Category: Time Management

Laissez-Faire vs Autocratic

With the 2020 Euro qualifiers now in full swing the England campaign under Gareth Southgate’s quiet, gentle leadership is as steady as ever. Since taking over the England reins, he’s emerged as the ‘Big Brother’ of the squad and that’s not only apparent with his laid-back approach to the line-up but also his backroom staff.

Is a Laissez-Faire style of management developing within the England camp?

Laissez-Faire, ah yes, the old ‘hands off ‘minimal micro-management, no daily meeting approach. Apple’s Steve Jobs was a committed believer…..apparently.

French for “leave alone” Laissez-Faire is to all intent and purposes the position to adopt if a ‘leave in peace’ method is required. It’s the most agreeable tactic to assume, so long as you’re happy allowing your line-up the freedom to rock out and be C R E A T I V E.

But does this mean that traditional management styles are no longer essential for success, have they become an out-of-date, unnecessary waste of time?

Like the ‘Beautiful Game’, are managers switching tactics at half-time if their time-tested leadership method is failing, particularly on the next generation of workers?

Let’s look at the top 5 recognised management styles.

Coaching
A coach identifies strengths, weaknesses and is effective at setting goals for the team. They understand how everyone on their team ‘ticks’ and recognises that everybody has something different to bring to the table.

The Visionary
A visionary will drive and inspire others, will always be looking ahead and will be creative with fresh ideas and concepts. A manager who looks at the bigger picture and how notions can be transformed for the better whilst understanding that new ideas take time to be perfected. Focus is given to the end prize not the current position.

Servant
Servant leaders are people-minded and invest heavily in personal development. They are particularly good with employee well-being, morale and satisfaction. Amiable, caring and agreeable whilst seeing both sides of the argument.

Autocratic/Authoritarian
The dreaded military style leader is focused purely on results and efficiency and will make decisions solo or with a small principle group. Workers subjected to this type of austere leadership believe they are just ‘a number’ and therefore not recognised as an individual. The autocratic leader usually sees the cost to the company and not the person behind it.

Democratic
A democratic leader will always ask for input. A manager who not only recognises that others have voices and opinions worth listening to but who is open to constructive criticism and who welcomes a two-way street approach within meetings, which, as every leader worth their salt recognises, is valuable.

Whatever management style you choose to adopt for your ‘squad’ Ceequel® Biometric Time and Attendance Management software will not only help you deliver the results that you require for your entire workforce but maintain and sustain them.

ELF Productivity Ltd and Ceequel® software, reliable, steady, always developing and constantly improving.

For a closer look at Ceequel® contact ELF Productivity Ltd today for a free, no obligation quotation and demonstration of Ceequel® software.

Alternatively, please feel free to download our brochure catalogue here.

Keep Calm and Carry On

On the 1st September 2019, the world will stand and remember the 80th Anniversary of the outbreak of World War 2.

A war that plunged Britain into a period of desolation with ‘Britannia’ once again ‘in the trenches’. A war that raged until 2nd September 1945.

After 6 long years of conflict, how much of what transpired during that period, fashioned the contemporary nation that we occupy today?

From Alan Turing and his ground-breaking work on the complex Enigma code, work that paved the way for modern Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, to the Keep Calm and Carry On brigade of the Home Guard and the ‘Jam and Jerusalem’ steadfast ladies of the WI, WW2 produced some of our finest moments.

After all, you only really discover what’s under the surface when you are squeezed!

The PM in-situ at No 10 on that historic day was Neville Chamberlain; perhaps not the best day to be the ‘Boss’! But has history judged Neville kindly? After suddenly becoming terminally ill in 1940, we will never comprehend the manner of leadership he would’ve gone on to display.

But in all honesty, given the choice, would YOU have wanted the responsibility?

Despite his flaws, Sir Winston Churchill was perhaps the only person during that time, considered proficient enough for the ‘top job’.

Strategic planning, key decision-making, focus, dedication, commitment and loyalty, leadership qualities already in place, honed by Churchill’s many years in the military. Leadership qualities crucial to steering a nation through rationing, bombing raids, the Battle of Britain and the Blitz.

The steely British backbone the advancements in Computer Science and the birth of modern-day management as the United Kingdom re-built itself; all are by-products of the war years.

We may not be facing the same battles today, but workplaces can still be a ‘war zone’. From personality clashes to motivating staff, from business foresight to projection and ‘staying ahead of the competition’ they all require tactical planning, excellent negotiating skills and solid, dependable leadership.

So, after 80 years what have we learned? Have we learned to side-step and avoid confrontation, or have we learned to ‘step-up’ and meet our challenges head on?

One thing is certain, we have discovered that for every dedicated leader there is also an ally, an ally all too ready, willing and able to embark on that same challenge with them.

ELF Productivity Ltd and Ceequel® software the only allies you will ever need to facilitate a competent business strategy for your entire workforce.

If you are looking to introduce a Biometric Time and Attendance system into your company, contact ELF Productivity Ltd today for a free no obligation quotation and demonstration of Ceequel® software suite.

Alternatively, please feel free to download our brochure catalogue here.

Holiday, Celebrate!

“If we took a holiday, took some time to celebrate”

Thinking of taking some well-deserved time off? Of course, you are! Sun, sea, sand and sangria, what’s not to look forward to?

But, whilst lazing on your lounger soaking up the sun, the question is…. who’s on your shop floor?

Ah, the typical summer scenario, several staff members all requesting the same holiday time, the epitome of an archetypal working business. Nothing new there.

However, does it really need to be that demanding or that much of a nuisance to organise?

  • Artificial Intelligence

The arrival of AI is ruffling a few feathers within HR and if truth be told, on the shop floor. Reported recently by a leading HR magazine, that despite the pessimism surrounding AI, there has never been a better time or opportunity to up-skill your entire workforce.

But, whilst pondering this soundbite, have you stopped to think about Time and Attendance?

With the UK’s delayed Brexit  departure and with job vacancies to fill, there’s a greater need for stability and for a Time Management solution that will deliver the whole ‘enchilada’ for UK business workforce management. Continue reading “Holiday, Celebrate!”

Send Her Victorious, Happy and Glorious

As anniversaries go, two hundred is quite remarkable.

This week the United Kingdom marks a very special day; the 200th Anniversary of the birth of one of its greatest monarchs, HM Queen Victoria.

Alexandrina Victoria was born at Kensington Palace on the 24th May 1819.

After what can only be described as an unconventional and solitary childhood, Victoria ascended to the throne upon the death of her paternal uncle, King William IV.

Victoria was just 18 years of age.

The new teenage Queen wasted no time in heading to her new ‘office’ and after dispatching her mother to the remotest wing she could possibly find, took up residence at the unfinished Buckingham Palace.

Following her Coronation and ensuing marriage to Prince Albert and with the fortitude that would eventually see her clock up 63 years on the throne, Victoria established her reign.

The ‘Grandmother of Europe’ the ‘Empress of India’ as she would eventually become known as, had arrived.

That’s not to say Victoria wasn’t without her testing times or critics. With cholera, death and assassination attempts, Victoria would emerge ‘victorious’ from the numerous challenges that arose during her time on the throne.

The Victorian era is perhaps attributed to be one of the greatest times for the United Kingdom and much of today’s successes and traditions were birthed during Victoria and Albert’s reign.

In 1829, George Stephenson’s steam locomotive, ‘Rocket’ was unveiled. This feat of engineering became the blueprint for modern design for the next 150 years.

Ada Lovelace, the remarkable mathematician who Prince Albert admired greatly, emerged during Victoria’s early reign due to her work on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine.

Ada is considered perhaps to be, the first female computer programmer.

But what do we know about her Prince Charming, Albert?

Albert, a serious, dependable, logical thinker was at the forefront when it came to public health. Working alongside the Royal Society, Albert improved the hygiene and sanitation conditions for not only Buckingham Palace but the City of London as a whole. The Palace became one of the first ‘shop floors’ to provide ‘facilities’ for their staff.

With forward thinking, Albert achieved an even greater height with his vision of a ‘grand exhibition’.

The Grand Exhibition of Works and Industry in 1851 became a huge success and was showcased in a vast, flexible, glass construction that was essentially a conservatory.

Albert named the building Crystal Palace.

Victoria and Albert were at the forefront of change and modernisation, the effects of which the United Kingdom can still feel today.

So, all that remains for us to say is ‘Happy Birthday’ your Majesty!

ELF Productivity Ltd and Ceequel® not only Made in the UK but like V&A, progressive, dependable and reliable.

If you are interested in Biometric Time and Attendance software for your business, contact us today for a free, no obligation quotation and demonstration of Ceequel® software.

Explore ELF Productivity Ltd’s Time and Attendance software suite in more detail by downloading the brochure catalogue here.

Human Resources, Shop Floor Data Capture, Employee Self Service, Ceequel® Apps and E-Manager all fall under the Ceequel® umbrella.

Holding Out For A Hero

Here’s a question, which superhero do you identify with?

A bit random I know but with the release of Marvel’s Avengers Endgame the ‘super’ just got put back into hero.

Let’s be honest here, in your head you ARE Thor, you ARE Wonder Woman but in a real-life situation would others see you similarly?

Do you have an alter-ego, one perhaps that you aren’t even aware of? Are you Thor at play but Loki on the shop floor?

So, the question again, which superhero would you best associate yourself with?

First into the arena we have Steve Rogers AKA Captain America.

For some, Captain America IS the ultimate superhero. He’s honest, humble and loyal but more importantly dependable. He’s prepared to go that extra mile, no matter what it costs him. All in all, a great guy and a true leader.

Next up we have partners-in-crime, Black Widow Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton, AKA Hawkeye. Both highly skilled individuals but with no actual superpowers, they are limited to what they can achieve, hence their need for a notable ally. A solid correlation that produces great teamwork.

Next, we have the genius that is Bruce Banner better known by his alter ego The Hulk. Quiet, kind, but complex. As with most super intelligent personnel he can be solitary. He’s an asset to HR but comes with a slight emission caution.

Strutting into the arena with his trusty side-kick Pepper, we have Tony Stark. Iron Man is a self-made, flashy, playboy philanthropist. Tony and Pepper are an exceptional couple but Tony’s constant need for showy attention and air of narcissism highlights him more as the prima-donna of the team rather than a real leader.

S.H.I.E.L.D. We couldn’t sign off without mentioning the head honcho that is Nick Fury. Nick is for some, an honest, positive role model, the kingpin that keeps his team together. But is he all that he appears to be? Despite his authoritative role, can he truly be trusted?

Ceequel® not only a reliable and dependable Biometric Time and Attendance leader but the ONLY superhero you will ever need for your workforce Time Management requirements.

ELF Productivity Ltd and Ceequel® software suite; discover the ‘real’ Avengers on your shop floor.

If you are interested in a Human Resource Time Management software solution for your business, contact ELF Productivity Ltd today for a free, no obligation quotation and demonstration of Ceequel® software.

Alternatively, please feel free to download our brochure catalogue here.

Made In The UK

Remember a time when it seemed that every town had its own Trotters Independent Traders.

A ‘Del’ and a ‘Rodders’ on every corner shouting the loudest to get the attention of savvy housewives, drawing their eyes to their latest ‘deal of the day’.

No fancy advertising, no gimmicks, just good old-fashioned straight talking, mais oui!

If you liked it, you bought it and we bought.

Well, unless you have had your head buried firmly in the sand for the last three years, this month providing all goes to plan, the UK is scheduled to leave behind its current ‘marketplace’ along with its petulant European cousins.

Au Revoir, Adiós, Auf Wiedersehen, Addio, farewell, so long, toodle pip!

Like it or not, Brexit is now firmly within the UK’s grasp and it’s racing towards the white cliffs faster than Lewis Hamilton on a tight bend.

The hottest debate is of course the future of British businesses, particularly manufacturing. Made in Great Britain is not only fundamental but key to a life after Brexit.

In today’s business climate, the ‘marketplace’ as we know it, may be about to alter but the confident traders and manufacturers are still out there.

Made in Great Britain, Made in the UK, what image do they portray?

They represent quality and global excellence. They epitomise hardworking, skilled craftsmen and women that are not only astute but confident that their products are the best on the ‘market’.

But, to remain competitive in any ‘marketplace’ you need the right ‘tools’ to help you manage your organisation appropriately and accurately.

But au contraire, not all ‘tools’ are the same.

Everyone wants a good deal but not at a hefty price and as you are aware you don’t have to be a ‘canny’ housewife to spot a good deal or indeed a bad deal!

So, what would a ‘deal of the day’ mean for your business?

Would it enable you to make progressive plans? Would it enable you to ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ during this transitional phase for the United Kingdom, whilst allowing you to remain competitive in YOUR market?

When the UK departs from the European Union on Friday 29th March, will you be confident that you have all the necessary ‘tools’ in place for your business and indeed your workforce?

ELF Productivity Ltd and CEEQUEL® software suite, a Biometric Time and Attendance management solution that incorporates software modules Human Resources, Employee Self Service, E-Manager and Access Control as standard.

If you would like to know more about a British brand that has been serving workforce management competently for almost 40 years, contact ELF Productivity Ltd today for a free demonstration and no obligation quotation of CEEQUEL® software suite.

Alternatively, please feel free to download our brochure catalogue here and make today the day you get on board with CEEQUEL®.

School’s Out

You know the scenario, childcare is all booked when suddenly, without warning and usually via text or email as is the normal notification method these days, the deal is off!

It’s awkward enough when it’s a professional organisation reneging on the arrangement but when family bail, it can cause undue frustration.

Now I’m not saying that grandparents don’t love their little darlings but often the thought of having a VERY hyper and over-excited little one racing around their normally calm and ‘zen’ like home interrupting their daily fix of Judge Rinder and Movies-for-Men, can be too much to bear.

In case you didn’t realise, the first half-term of 2019 is here, or almost, depending on your location. And for the motorists that are child-free, the clearest roads all year so far but that’s another story!

What is it about school holidays that takes planning to the extreme, the likes of which are only ever seen and reserved for military exercises?

Easter, summer, Christmas, the planning list is never-ending, and it usually involves reverting to a back-up plan B. Throw in sickness and illness, you get the picture, and this is just the parents!

It goes without question that working parents undertake an intense juggling act, especially when their brood consists of more than the usual 2.4 children, some of whom are not necessarily of school age.

Workplace and childcare, unless you have the luxury of an in-house creche, they don’t usually go together.

Unless you are an employer that walks around blinkered, you will have realised long ago that with holiday prices forever increasing around this time, employees begrudge taking their holiday leave if they suddenly find they have no available childcare.

At the other end of the scale, employees who would prefer to be at home with their family during this time rather than pay for extra childcare, can find themselves stuck in a regimented working shift pattern, with no room for change.

So, what is the solution, what can be done to modify a way of working that both suits and benefits everyone?

Say the words ‘remote’ and ‘flexible’ out loud and management shrink back in horror! Believe it or not, these working options are now not only leading the way for Human Resources current recruitment drive but are by far and away the most popular.

So, is it time for your company to make a change?

ELF Productivity Ltd can help and assist in restructuring your Time and Attendance processes in a way that you never thought possible.

Employee Self Service, CEEQUEL® clocking applications and E-Manager, just three of the CEEQUEL® Human Resource Management tools that can help with such a transition.

Remote clocking, flexible working and working from home, not only a possibility for your business but a reality.

With CEEQUEL® software, rescheduling emergency childcare situations within your business will be relegated where they belong; the past.

If you would like to take know more about the unrivalled software suite that is CEEQUEL® contact us today and take advantage of a free, no obligation quotation and demonstration.

Alternatively, please feel free to download our brochure catalogue here.

LOVE IS …….

“When I fall in love, it will be forever”

“Fairy-tales can come true if you’re young at heart”

The velvety smooth voices of legendary crooners Nat King Cole and Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, classy, iconic and instantly recognisable.

Just in case you hadn’t realised it, “Love Is All Around” February 14th is just around the corner.  Once again offices and shop floors across the nation, will be ‘saying it with flowers’ to their “Perfect” sweetheart.

But what is it about this time of year that makes us all go just a little bit bonkers?

Shops are bulging with Valentine cards as big as a small semi, flowers and chocolates suddenly double in price!  Somehow Valentine’s Day always seems to bring with it a very large receipt, not that you can put a price on true love of course, or can you?

Let’s take a closer look at that little four-letter word L.O.V.E as sung by Nat himself.

L is for the way you look at me
O is the only one I see
V is very, very extraordinary
E is even more than anyone that you adore

With an ‘end of term’ atmosphere now fast approaching, what if you looked at that little word differently?

What if L.O.V.E took on an entirely different meaning for your company this week?

L is for Logic
O is for Outstanding
V is for Value
E is for Exceptional

Same letters, different words. Words attributed to the Biometric Time and Attendance Management software suite that is CEEQUEL®.

CEEQUEL® a software suite that Human Resource departments ‘heart’ all year round, not just once a year.

A collection of outstanding modules established by our exceptional in-house team of highly-skilled developers.   Providing your rules have logic, ELF Productivity can facilitate ALL your Time and Attendance requirements at a cost that is “Truly” value for money.

A range of modules including Shop Floor Data Capture, Mobile Clocking Applications and Access Control, CEEQUEL® is “The One That You Want” this Valentine’s Day.

Take some time out this week and get to know and love a Biometric Time and Attendance Management company that along with Longevity, is Optimal has Velocity and is highly Esteemed.

Or as the legendary Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schultz put simply;

Love is………

Employee
Logistics
Facilitator

ELF Productivity Ltd and CEEQUEL® software suite, classy, iconic and very very extraordinary.

If you are interested in learning more about the incomparable software suite that is CEEQUEL®, contact us today.

Alternatively, please feel free to download our brochure catalogue here and learn how to “Love the One You’re With” this Valentine’s Day.

Culture Trends For 2019

With February just around the corner and the last of the Christmas chocs a distant memory, 2019 is now in full swing.

2019, the year that seemed a long way off in 2016, the year we had ‘the’ vote. Did someone say the ‘B’ word?

Well now you mention it….

With our Brexit departure from the EU now just weeks away, business growth and recruitment possibilities for this coming year have been pushed right to the forefront. So, with the clock now counting down to Friday 29th March, do you even know what your essential needs are when it comes to your workforce requirements for 2019?

Is maintaining stability the priority, or is now the time for you to step out and achieve some real business development?

For both to be attained AND retained, you need the appropriate team in place.

As reported by a leading HR magazine, the top culture trends to watch out for and recruit in 2019 are a bit of a mixed bunch.

Let’s look at just three.

• Hyper-Flexibility

As an employer, how ‘flexi’ are you prepared to be? According to a report by Mercer, 72% of full-time employees have voiced that they would consider working on a contingent or contract basis.
2019 is shaping up to be the year where employees would prefer greater freedom and choice within their working day. If you are a progressive company, you are probably already at least considering flexible and remote working options for your staff.
A healthy work-life balance is now being recognised as a must, especially for employees with obligations at both ends of the collective scale; children versus ageing dependant parents. Employees stuck in a cycle of never-ending tension, with the stress transferring to the workplace.

• Generation Z

2017 was the year Generation Z entered the workforce. A report by Manpower has revealed that by 2020, this generation will make up 24% of the global workforce. The age-old joke of police officers appearing younger and younger will strike a chord with many people – because it will be true!. We can expect a generation of degree educated individuals to emerge and due to their Play-Station digital upbringing, technology will be second nature.
And the generation that is to follow; ‘Generation Alpha’ the children of the Millennials, let’s not go there just yet. In a recent video clip produced by Hotwire, a global PR Agency, a young participant was filmed exclaiming that they would rather have an I-pad than a puppy!

• Soft-Skills

What’s soft about a skill? Soft-skills are the time and tested skill-set that appears to be enjoying a revival within Human Resources. The ‘bread and butter’ skills that every company recognises, especially within their middle management set-up. Good communication, time management, time-keeping, problem-solving, creativity and leadership. As the workforce in general becomes older; see our previous blog post A Growing Mature Workforce, these skills are the safe pair of hands that businesses of all shapes and sizes requires to advise, steer and help.
They are particularly useful with younger employees, especially around the delicate issues of texting/emailing rather than engaging in an ‘actual’ conversation.

Technology is impressive but it will never replace the art of having a real discussion in the workplace. Like the British stiff upper lip, it will never go out of fashion.

ELF Productivity and CEEQUEL® software suite, always on trend, constantly developing new ideas, progressive and most importantly, adaptable to every scenario and situation. A tried and tested Biometric Time and Attendance Management software system for ALL your workforce.

For a closer look at CEEQUEL® software for your business,Contact ELF Productivity Ltd today or alternatively, please feel free to download our brochure catalogue here.

ISO 27001 – How Safe Are Your Work Practises?

Everyone is always pleased or as we say in the North “reet chuffed” to gain recognition for any goal or target that has been attained and here at ELF Productivity we are no different.

That is why we are so proud to announce, that after a recent audit,
ELF Productivity Ltd has been awarded ISO 27001 accreditation status.

Is that “nice one” we hear at the back?

For those of you that don’t quite realise what this represents and why we are adopting a bit of a ‘peacock strut’, in layman’s terms,
ISO 27001 is an accreditation awarded to companies that comply entirely with all forms of security in a safe, careful and more importantly, secure manner.

In other words, it’s a bit of a big deal!

Not everyone takes their security seriously and ultimately that can affect you. How many times have you received yet ‘another’ friend request on Facebook (other social media accounts are available of course) because someone’s account has been hacked….…again!

At ELF Productivity we take our security practises, obligations and procedures very seriously. We have the knowledge and confidence that this is mirrored within our Time and Attendance modules; the dynamic software suite that is CEEQUEL®.

Time and Attendance, Human Resources and Access Control, unfortunately for all involved they ALL have the potential for serious data breaches.

This is where CEEQUEL® is noticeably different.

Time and Attendance

CEEQUEL® Time and Attendance software is operated by a state-of-the-art password protected structure, thus restricting and providing where needed, limited access to employees. This restriction is obtained by a combination of considerations with the main being, functionality, location, branch, employee and confidentiality.

Human Resource

The security factor within CEEQUEL® Human Resources module is entirely configurable down to each subject and assignment. Employees can be issued with either read/write or read-only access to any given view, greatly downgrading potential risk. Icons and assignments can be removed and report capabilities can be issued based on individual(s) user permissions.

Access Control

One word – tailgating. Unfortunately, one of the biggest ‘bug-bears’ and a potential security breach surrounding Access Control is tailgating. Several alternatives are available to resolve this issue, the main being a Turnstile option. Where this choice is not feasible, infra-red beams across the access door can identify when several employees enter the door at the same time. If this occurs, an alarm will prompt a message to be sent, thereby alerting the main user/administrator of the security breach.

With the introduction of GDPR legislation in 2018, data security for companies MUST now be managed and controlled diligently.

When the security of your company is at stake, you ultimately look to a provider with a proven track record for processing and monitoring sensitive, confidential data daily. A provider that will give you the assurance and guarantee that you require.

ELF Productivity Ltd has clocked up almost 40 years of development and experience. There is no scenario that ELF has not encountered or issue that we have not solved.

Success for any company comes on the back of accomplishments and CEEQUEL® software has proved time and time again, that when it comes to Time and Attendance for business workforce management, we are a major player.

And as you now know, we have the certificate to prove it!

If you are interested into acquiring a Time and Attendance solution for your workforce, Contact ELF Productivity Ltd today or alternatively, please feel free to download our brochure catalogue here.