling of well-being than those in non-remote positions with little adaptability do. So unmistakably organizations with flexible and remote working strategies set up will be most competitive with regards to pulling in and holding top talent in the job market.

 

Health and Wellbeing priority

Covid-19 negatively and heavily affected the public’s psychological well-being. Bosses had an all-inclusive obligation of care as the lines between work and home life were obscured, and emotional well-being turned into a need as employees experienced sensations of seldomness, work instability, and adjusting work and childcare obligations. It is reported that over 80% of associations took advanced actions with Employee Assistance Programs and online psychological well-being services and sessions for their employees during the pandemic. 

Focusing on wellbeing and safety in 2021 will keep on being just as significant. Companies should consider employee wellbeing comprehensively, consolidating the vital foundations of engagement, healthy eating, work out, and Employee Assistance Programs.

 

Vast Digital Transformation

Innovation and technology can heavily affect the Employee experience, yet an absence of sufficient work environment technology and systems is a recurring theme many employees have to face. As per a Deloitte report, just 38% of employees said they were fulfilled or exceptionally happy with business-related devices and innovation, which is a significant blow considering the tools available to us. 

During COVID-19, then again, digital transformation plans that once required a long time to execute happened in months and, at times, weeks and even days. 

This pattern has likewise seen HR and IT work in joint association to decide the best sorts of employee technology. The blast of communication channels and joint collaboration software like Slack has demonstrated the case for the more noteworthy implementation of such channels.

 

Key Feedback from Employees

All through COVID-19, businesses put forth a positive attempt to consistently check in with their employees while working in a dispersed work system. One method of doing this was through surveys to measure employee notion and gain much-needed feedback on better approaches for working – to check what worked, what didn’t work, and which work practices could proceed with post-COVID-19. 

As HR leaders see the advantages of continuous manager/employee communication, with most the HR leaders concurring that co-worker and employee criticism and feedback is key for positive results.

 

Data-Driven Approach

Similar to the point above, key indexes and data were behind a considerable amount of decisions being made around the Employee experience, with employees ready to give their honest opinion and feedback on areas that were and weren’t working for them. Similarly, as during COVID-19, bosses will want the capacity to understand and incorporate Employee experience data points, adhering to a few key Employee experience specific result metrics that can be effectively imparted and perceived – at all levels of the association – to pass on how employee side of the business is doing.

Boosting employee engagement in a hybrid workforce with the help of advanced digital tools such as the complete HR management of PeopleSonic is the modern way to go! Such software allows you to work with your employees and focus more on their engagement and productivity whereas the automated functionality does the rest for you. Keeping employees engaged with an online learning curve will not only help the development of related skills but ease their workload, which are all signs of a healthy workspace and engaged employee!

There comes a point in an organization’s growth where management of employees and related processes are not feasible unless you opt for HR Software. Small to medium businesses often face this issue, thorough expansion into an HR team may seem out of pocket and excessive yet the entire system needs to flourish regardless. By far most HR arrangements empower associations to do similar tasks in regards to the complete management of their staff and HR information, yet with a fluctuating level of refinement.

New Zealand took the initiative of optimizing the smart lockdown to minimize risk to its economy, as a result, many small or medium businesses despite taking an initial blow are still up and running. The same cannot be said for around the globe. The pandemic has brought down several components, so organizations are growing to the point where they require assistance in the management department and PeopleSonic has been the go-to option.

Whether your business is looking to jump towards HR Software for the first time or whether you’re looking for an upgrade to something more refined and capable, here is why companies opting for HR Software called Peoplesonic in New Zealand.

• What is an HR Software

HR software is the complete digital solution for overseeing and enhancing the day-by-day HR errands and in general HR objectives of an association. HR software makes it workable for HR staff and leaders to more readily assign their time and assets to more beneficial, productive, and profitable endeavors.

 

The rise of similar software is nothing new, with the emergence of computer technology in the ’80s, but now with cloud-based services the game has completely been changed. Presently, most new software is cloud-based, membership-based, effectively coordinated with other information the executive’s programs, and easily adjustable to an association’s requirements, objectives, and financial plan. To put it simply, there is currently an HR software answer for each size and kind of association.

With a super-fast setup, a whole host of powerful tools, and an intuitive platform you already know how to use, PeopleSonic makes things happen.

• Benefits

With a business already bustling in operations, how does HR software seamlessly fit in and what does it offer? The systems are usually very moldable, meaning you can customize each requirement and align it with your organization’s demand. Aside from the specifics, HR Software is great for decluttering your tasks and operations by efficiently projecting them onto a single platform. Here are a few key benefits your organization is missing out on:

 

1. The efficiency of the HR Team: Perhaps the quickest advantage of utilizing HR software is an improvement in the effectiveness of your HR team. Tedious, administrator-heavy tasks, for example, pursuing managers to finish probation, yearly audits, or simply put pesky tasks can be automated, and others like approving holidays or allowing leaves can be designated to leaders and workers through SSF or Self Service Functionality.

2. Employee Experience: Rapid growth in consumer technology means workers expect significantly more from the advanced digital gadgets and services/solutions their bosses give. In case you’re accustomed to utilizing your phone for everything from booking a Uber to ordering food or even buying a new outfit, you’d hope to have the same options for booking a vacation or glance at your benefits – and unquestionably not need to send a form or email to HR, for instance. Easy to use, very much planned HR software can assist with changing your employees’ impression of your HR office, from viewing it as an obsolete or ‘old-fashioned capacity to consider it to be one that is groundbreaking and a deliberately important empowering agent of good work.

3. Light on the pocket: Executing HR software will obviously include one-off expenses and if utilizing a cloud-based system, yearly membership costs. However, in the medium and long haul, your association should track down that the efficiencies the software brings and the time it recovers will either permit you to decrease staffing costs or permit you to redeploy your HR team on more essential activities. Better information precision should mean you experience fewer costly mistakes, as well.

4. Guidance on managerial decisions: Perhaps the most well-known disappointments related to keeping individuals’ information in dissimilar sources, or in unsophisticated HR systems, is a failure to quickly, automatically, and precisely report on key metrics. Great HR software should make it simple for you to discover, examine and report on individuals’ information that matters most to each capacity in your association – empowering you, supervisors, and senior partners to make more astute, all the more ideal choices. Having the option to give proof rapidly and simply to your thoughts and activities will likewise assist with solidifying the believability of HR with the more extensive organization.

5. Great improvement on regulatory compliance: Since you’ll store all of your employee information and related data in one place and have the option to send timely updates when an action needs to be made, your consistency with administrative requirements will be significantly better. Compliance regions where HR arrangements can assume a critical part incorporate GDPR consistency, option-to-work checks, and wellbeing and safety training. You’ll likewise find that HR programming will help you report on gender pay gaps and related issues, as well.

• What HR Softwares offer

HR Software helps an association’s HR office by automating manual assignments, keeping worker data coordinated, and making information-driven reports. This is completely done electronically, killing the requirement for paper reports. HR Systems can likewise serve workers and supervisors inside an association, helping with errands like time tracking, refreshing employee indexes, and performance management reports. Other key offerings for top HR Softwares such as PeopleSonic include:

1. Core HR
2. Payroll
3. Leave Management
4. Time and Attendance management

Growing and managing your business with the help of advanced digital tools such as the complete HR management of PeopleSonic is the modern way to go! Such software allows you to work with your employees and focus more on their engagement and productivity whereas the automated functionality does the rest for you. Keeping employees engaged with an online learning curve will not only help the development of related skills but ease their workload, which are all signs of a healthy workspace and engaged employee!

 

As the year 2020 finally draws to a close, there’s a lot we have to look back on. From the virus outbreak and long lockdown, we’ve adapted to a more digital approach in almost all aspects! Where we used to hire multiple employees in large rented spaces, now we’re working from home using much advanced and capable software to manage most tasks virtually, that too in an automated fashion! 

Managing businesses online efficiently is probably one of the few good things to come out of the year, so let’s recap on the best business management software 2020 had to offer. Bear in mind the list is in no particular order, yet all of the options are winners!

 

1 – Slack 

Slack is a channel based workspace that allows users to communicate via those custom channels. Slack is well known for its unique but well-made communication means. It allows users to interact with one another by texting or sharing files. It’s the perfect platform for an organization that has multiple departments and divisions. This is key for mass groups to share files and communicate based on their location, department, or team. Channels have the option to be public which allows anyone in the organization to view it or private which is open to a defined set of users. Slack has the ability to communicate with other businesses present on the platform, this allows for a complete virtual collaboration from each respective workspace. 

Slack also provides a host of other features such as searchable history, as files and messages are shared in vast amounts selecting or picking out a specific conversation can be tedious. Therefore the software includes a special search tool, which goes through all the messages as well as searches files if needed. The software boosts communication and therefore has a directory full of social and other apps to link with your workspace to get the most out of it. Alongside messaging, Slack also allows for the users to have a group call and even allows screen-sharing for mindful presentations. 

 

 

2 – Trello

Trello is your one-stop-shop for project management, with the inclusion of its marketing, HR, sales, and even web development options it truly is a fit for anyone. The options don’t stop there though, as Trello has a variety of other integrations to help boost productivity and functionality, a few top examples would be the likes of Google Drive and Slack. Trello helps you manage the entire organization from one platform, its host of integrations allows for added functionality and connectivity.

The software even has its own help bots which aid in your initial understanding and even carry out some basic tasks! Some of which include calendar commands, due date commands, custom card buttons, and even rule-based triggers. The web-based software works in a simple drag and drops manner, leaving the user with a plethora of customization options. The simple and intuitive interface carries efficiency on its back. The addition of Trello mobile applications means you’ll always be in touch and always in sync.

3 – Jira

Get your workflow going with Jira! Its project planning and workflow mapping software guides you through your clustered work much more efficiently. Jira offers a wide array of options when it comes to viewing your work, Kanban boards, reporting tools, charts, and flowcharts help you visualize what you need to get done. Its versatile software implementation means Jira can be integrated with almost all external software. You’ll be able to link your data to various platforms from one planner. The simple connection from a user to the company account means that you’ll be able to merge existing goals seamlessly. The added connectivity bonus allows for Jira to be scaled and adjusted to your liking with premium security protocols.

Jira features different views for your own unique style and preference, maybe you like the detailed Kanban board or maybe you only want to work on what’s pending with scrum boards. Jira has it all plus accurate roadmaps and a reporting system. The software takes personalization and editing to a whole new level with its build application and integration. It does way more than track your progress and pick out bugs, it’s the whole catch!

4 – Todoist 

Remove the clutter and re-organize your life with Todoist. The ultimate tool for organizing all aspects of your life from work to leisure to fitness and even travel! The complete task manager for even the most minuscule of tasks. It’s simple and open view allows for you to capture what you need to know at a glance, and has notifications for the slightly more time accurate tasks. Todoist simplifies it all for even the least tech-savvy people, the inclusion of templates for work, gym, and groceries are all readily available for use.

Todoist features are all you would expect and more, some notable features include priority setting for tasks, grouping, quick add, sharing common tasks with colleagues, and drag-drop accessibility for your ease. It also includes summary reports as well as productive visuals for you to keep track of yourself. The app is universal and is available on IOS as well as Android. The connectivity doesn’t stop there though, Todoist can be integrated with almost all your existing software management tools. So not an inch of productivity is lost!

5 – Peoplesonic

PeopleSonic is your complete Integrated HR and payroll management system. Whatever task you need to be done efficiently and accurately, PeoplsSonic has the resources to make it happen! The light and simple interface from the get-go is just what your device needs. Followed by options such as superfast company set-up and flexible customization options just add to its benefits list. PeopleSonic helps you set up your organization how you want it, from the comprehensive online support, premium privacy, no hidden charges and to top it all off, multiple integration options to extend your productivity with the software.

With its complete HR solution, PeopleSonic has almost all the necessary tasks automated for maximum efficiency. The consumer has full control over what goes into the system and can oversee the transparent automation if any amendments need to be made. A few key features relieve the need for a designated HR team, such as the Core HR which overlooks all HR management from one panel. It includes all you need to manage employee data effectively. Payroll management allows for you to set-up easily and automates your payroll, without having to tediously go through each account over and over again. Similarly, managing your employees’ timings and attendance has never been easier, with complete and accurate data being displayed for working hours and leaves. Speaking of leaves, the software looks into leave management just as well, assigning a paid or unpaid leave depending on the scenario and set-up. To finish it all off, the system is capable of creating timely and accurate reports whenever needed so you can see it all in just a glance!

6 – Bitrix24

Undoubtedly the top name when it comes to complete suite management. Bitrix24 grasps all aspects of digital management including all communication and collaboration tools. From a large-scale business perspective, Bitrix is the solution, as it’s a complete business management software with almost all the bells and whistles. The software has many perks but the main one would be its large collaboration with social networks and integrations.

Bitrix is packed full of features related to the top fields such as communication, tasks, CRM, website linking, and contact centers to name a few. The top features include HD video and conference calls, a variety of chatting options, work time tracking, cloud storage, reports, and workflow automation. The plethora of options allows you to take whatever business model you may have digitally without any compromise.

 

7 – Odoo

Odoo is yet another complete management software that offers a wide range of applications and tools to boost your management drastically. Odoo covers a lot more than just the basic management topics, it has CRM, accounting, eCommerce, inventory, project management, and POS just to name a few. Odoo is definitely packed to the brim with options and the best part? Odoo isn’t shy or far from the rest when it comes to integration, with hundreds of applications at your disposal.

Top features include customizable dashboards, a unique framework for you to get the most out of the system, real-time communication, and syncing to keep your work ready even on the go. You could take any business route with the help of Odoo and still wouldn’t run out of features to explore.

8 – Xero

Crunching numbers, fluctuating figures, and timely bookkeeping is a daunting task for any accountant, but what if there was an assistant that managed this all for you? Xero is the future of accounting, with its up to date features capturing the essence of managing accounts. It is the ultimate tool whether you’re a small business, accountant or even looking for an ideal book-keeping software. It’s easy accessibility as software and seamless connectivity with your bank, Xero is the top candidate for your financial ease.

Zero does not shy away from features, featuring all the glamorous tools you would hope for. Ranging from minute tasks such as bill payments, scaling to bank connections, and even going as far as claiming expenses just from your phone, laptop, or any other supported device. Easy tracking of multiple projects, contacts, and data allows for Xero to create precise and custom reports tailored to your very needs!

Whether you are part of the HR team for a large business, or the sole face of HR for a small firm, the a-z of managing time-off taken by employees, i.e. leave management, is a complicated, lengthy affair. For smaller businesses especially, there is often the added hassle of having to use a manual, non-centralized system, even if it is augmented with tools such as spreadsheets and macros to automate those sheets.

What does this mean for the HR personnel managing leaves? Is there really enough of a verifiable improvement to automating leave management that can justify discarding established practices? Let’s find out. 

Understanding The Need For Automation Of Leave Management

Remember the manual or non-centralized leave management system referenced earlier? Here’s what that means for you, the HR: 

It means that you are stuck collating leave applications from phone calls, Zoom calls, emails, text messages and IM apps like WhatsApp or Messenger onto a central location; following up with team managers for approvals and then collating that while also informing employees on the outcome. This doesn’t even factor in keeping track of leaves accrued by each individual employee and the back and forth involved with team leads in getting the necessary approvals – it’s all too much! How can you keep everyone up-to date at all times if you are doing this manually?

Another essential reason in favour of automation applies to those businesses who have employees spread globally – you need to ensure your business is adhering to the labor laws of the employees’ home countries. All those country-specific variances need to be calculated and associated with the right employees, manual management leaves a chance for human error which would have tough consequences. 

The Benefits of a Dedicated Leave Management System

The case for automation is strong, but we understand that businesses need to see tangible benefits to adopting an entirely new process. Let’s speak in those terms.

The biggest benefit by far to any organization adopting a leave management system is the simplicity and ease-of-use. This applies to everyone from the employee to the team leads, admin and HR personnel accessing the system on the employer side. 

For HR, it cuts down the inconvenience of keeping track of leave requests (especially, as mentioned above, they come from a variety of sources) and associated follow-ups. Employees and employers alike can keep track of an application in process and not have to wait for a timely response to their communique. 

For managers and team leads, it cuts down the hassle of scrolling those massive spreadsheets looking for information on a specific employee’s leave entitlements. If they are using a modern, smarter HR platform like PeopleSonic , they will also have access to a centralized dashboard where they can easily see the status of every employee, summary reports and leave types accrued. This allows effective communication between employees and managers, and enables them to schedule workloads accordingly and prevents loss of productivity due to someone’s leave notification slipping through the cracks.

What does this all amount to? In a sentence: increased productivity. This happens in several ways. First, it frees up HR significantly by reducing the tedium associated with leave management. That time can be spent in pursuing holistic improvements to the company instead of being spent on admin tasks. Second, it gives managers a clear view on which team members are scheduled for leave and planning projects and work tasks accordingly, saving significant time costs. A major admin cost associated with manual leave management was the problem of planning around leaves that employees were entitled to in a way that did not impact productivity and waste resources. Leave management systems can make that a thing of the past.

Let’s say you’re convinced to make the jump, what leave management system do you choose? There are a few available in the market but every business’s needs may vary, so the platform needs to be customizable while also affordable – small businesses often can’t afford to splurge. Here are some of the things you should look out for to find the leave management system that is right for you.

What A Great Leave Management System Brings To The Table

Compliance

As companies become increasingly global, there is a greater proportion of remote employees based in countries around the world, each with their own set of labor laws and even public holidays! 

Any modern leave management system needs to be able to handle this variety, and in fact provide instant information to HR and management about a specific country’s specific leave types, rule-of-law requirements and any other legalities necessary to operate ethically. 

This may seem like a small thing, but adherence to labor laws is the cornerstone of a good working relationship between employees and employers and needs to be catered to by your leave management system.

Real-Time, Anywhere Access

In the era of an always-online workforce, your leave management system needs to be on par with those technologies. That means a UI that is web and mobile friendly, real-time status of leave entitlements and applications in-progress, simplified request forms and approval steps and flexibility to modify relevant parameters (leave types, application rules and reporting hierarchy) as needed by the business.

Frankly, if a platform is limiting you on how you or your employees access it, that is not the HR platform for you.

Peace Of Mind

The primary goal of shifting to any smart, automated system is peace of mind. Once it is set up, you never want to have to consider any of the problems that existed before it. For a leave management system, that means it provides peace of mind to HR in the following ways: no more time wasted checking the public holiday calendar of a specific country, or tracking down managers regarding signing off on leaves, or having to search through complicated datasheets to calculate leave balances. 

Peace of mind also means flexibility to adapt to any business’s evolving requirements and rules. The ability to have standard, pre-configured rules and regulations promises ease of implementation, the freedom to update or modify those rules per department or per team means that every employee and manager is happy to keep things operating to their own needs. 

And finally, a great leave management system, as part of an effective HR platform, provides peace of mind by removing human errors (in calculations, reporting or planning) and leveraging the data-driven leave system (among others) to give the business greater power in making informed, strategic decisions.

In a year where a global pandemic has impacted every aspect of businesses, HR has not escaped unscathed but in fact have had to adapt the fastest to the slew of new issues faced by employees and coming up with helpful, impactful solutions. A modern, flexible leave management system that can encompass a change as drastic as that one could mean the difference between failing business and one where employees remain engaged and satisfied as we work together through these trying times.