Here at eBOS, payroll is something we are often asked about by our small business customers. We don’t blame them, it can be an incredibly complicated process to set up and it requires attention at regular intervals – which means training and check-ups to ensure everything is running correctly.  Many small businesses wonder if they really need to set up and run payroll at all, especially if they are simply a one or two-man band. But payroll isn’t just a Read More…

Have you ever had an employee suddenly hand in their notice, apparently out of the blue? It’s a confusing event, especially if the employee seemed happy with their job until that point. We often hear managers complaining that their best employee has left, but they aren’t sure why. There are few things more disruptive and costly than a good employee walking out of the door, so those managers do have something to complain about. But what they fail to realise Read More…

Why is a new business born? A spark of an idea. A frustration at the faceless corporation they have been slaving for without reward. A desire for a true sense of ownership over their future, and the returns that go with it. A group of people break away and form their own start-up, achieving that long desired liberty. Late nights are spent brainstorming over pizza and wine where everyone’s opinions matter and are given equal time. It’s easy at this Read More…

For many business owners, trying to manage everything can seem like a never-ending task. But instead of getting help tackling their massive ‘to do’ list, they struggle on by themselves, often sacrificing efficiency in the process. This is often because they think that hiring a full time, a physical assistant is the only option to achieve the level of support they need. However, using a virtual assistant can shave hours from your workweek and remove all of the pesky small Read More…

While the law for automatic enrolment was first introduced for big businesses back in 2012, the next few years are when we will start seeing the real effects for smaller businesses. By 2018 all employers must not only offer a workplace pension as a benefit for employees, but they must also automatically enrol all employees into the scheme. But what impact will that have on smaller businesses and how can you prepare for the changes in advance? Auto-Enrolment At A Read More…

As an employer, your employee handbook is one of the most important tools in your arsenal. This simple booklet can save you a lot of time repeatedly answering the same questions; simply by detailing your company’s policies, practices and employee benefits all in one place. By investing some time into your employee handbook you can effectively communicate what an employee should expect from your company, and what you expect from them. Each employee should then sign a statement saying they Read More…

Once the domain of big corporate organisations, today, thanks to the growth of small specialist consultancies and cloud-based online services, SMEs across the UK can now offer comprehensive benefits packages to their employees – with minimum cost, admin and fuss. And after salaries, perks are a key factor in attracting talented people to join your business plus helps retain then. What’s more it’s often not about ‘tangible’ benefits but more about a caring / sharing culture that motivates staff. The Read More…

Most employees rely on a regular and correct pay cheque, which makes payroll one of those expenses that must get processed on time come rain or shine. Even the most basic of payroll mistakes can cost your business time, money and can even result in personal penalties for the business owner, so it’s really important that your processes are well established and run smoothly at all times. Sadly, many businesses make mistakes with their payroll, particularly in the beginning and Read More…

It might seem odd for us to be talking about people skills, but actually they are one of the most critical skills anyone in the workplace needs; particularly if you are working within HR and/or payroll. HR professionals will often categorise skills into ‘hard’ (skills that apply to specific functions, like computer programming) and ‘soft’ (skills that embrace all interpersonal relationships in selling a company’s products or services, including people skills). While the ‘hard skills are incredibly important, in order Read More…

According to statistics released by the department for Business Innovation & Skills, there are now an estimated 4.5 million private sector businesses in the UK. The majority of those businesses are one man firms that don’t employ any staff. For the 1.2 million businesses that do, paying their staff is one of their top priorities. But sadly it’s not as simple as doing a bank transfer every month. There are laws which dictate how tax and national insurance must be deducted, how Read More…