Most employers will have an IT, Communications and Monitoring Policy that enables them to check emails and social networking sites if allegations of cyberbullying are alleged. Monitoring should not come as a surprise and the policy needs to ensure that monitoring obligations are quite clear. All monitoring should be compliant with all GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. 

The gender pay gap has become a hot topic in the last few years. Some shocking figures have come to the fore from big and small businesses revealing the stark differences between the pay of men and women. For example, a full quarter of SMEs admit there is a very real gender pay gap in their industries.

This type of imbalance can have a very real effect on a business and its operations. Let’s dive in and see what the issues are and how to address the gender pay gap.

Talent and Its Value

One of the main issues affecting many SMEs is the struggle with finding and retaining the best talent. If an employee feels they will – or are – earning less than a fellow worker simply because of their gender, this problem is only compounded.

We extol the virtues of hard work and talent yet, when it really comes down to it, many female employees are less valued simply because of their gender. A talented, driven employee should see the rewards and not feel that a co-worker, who may be less talented, earns more simply because they are a man. It creates a sense of injustice and resentment towards the business. This employee is then less likely to give their all, because they know they aren’t valued as they should be.

A good working relationship is all about trust, and a gender pay gap severely undermines this.

Assess Yourself

One of the most important parts of off-setting a gender pay gap is to conduct a thorough self-audit. Go through your historical and current pay records and look at the figures. They won’t lie, and they’ll show you exactly where an imbalance is if there is one to find.

It may be that the differences you find are justifiable on the grounds of seniority, experience and talent. If not, you need to assess what the figures are saying and move to address any unfairness they reveal.

Transparency

This is an important step as it shows two things: you are fully aware of the wider issue of gender pay differences, and you are taking concrete steps to address it.

Transparency in your pay structure and levels will show current and prospective employees that you are putting the best foot forward and are keen to foster a fair, balanced workplace where talent and hard work are the only factors affecting pay. This should be something you are proud of and will mark your business as a progressive and modern outfit to potential talent.

Get in touch today for solutions to your business finance needs. With a range of options available, GIC Capital will work with you to find the right financing solution for your business. 

The e-commerce industry has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, fuelled by a continuing reliance on technology as well as a complete shift in the way that people shop.

While it harbours many benefits for businesses, one area that it can fall down on is customer support and interaction. So, how can businesses continue to practice good communication with their customers via e-commerce platforms and why is it so important?

Customers expect it

You might not realise it, but customers shopping on e-commerce platforms actually expect businesses to interact with them. Most of the time this is because they feel that they need assistance with shopping. A survey even revealed that 83% of online shoppers expect assistance within 5 minutes of visiting a site. In the interest of keeping your customers happy, it’s vital that you have a responsive communication strategy in place for your e-commerce site. 

It ensures that you are seen as a reliable company

With so many rogue traders now operating on the internet, anything that you do to distinguish yourself as being reliable is beneficial. Engaging is positive communication with your customers is one way to do this. When you are just establishing your business on an e-commerce platform strong communication will ensure you are distinguishable from your competitors.

It builds brand awareness

Another important element for businesses that are just establishing themselves, strong communication between employees and customers will help to build brand awareness. There really is no better way to promote your business than through good word of mouth. Customers who have had a positive experience shopping on your site are much more likely to be speak favourably of your services to their friends and family, thus resulting in more business for you.

It improves attitudes and relationships between employees to

If you want to build a strong and successful business it is absolutely vital that there are good working relationships between your employees. Good attitudes towards customers is likely to lead to positive reviews which will boost morale and also improve productivity and efficiency within your workforce.

If you’re struggling to keep your team motivated, consider the benefits of encouraging more customer communication and rewarding positive reviews and progress. 

When it comes to recruiting, you need to make sure that you have a standardised method in place that makes it easy for hiring managers and recruiters to do their jobs effectively. You also need to consider how you can tailor your recruitment process so that it matches up with your business objectives.

Sure, you need to employ someone that has the essential skills and can do the job that is required of them, but if you only recruit based on this basis, it’s likely that you run the risk of employing someone that doesn’t mesh well with your core business values.

In much the same way, if you prefer your employees to work in a more independent way, you may want the person you are interviewing to demonstrate a time that they achieved well on their own.

In much the same way that you want your customers to have a worthwhile experience when they invest in your company, you want to candidates to enjoy themselves to. Consider ways that you can make the interview process more fun for people.

You could ask that everyone from the team that they are being considered for meets and greets them to help build relationships from the get go. You could also provide food and drinks and offer candidates a tour of the work premises. All of these things will ensure these individuals will perform, stay motivated, and want to stay with the organization.