The world of work has changed. The gig economy, the flexible worker, the agile desk and the remote employee – all these possibilities have been enabled by technology and impact on how teams engage and interact.
 
However, South Africa remains somewhat in the tentative age of the flexible employee with most people still going into a physical office. This means that when an employee causes friction or is incompatible with culture or people, it can impact on team engagement and productivity.
 
“This is a really important conversation, as the changes in the way we work are also changing the company dynamic,” says Teryl Schroenn, Chief Executive Officer, Accsys. “People are looking more at deliverables as the key measurable rather than how often a person is in an office or how easy they are to manage. That said, there is still a need to identify a challenging employee and to address their impact before they become destructive.”
 
A challenging employee is not necessarily a bad one. The grain of sand in the oyster may be irritating, but the pearl at the end is worth it. The same can be said for an employee who doesn’t always accept the status quo, who wants justification for the rules and isn’t prepared to simply do what they’re told.
 
This type of person can encourage internal growth and inspire change – qualities that are essential for a successful business. However, they are only one side of the complex employee coin.
 
High maintenance, high output
“The other side is the person who is very productive, hitting all the goals and targets, but who also happens to be high maintenance,” says Schroenn. “How often has there been a situation where somebody resigns and everyone says: ‘I thought they would never leave!’? They may have been productive, but they had a negative impact on other people.”
 
The solution is to temper the situation and assess whether the person is worth the investment. If they are exceptional at their job, then having a conversation that addresses the issues raised by team mates and possible solutions to them is a logical first step. Make the person aware of the issue, look at different ways of handling the problem, and give them an opportunity to engage differently.
 
“Often people within this category are confident of their contribution and don’t recognise the negative impact they’re having,” says Schroenn.
 
Compatible sensitivity
Not all people are created equal and with so many personalities thrown into one place, conflict is a given. It is important to establish what is causing the issue - from the employee’s behaviour to personality incompatibility to the workplace dynamic – and to find positive ways of resolving it.
 
“Most companies don’t want to get rid of employees, not unless they are high maintenance and low output, then the way out is the only way out,” concludes Schroenn. “The goal is to find a solution that supports all employees and personalities while allowing them to work productively and engage comfortably.”

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Idéle Prinsloo, 082 573 9219, [email protected], www.atthatpoint.co.za
 
ABOUT Accsys – People Management Solutions
Accsys is an award winning South African software company specialising in people management solutions. In business since 1981, Accsys is a proud member of the Innovation Division, Business Connexion group. Its solutions, which are being used in more than 2000 companies, are developed in South Africa with particular emphasis on South African workplace conditions to fulfil the purpose of providing strategic solutions for people who manage people.
 
For more information on Accsys please visit:
Website: http://accsys.co.za/
Twitter: @AccsysPeopleMan
LinkedIn: Accsys (Pty) Ltd
Facebook: Accsys (Pty) Lt

The drop in the cost of fuel this July can potentially impact on employees, employers and payroll. The effect that the price has on the business and employee will depend on the systems the business has in place, how fuel costs are structured and charged, and the type of contract the organisation has with its clients.
 
“As an employee, the impact of the fuel drop should not be significant, especially if the company is paying AA rates. You will be paying less for fuel so the difference will come out in the wash,” says Teryl Schroenn, Chief Executive Officer, Accsys. “For the organisation, however, there are steps and systems that need to be addressed to ensure that costings and clients are kept up to date.”
 
When the fuel price changes, many businesses change the rate for calculating what the employee takes home and assess what the impact will be on cost to client. It is important that this price be reflected in what the client pays for transportation or delivery as it can have a significant impact on their bottom line, and the company’s ethical standing.
 
An honest approach
“Depending on the pricing model and structure of the arrangement that a company has with its clients, the changes in fuel cost will reflect in costing with clients,” says Schroenn. “This would be outlined in the Service Level Agreement, and needs to be adhered to. It will depend a lot on the tolerance of your customers if your business doesn’t adjust accordingly – some may notice. We adjust ours during the month when there is a change.”
 
For organisations that average out the fuel costs, however, the relentless fluctuations may have little to no impact.
 
“If you average at, for example, R3.20 per k/m you might leave that, even though the price is down to R3 as you may not have put it up to R3.40 when the price was at its highest,” explains Schroenn. “That said, if you are charging someone a rate for a particular item, it would be considered a good business practice to change the pricing accordingly.”
 
Travel control
Payroll should follow company policy when it comes to adjustments around fuel pricing and employee wages and client charges. How this is done will depend entirely on the systems implemented in the business and the methodology employed for calculations.
 
“Many systems are automatic so the calculations are done as amounts are submitted and payroll assessed,” concludes Schroenn. “Those that do them outside the system and pay it manually will have a more complex task, but could look to adopting a different way of handling pricing with each fluctuation. It would be advisable to introduce a methodology that is as simple and effective as possible because fuel prices won’t stop their mercurial changes.”
 
ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Idéle Prinsloo, 082 573 9219, [email protected], www.atthatpoint.co.za
 
ABOUT Accsys – People Management Solutions
Accsys is an award winning South African software company specialising in people management solutions. In business since 1981, Accsys is a proud member of the Innovation Division, Business Connexion group. Its solutions, which are being used in more than 2000 companies, are developed in South Africa with particular emphasis on South African workplace conditions to fulfill the purpose of providing strategic solutions for people who manage people.
 
For more information on Accsys please visit:
Website: http://accsys.co.za/
Twitter: @AccsysPeopleMan
LinkedIn: Accsys (Pty) Ltd
Facebook: Accsys (Pty) Ltd