Leading retailer reduces grievance and tribunal costs with help from Qikker

Qikker’s epad compliance solution is deployed to streamline key health and saftey procedures whilst reducing administrative overhead.

A major high street retailer was facing rising grievance and tribunal costs on a quarter-by-quarter basis. Problems with enforcing paper-based Health & Safety training and compliance procedures left the company exposed, as evidence to defend against claims was lacking. The retailer turned to Qikker to provide a cost-effective software solution that would prevent claims from being lodged in the first instance.

Qikker’s web-based epad Compliance tool met the company’s need for a cost-effective solution that could be quickly implemented and that was compatible with the company’s evolving strategy to deliver IT to several hundred stores.

"We selected the Qikker epad compliance solution because it met our selection criteria," explained the Companies Operations Director. "Not only did it address our immediate needs, but could be configured to meet our anticipated requirements over time”.

Organisations are facing a 43% increase in employee tribunals and Health & Safety claims. This is in part due to today’s increasingly litigious environment, driven by a culture of “No win, no fee”. Whilst no responsible employer would dispute a legitimate claim, the stark truth is that numerous spurious claims are being brought that cannot be successfully defended due to a lack of evidence of appropriate health and safety training or guidance. For many organisations this can easily run into hundreds of thousands of pounds in legal costs, awards and lost productivity through wasted management time reviewing cases.

Qikker’s web based epad Compliance tool has been specifically designed to help HR departments to administer, monitor and report on compliance procedures more effectively. Qikker’s epad Compliance tool:

• Lets clients define the compliance needs, and associated training interventions, per role/individual, that matter to their business;

• Has automated monitoring and recording of individual, team, or company completion to avoid exposure to unnecessary tribunal actions;

• Provides full reporting, with audit trail, avoiding lost productivity through wasted management time reviewing cases.

“Our Compliance application is one of the optional productivity tools available as part of our epad HR Portal solution that enables clients to automate key HR processes and allows implementation of self service, whilst protecting investments in existing HR systems and tools”, explained Dave Inman, Business Development Director for Qikker. “More and more companies, especially in the retail sector, are having to respond to the 43% annual increase in H&S claims and general employment tribunals. H&S and employee management process compliance recording is no longer an option, but a cost driven imperative”, concludes Inman.

New Interactive Microsites

A faster, more versatile approach to finding the information you need!

Qikker is pleased to launch its new series of interactive micro-sites dedicated to understanding how best to manage and engage your top performers in the current credit crunch.

The link opposite will take you to Business Case – Series 1 which explores the need for finger tip access to critical people data to enable accurate and informed operational decision making.

Please interact with the micro-site in the way you would with a full website.

I do hope that you find the information of some interest and value.

Yours sincerely

Dave Inman

Business Development Director 

To view the microsite just ' Click here ‘

The Role of HR in Turbulent Times

Only 29% of over 150 Directors and Senior Manager respondents said that they do use people metrics when making operational decisions. 

This latest research on this important topic looks at the efficiency and effectiveness of HR during an economic downturn as well as how businesses engage and communicate with their employees. 

Download your copy of 'The Role of HR in Turbulent Times' - no registration is required. 

CLICK HERE to download. 

Businesses in danger of new strategies failing, says new Qikker research

Only 29% of organisations use people measures when making operational decisions.

24% say that laying off low performers is a high priority. 

Businesses are not calling on HR to provide a sound basis of metrics and measures regarding business decisions, says new research commissioned by Qikker called ‘The Role of HR in Turbulent Times’. Nearly a quarter of businesses (23%) never use people measurements and metrics when making decisions and a further 48% only use them occasionally. This is despite over 83% of respondents stating that the setting and alignment behind clear organisational goals is of the highest importance.

“Businesses must be able to change and adapt quickly to the shifting economic climate,” says Mark Barlow, Managing Director of Qikker. “It is madness if operational decisions are being made without taking into account the human element as strategies are delivered through people. When the economy is so turbulent, businesses need to be guaranteed that a new strategy has every chance to succeed. This is no time to be taking risks and making potentially business damaging decisions.”

Measures that are important to business decisions

The research was conducted by VMH Associates and interviewed 121 senior-level HR professionals. The most important measurement when making business decisions is succession planning, with 42% saying this is a high priority. This is closely followed with development needs (37%), goal alignment (32%) and employee engagement (32%). Yet, establishing Talent Profiles was only seen as important for 21%. This is a potential contradiction, given that Talent Profiles provide the greatest ability to objectively measure the depth of organisational capability and potential. 

Changing priorities for HR

The research shows that there are also changing priorities for HR driven by events around the world. 83% say that establishing clarity of goals and aligning the workforce to execute a new strategy has increased in priority. 62% also state that communicating and engaging with employees is a high priority. 40% are focussing on core talent and investing where it counts.

Driving organisational efficiency

An interesting observation is recognition of the need to improve organisational efficiency around HR processes. Nearly 70% of respondents have identified that taking measures to avoid double entry of information is key, with two thirds stating that the related replacement of 'paper based' admin tasks, such as absence recording, and performance / development functions is high on the agenda. However, initial analysis confirms that paper, or no formal process, still represents the norm for more than 60% of organisations surveyed. 

Impact of the economic climate

Over a third of HR professionals (35%) believe that the economic climate is having a high impact on their organisation. 64% also say that now is the time to consolidate and minimise risk. 

HR efficiency in meeting business needs

HR does believe that it has value to add to strategic decisions made within the business. 30% say they are very efficient at meeting business needs with over half (55%0 believing they are quite efficient. 

"There is an obvious disconnect between what HR is achieving for the organisation and the true value placed on measurement," says Mark Barlow. "If you don't know the right way to go, any way seems like a good idea. This is what happens when measurements and metrics are not applied when making operational decisions. The business needs to recognise the value of people measures. HR needs to be more forceful in demonstrating how metrics can deliver value to business decisions."

Unlock Employees' Potential

Free white paper 'Changing the Game: 4 Ways to Unlock Your Employees' Performance Potential'.

Our latest Guide gives you revolutionary ways to adopt a strategic approach to HR and release the true potential of your company.

'Changing the Game' is based on insights from HR experts and real success stories. Aimed at small to mid-sized business this Guide will help you:

• Match employee efforts with company objectives

• Keep employees energised and engaged

• Develop a pay-for-performance culture

• Automate your performance management processes 
  

The Guide includes how other companies have tackled strategic HR issues and the benefits they have received. 

For your complementary copy of 'Changing the Game' Click here

'Changing The Game' is part of a series called HR Insider Series. Other Guides and White Papers can be found in Qikker's Resource Centre. Click here