Day: August 2, 2021

Due to travel restrictions on foreign travel, an increasing number of Brits are choosing to ditch the long-haul holidays in favour of a staycation. Avoiding lengthy quarantines upon return and airport queues, Google has seen a 500% increase in searches for staycations in the last year due to Covid.

But why are staycations so popular?

Well, there are a number of reasons why staycations are here to stay. Firstly, staycations are the logical choice during a pandemic. With travel restrictions changing constantly, it’s no surprise that many families are opting to stay in a Covid-secure bubble in the UK.

Not only that, but staycations are perfect for young families. Forget having to pacify small children on an aeroplane – staycations are extremely convenient as you only have to load the family in the car. You can also take as much luggage as you like!

Staycations also tend to be more affordable for many, but this isn’t always the case. From finding the perfect accommodation to getting your car in tip-top shape for a long journey, costs can soon mount up – so you should consider your finances fully before making plans.

When making a list of things to check, many people pack sun cream but overlook the car. If you’re planning a staycation, read on to find out what you should check before setting off.

Staycation checklist:

Documentation

Before you set off, make sure you have all the relevant car documentation, including your driving licence, service book, MOT certificate and insurance certificate.

Give your car the once over

Check the oil, coolant and brake fluid. Also, make sure there are no cracks in the deposits.

Tyres

Before you set off, make sure to check your tyre pressure and the overall state of your tyres. If you discover a puncture or a lack of tread depth, you may wish to consider replacing the tyres. Underinflated tyres are a major cause of tyre blowouts which can cause fatal accidents at high speed.

Lights

Check your lights are all working properly. To do this, turn on your ignition, turn your lights on and walk around the car. If you notice any lights aren’t working – make sure to change these immediately.

Safety

Finally, consider what safety equipment you’ll be taking. Are you going to take high visibility jackets or an emergency triangle? If the weather is forecast to be unpredictable or cold, you may also wish to take a shovel.

And there you have it! By taking the time to do a few simple checks on your car, you’ll have the peace of mind that your car is ready to take you to your chosen destination. Not only is it safer, but having your car in the best condition will make your staycation much better (and journey smoother!).

Now sit back, relax and enjoy the holiday.

Creating a positive business culture within your organisation is important. It helps to drive your company employee engagement, staff retention and workplace morale. The HR department is responsible for enforcing a positive culture within the workplace and ensuring employee’s old and new, follow suit. As well as this, the HR department is responsible for recruitment, staff training and development. They are accountable for any queries or challenges their staff might face, aiming to help as much as possible. Payroll is also managed by the HR department, ensuring all employees are paid correctly and on time. In general, the HR department is responsible for people. So, if your company has many employees, this can be a lot, if not too much to manage. To ease this pressure HR systems have been developed to manage tasks that are not necessary to complete in person. They do this by automating admin tasks and reducing unnecessary workload.

Recruitment 

HR systems have helped many companies recruitment processes significantly. Artificial intelligence screens the validity of candidates before they are seen by HR. They scour for keywords, skills and experience to see if a candidate is worth speaking to. This helps the HR department as staff don’t need to search for candidates, saving them time in their working day. As a result, when the HR department speaks to a potential candidate, they know they are a serious contender. Automated recruitment can also help interview quality. If a candidate’s skills and attributes are highlighted on their CV, employers have more information to discuss in an interview.

Track employee progress 

By having a system that tracks employees‘ productivity, evaluating employee progress has never been easier. Here you can see how much work they have done, how long it has taken them and whether their productivity has improved or declined over time. This system helps to determine if an employee needs extra help at work or if they need some recognition for their achievements.

Communication 

Communicating with your employees once consisted of speaking in person, whereas now it can all be done online. Whether your company still uses emails as a form of communication or an online platform such as Microsoft Teams, technology has transformed the way companies communicate with their employees. This form of communication has become more popular since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as many companies have had to move their in-office work to virtual work from home. Online communication is a proven success, with many businesses choosing to continue remote work despite the lockdown ending.