We’ll Meet Again…..

Dad’s Army, the iconic TV show that showcased some of our finest actors is now in middle age, a classic series that was birthed from our last great conflict, WW2.

The 8th May 2020 will see the world observe the 75th Anniversary of the end of WW2. Sadly, given the current climate there won’t be any formal celebrations, however the unity, camaraderie and solidarity from the 1940’s era is clearly rising again.

A ‘team temperament’ is intensifying as we face and fight a very different enemy.

Many leaders today come equipped with a lot of ‘hot air’ but only when you have been tested through ‘fire’ can you truly call yourself a great leader!

Baroness Karren Brady was once quoted as saying “A real leader faces the music, even when they don’t like the tune.”

Whilst there will always be conflict of some degree in many ‘war-rooms’ how many of your ‘troops’ would step up and follow you into a very different corporate battle?

What type of leader do you think you are and does the private image match up to the reality? In your head are you ‘Stormin Norman’ when the reality is perhaps more Private Pike?

Private Pike, the youngest member of the Dad’s Army platoon and a very much indulged member. Always feared his domineering mother and lacked the confidence to step out, hence the now legendary phrase; “You stupid boy!”

His ‘boss’ of course was Captain Mainwaring, who was as pompous as he was brave and patriotic. With no prior combat experience, he was limited in his key strategic decision-making. He was also jealous of his right-hand man….

Which brings us to his second in command, Sergeant Wilson. An upper-class, public school educated, suave and superior gentleman with a fondness for the ladies. Well, one lady in particular, a certain Mrs Pike!

Lance Corporal Jones, the oldest member of the team. A leader beforehand who liked to reassure everyone whenever a crisis emerged with the renowned phrase “Don’t panic.”

Advice not heeded by Private Frazer and his dour, blunt and woeful, “we are all doomed” stance!

Private Walker, a fit and able-bodied black-market spiv. A shirker who was well-able but preferred to take the easy route.

Finally, we have Private Godfrey, a frail, gentle, amiable medical orderly. An old school gent.

A diverse bunch of individuals and looking at the characters, would you and your team identify with any of them?

Whilst the Dad’s Army unit might not be to everyone’s liking, the one endearing factor they did have was unity…..and a great sense of humour.

Despite everything that is currently happening around the world, we need to adopt the very same solidarity that saw us through WW2.

It’s during our greatest trials that patience, endurance and strength are produced. Only by adhering to the same ‘team solidarity’ that saw our grandparents and great-grandparents witness victory in WW2 will we crush this new enemy.

As our gracious and beloved Monarch has already reminded us, we will get through this time, we will see better days and we WILL meet again.

ELF Productivity Ltd and Ceequel® software, still delivering, still maintaining and still supporting our clients during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

If you are interested in a Biometric Time and Attendance Management system for your team, contact ELF Productivity today for a free no obligation, quotation and demonstration of Ceequel® software suite.

Or alternatively, our brochure catalogue can be downloaded here.

More Guidance For Preventing The Spread of COVID-19

To support your home working employees, there are a couple of options that we have to assist you in maintaining productivity.

There’s an app for that!

If wish to preserve time-sheets and attendance reporting data, whilst you have staff working from home, ELF Productivity Ltd has a clocking app that allows employees to clock in and out using an Android or IOS device.

The app provides the user with a simple clock in, clock out function that will push the clocking data through to TA2 (and ultimately) your payroll software in the same manner as clocking in via your normal clocking terminals.

The clocking app will also supply a Geotag of the location of the device when the employee clocks in. The Geotag will give a link through to a grid reference in Google maps showing the location of the device (for audit purposes).

Employee Self Service

Has the functionality to support home or external workers. Again it provides companies with the ability to ask employees to clock in/out of their working day and there is additional (optional) functionality within Employee Self Service that will allow home workers to register time against a project, client account, job or task.

This can be operated in real-time or after the event.

Please note, the Employee Self Service web portal will not Geotag the clocking location.

Working from Home / Isolation codes

As a business you may want to differentiate between absences for COVID-19 and other sickness absences for your end of year reporting and to assist in the repayment of SSP.

As a reminder you can create new absence codes within the system and set parameters of how they interact with Absence, Bradford Factor, TOIL, FLEXI, Holiday balances, Reports and exception flags. You can also use the code to differentiate home working, i.e. not absent, not in the fire register yet still paid (similar to how a business pass out would function).

If you have a current Time and Attendance user manual, please refer to page 41 on how to create new codes. Please do remember that great care must be taken when creating and using new codes as Ceequel® is highly configurable. It is imperative that the new code and it’s selected options, adequately reflects the pay, notification and reporting rules that you wish to apply.

If you require further information on Facial Recognition Terminals, Key Fobs, Proximity Cards, Clocking Apps, Employee Tracking or require a copy of the latest TAUser Manual, then please feel free to contact us on 01257 256000.

Guidance For Preventing The Spread Of COVID-19

You are all now fully aware of the UK Government guidance for preventing the spread of COVID-19.

It is both our duty and social responsibility to ensure that we continue supporting our clients as much as humanly possible during this challenging time, to ensure that companies can continue to pay their staff, efficiently and effectively.

Because of this ELF Productivity Ltd has taken the following measures: –

• We will continue to have a fully-manned Technical Support Desk which has had social distancing protocols applied.
• Those who are able to work remotely from home are doing so.
• We are performing system configuration and training remotely via Skype and Team Viewer.
• Our hardware engineers are continuing to attend client sites where appropriate and have fully comprehensive hygiene procedures to follow.

We have put together a FAQ list, in which ELF Productivity can assist your organisation in maintaining business continuity with the first highlighting the correct way to keep your devices clean.

General advice on frequently touched objects.

Public Health England (PHE) recommends that cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces will help prevent people from catching and spreading COVID-19.

Clocking machines are interacted with by all staff daily, therefore we recommend that you sanitise your devices regularly throughout the day to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, however please be aware of the following points: –

Avoid the use of very high concentration bleaches as they may discolour the clocking / access control units.

Ensure that cleaning staff do not use abrasive cleaning products on transparent fingerprint scanners or units as they will cloud and could become non-functional.

Depending upon the terminals that you have, you may want to consider the following measures;

1. Facial Recognition – If you already use facial recognition terminals then you will be familiar with clocking without any physical contact. If any staff are using the additional fingerprint reader, we strongly recommend you direct them to use only facial recognition. If any staff report that they are unable to use facial recognition because their biometric template is no longer recognised (e.g their appearance has altered since enrolment, such as the addition of glasses or thick beards) simply re-enrol the staff member. The unit will automatically overwrite their old template with their new one.

2. Fingerprint Recognition – If you have fingerprint terminals and wish to keep using biometric technology, now may be a time to look at changing these for facial recognition units.

3. Proximity Recognition – If you have card / fob terminals then we recommend that you remind staff that the readers will operate without physical contact, no need to “tap” in and out, a wave will suffice.

Many of our clients already use wall mounted sanitisers and ensure frequent cleaning of their readers for general hygiene, please be aware of the points above.

If you have any concerns regarding Ceequel® software or any of your Time & Attendance devices, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01257 256000.

How Can I Love You More?

L.O.V.E that little ‘Four Letter Word’ that is out in force around the middle of Feb and thanks to clever advertisers, very much in your face!

Now we know that being the romantic lot that you are, you wouldn’t have forgotten but just in case you have, here’s a gentle reminder; Valentine’s Day is just around the corner……

The most amorous time of the year brings out the romantic in many of us, especially the ‘Starry-Eyed’ personnel on the shop floor.

It must be said that the build up to February 14th can for some, be a distracting time on the production line. Amused anticipation is on open display, as your very own ‘Tim and Dawn’ are observed blushing their way around ‘The Office’.

But with all the ‘Endless Love’ flowing, what of the ‘bemused’ boss that not only has to manage his or her ‘Hopelessly Devoted’ team members but plan and schedule their last-minute ‘Love Rendezvous’?

It’s widely accepted that the most popular place to meet your ‘significant other’ is in the workplace. You spend more time there than anywhere else, so it makes ‘Perfect’ sense that ‘Love Is All Around’ doesn’t it?

Whilst opportunities present themselves more easily on the shop floor and when the time is right, ‘L.O.V.E’ is not always a surprise but after the first flush of romance, what happens when ‘Tim and Dawn’ request the inevitable time off together?

Planning staff holidays for any manager can be a headache, if not a vast military exercise; nothing works, nothing gels, nothing fits! Throw in an eleventh hour mini-break request from ‘John’ in sales and ‘Kayleigh’ in accounts and you get the idea. Two employees who not only work on the same team but the same project.

Here at ELF, we understand the situation completely when ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling’ with your current processes but be assured, with the right software in place, not only will Ceequel® become ‘the one that you want’ this Valentine’s Day but it will render everything ‘Perfect’ for both you AND your team.

Staff planning a last-minute get-away? Forget Booking.com as nothing books or confirms a holiday request faster than Ceequel® Employee Self Service.

Deployed on a kiosk or via an employee’s PC, smart phone or tablet, Employee Self Service completely removes the paper trail and gives total administration control to employees. Staff can immediately establish who on their team has already been granted a leave of absence.

So, with that in mind and apart from ‘The One’ make Ceequel® software the additional ‘significant other’ that you #Love this Valentine’s Day.

If you are interested in a Biometric Time and Attendance system to work with your Human Resources department, contact ELF Productivity Ltd today for a free no obligation quotation and demonstration of Ceequel® software.

Alternatively, our brochure catalogue can be downloaded here.

When Harry Met…….Megxit

In any workplace, despite knowing that the time is right to step away from a senior position, making that move can still prove to be challenging. Whilst no one is predominately enthralled, there’s just no escaping the latest ‘Royal’ step-down.

Harry and Meghan’s imminent departure from the House of Windsor or ‘Megxit’ as it’s become known, has been publicised all over the world.

A manipulative, calculating social climber; terms that have been coined to describe the Duchess of Sussex. Snowflake and ‘under the thumb’ are just two that depict the nation’s favourite Prince.

But are all these labels true or unjust?

When you decide the time is right to step away from something and forge your own path, not everyone will be happy for you.

Obviously, we are not saying that the Monarchy is wrong, quite the opposite. The Queen and the senior Royals do an amazing job but not everybody is cut out for a repetitive and regimented lifestyle.

The Monarchy, a well-oiled machine that has been running for over 1000 years and is still ‘in business’ depicts that something is clearly right. The House of Windsor has to some degree, adapted and changed with the times. To stay ahead of the game, you have no choice.

Leaders are not born they are made and whilst being born into a specific role is considered an advantage, it doesn’t mean that you will a) be any good at it or b) want to work at it your whole life.

As within every ‘Firm’ one size does not fit all. Different methods and ways of working suit different companies as not every person is looking to adopt the traditional, organised 9-5 lifestyle. The laid-back remote and flexible way of working now appeals to a vast majority of employed people.

A lifestyle that can be attained, deployed and enjoyed anywhere in the world.

Remote/flexible working, TOIL, mobile clocking, are all terms coined for the modern business. Different personalities and skills, along with a difference in opinion all come into play in the workplace but when put together with the ‘right solution’, everything ‘just works’.

We shouldn’t be too harsh on Harry and Meghan as they depart from their ‘workplace’. They clearly feel that as working parents, they are now better suited to a more relaxed and less restrictive way of working.

If you are looking for a Biometric Time and Attendance Management system to suit your ENTIRE workforce, take a look at Ceequel® software suite today and realise all that can be achieved in your workplace.

If you would like to take advantage of a free, no obligation quotation and demonstration of Ceequel® software, contact ELF Productivity Ltd or alternatively, our brochure catalogue can be downloaded here.

Are You Ready To Take On 2020?

Happy New Year and welcome to the 20’s!

2020 heralds not just a new year but a new decade. What is 2020 already saying to you and the future of your business? The culture-trends for the coming year and indeed the decade have already been mapped out.

So, the question is, are you ready to take on 2020?

Brexit

You genuinely didn’t think the ‘B’ word wouldn’t come into play, did you? On the 31st January the word we have all come to know so intimately will be consigned to Room 101 forever. A word that symbolises everything that is amiss encompassing an institution known as the European Union.

The time, ladies and gents, has FINALLY arrived.

Boris’s current default-setting is “Let’s get on and get Brexit done”. Once ‘done’ Brexit in its current state will no longer be part of the British vocab……unless it resurfaces as a breakfast cereal.

“BREXIT, a new way to start your morning”.

Avoid, unless you are looking for something that is VERY slow-releasing and takes some considerable time to digest!

Our departure from the EU and our somewhat ‘touchy’ European cousins will herald a new beginning for the UK. More freedom and greater opportunities.

Will 2020 be the year that the ‘Great’ is at last put back into Britain’s manufacturing?

Tech Life

“I get up when I want to except on Wednesdays’ when I get rudely awakened by the dustmen”. No, not ‘90’s Parklife but ‘20’s Tech Life!

Just to clarify robots are NOT taking over the planet, humans are NOT about to join Brexit in Room 101 but in the upcoming decade there WILL be an immense drive towards further AI and Automation implementation.

Autonomous driving is just one area where a change is expected to manifest in 2020. Tesla mogul Elon Musk has already declared that he expects his company to create a ‘fully complete’ autonomous vehicle by this year.

Ambitious, yes but practical and safe? You decide, as the jury is still out.

Well-Being

When you think of well-being, you instantly think of a ‘zen-like’ image. Not so much for 2020. Whilst ‘mental well-being’ and ‘heads together’ have been the buzzwords for 2019, 2020 will be the year where greater importance is placed on ‘financial well-being’.

The coming year has already been earmarked to introduce monetary education into the workplace.

Many causes of workplace stress and absenteeism can usually be placed at the feet of ‘The Management’ but all ribbing aside, financial worries are no joke and over time they DO impact workplace productivity. Fears that can be addressed by managers taking the time to educate and support their staff.

As always, a happy and contented workforce = better and greater productivity.

So, looking ahead, could 2020 be the year that we not only see Made in Great Britain back in business but the year that YOU see a British solution transform YOUR business?

Ceequel® a real-time Biometric Time and Attendance Management system that incorporates Human Resources, Employee Self Service and Access Control as standard options.

Contact ELF Productivity Ltd today for a no obligation quotation and demonstration of Ceequel® software suite.

Or, alternatively, please feel free to download our brochure catalogue here.

Make 2020 the year that you invest in your future with Ceequel® software suite.

It’s A Jungle Out There

Despite the negativity surrounding the introduction of Artificial Intelligence into the workplace, there has never been a more opportune or favourable time to upskill your workforce.

As with any investment that HR make into the domain of digital transformation the prosperity of staff must be at the forefront. With the current privacy law set-up and with yet ‘another’ delayed Brexit departure, there has never been a more fundamental need for a workforce Time and Attendance software that not only supports British businesses but delivers on the promised ‘real deal’.

Over the last two decades the workplace landscape has altered enormously with vast emphasis placed not only on development but digital and social media roles. ‘Tech’ individuals dominating in positions that at one time were considered a hobby or a side-line to a person’s real job.

Jobs that are now mainstream career choices.

Generation X were the first to experience Atari, Excel, Microsoft Windows and essentially the World Wide Web, Millennials have not only embraced the digital revolution but have taken it to the next level.

The soft skills that were considered just that, i.e. ‘soft’, were effectively shelved and ultimately made redundant.

But, as everyone of a ‘certain age’ understands, ALL things come around again in their own good time. The onset of the AI revolution has brought with it a revitalisation. Soft skills are having what can only be described as a revival, a rebirth. Soft skills are ‘hip’ again, soft skills have made it back onto the job spec!

When you think of this unique skill set, what image do they convey to you? Do you instantly think of Time Management, Empathy, Compassion, Timekeeping, Communication and Teamwork?

Through no fault of their own, many ‘tech’ individuals are lacking in the ‘soft’ department and unfortunately their predicament only comes to light during employment.

During the interview process, many candidates appear to be all-singing and all-dancing but once entrenched in the workplace, you discover that in some areas they are in fact more Peter Crouch than Fred Astaire.

With AI now a very real presence and role reversals and training required in order to survive and compete in the metropolis ‘work jungle’, soft skills can be ‘fired up’ again for Generation X and for the younger, ‘techy’ generation, developed.

With Time Management systems now a key priority for the majority of businesses, the good news is that no matter how digital they become, robots will always require a helping ‘human’ hand.

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

Alternatively, our brochure catalogue can be downloaded here.

Clocking On

The academic year is now in full swing and this week for most, observes the first half-term break of the year.

Christmas is hovering just on the horizon but so is a long overdue Au Revoir! But let’s not dwell or even mention the ‘B’ word that is due to manifest ‘sometime’ this century!

So, heading swiftly ‘back to school’, have you ever contemplated why most pupils are eager to return after their Autumn break, whilst teachers and supporting staff are less than, how shall we say, ‘enthusiastic’ about clocking on.

Hmm, the world of work, sometimes it’s about as attractive an option as meeting Jeremy Corbyn at the First Dates restaurant! Stuffy, tedious, regimented routines to look forward to, the same old, same old. A titanic effort is often obligatory in order to muster up the ‘zing’ required to take you through to the welcome sound of the 5.00pm klaxon!

Somewhere in between “school’s out” for good and the real graft begins, a dissatisfied worker appears…… and that’s just the boss!

All jokes aside, shouldn’t we expect to welcome ‘clocking on’, after all, we spend more time on the shop floor than we do anywhere else. This leads us to the question “who exactly is responsible for our workplace bliss” the Line Manager, the ‘Big Boss’, HR, ourselves or something else?

Maybe the ‘something else’ is what is missing from many shop floors.

The HR crew are traditionally the main port-of-call for all worker gripes but as with everything, having the appropriate processes in-situ in the first place, not only helps but makes an enormous difference.

Employees that are granted more responsibility and freedom of choice regarding shifts, flexible/remote working options, training and progression are, in the main, likely to be more content.

Happy workforce = increased productivity

Just maybe, the crucial element to true workplace happiness doesn’t lie primarily in the salary that’s earned but, in the opportunities available, opportunities to learn and grow.

School’s out doesn’t = learning stops

Whatever the workforce age there is always something new to be mastered. By observing the eagerness displayed by school children, who like sponges, happily soak up fresh ideas and new learning, we understand that different ventures should be embraced and not feared within the workplace.

With the times that now lie ahead and with the imminent onset of AI and digital transformation this has never been more crucial.

ELF Productivity Ltd and Ceequel® software suite, the only Biometric Time and Attendance system that you will ever need in order to facilitate all your Time Management requirements for your own ‘classroom’.

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

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

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.