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Even when employees are sick, most of them are still willing to help out if they can

2021-06-09T12:24:06+00:00

When employees are off sick, most employers tend not to contact their absent staff believing that they need a proper rest to get better. However this could be a missed opportunity as a survey commissioned by Mensura and Certimed found that 8 out of 10 employees are open to staying in touch with work and are even willing to help limit the additional workload that may have fallen on their immediate colleagues. Sources HR alert

Even when employees are sick, most of them are still willing to help out if they can2021-06-09T12:24:06+00:00

Living, working and COVID19

2021-05-19T13:43:57+00:00

During these times of long crisis, a study by Eurofound has shown a decline in mental health and trust in government across the EU between 2020 and 2021.  Here are the highlights:  All age groups register a low mental well-being, especially young people.  The number of people who have difficulties in making ends meet has increased during the pandemic.  Trust in national governments is declining as well as in public institutions.  A hesitancy wave in getting vaccinated is sweeping the EU and affects men more than women.  Social media and declining trust are big factors in vaccine hesitancy. You can find the full report in English here.  Sources EuroFound

Living, working and COVID192021-05-19T13:43:57+00:00

New Corona bonus of 500 euros

2021-05-19T13:42:43+00:00

The federal government is proposing that companies that did well during the 2020 pay their employees a non-compulsory "corona bonus" of up to 500 euros net in the form of checks along the line of the eco checks and lunch voucher model. They will have a short validity so that the money is spent quickly in local shops. The amount of 500 euros is a maximum. The bonus will be granted in the year 2021. The actual list of stores and organizations where you can spend your corona reward is yet to be determined. "The idea is that people will be able to use it for everyday expenses, like shopping at the supermarket."  The issuers of these checks last year were the classic meal ticket providers: Sodexo, Edenred and Monizze.  Sources HR Alert 

New Corona bonus of 500 euros2021-05-19T13:42:43+00:00

Return to the office in June; Working from home no longer compulsory

2021-05-19T10:36:01+00:00

Beginning June 9, you will be able to progressively schedule comeback sessions for up to 20% of your staff at the same time. Each employee will be able to come to work once a week. For SMEs with fewer than 10 employees, a maximum of 5 employees can be present at the same time. Corona tests are recommended but not compulsory.  As of July 1, working from home will no longer be required, but "recommended" for anyone whose job allows it.  There are several conditions to respect for this return to work:  First, the purpose of the return is to promote the psycho-social well-being of the employees and the team spirit ; Employees cannot be obliged to participate in these progressive returns;  The employer has to ensure that the rules on social distancing, hygiene measures, ventilation, etc.. are respected;  It is best to avoid car-sharing or using public transport during peak hours for the home to work journeys. Sources SD Worx

Return to the office in June; Working from home no longer compulsory2021-05-19T10:36:01+00:00

Corona tips: Appropriate ventilation at low cost

2021-05-11T09:48:21+00:00

The pandemic has reminded everyone of the importance of good ventilation and airing rooms. But what policies do you need to put in place as an employer to minimise the risk of infection in the workplace? The Corona Commission has produced a handy guide to indoor air quality including tips, a step-by-step plan and a checklist.  To limit the risk of contamination through poor air quality, the main objective is to ensure sufficient ventilation in all rooms (opening windows and doors) and to take corrective measures in rooms where ventilation is clearly insufficient. The detailed recommendations, info about the relevance of CO2 concentration and how to measure it are available in French here:  https://www.hralert.be/fr/news/hr-news/bien-ventiler-faible-cout-les-conseils-du-commissariat-corona Sources HR Alert

Corona tips: Appropriate ventilation at low cost2021-05-11T09:48:21+00:00

Five reasons you should invest in training your team

2021-05-10T13:47:10+00:00

Employee retention: training employees to fit organisation roles creates opportunities to retain motivated employees who already know your organisation’s culture, have knowledge and experience of your organisation, and also know its history; Reduced recruitment costs: investing in employees increases loyalty and interest in the job so they stay longer; Good PR and attraction of top talent: Top employees want to stay the best and continue to develop throughout their career. These people are looking for organisations that want to invest in them; Business resilience and sustainability: continuous and permanent training keeps your teams in tune with a constantly changing world, making your organisation dynamic and competitive;  Gaining a competitive edge: by scheduling the right training based on your company's results, you put your organisation ahead.  Sources Developed by SD Worx 

Five reasons you should invest in training your team2021-05-10T13:47:10+00:00

Back to the office in June? Get ready now

2021-04-27T13:41:08+00:00

According to Attentia, staff working from home will be able to gradually return to the workplace starting in June. Start preparing now so you can be safe and efficient.  Two main focus points:  The number of employees in the office If everyone returns to the workplace at the same time, it probably won’t be possible to maintain sufficient distance and air quality. Coordinate among your team, set up a rota and make sure everyone knows the rules. It may be useful to provide CO2 meters in frequently used areas. This provides an objective, real-time estimate of whether the ventilation capacity is sufficient for the number of employees present. Psychosocial aspects  For many employees, returning to work will be a welcome change. Some employers have identified "home working fatigue" among their employees. For some staff members, however, the physical return to work will be a stressful event. They may be afraid of being infected by a colleague or not looking forward to the commute. Good preparation and communication about preventive measures taken can alleviate many concerns, as can clear guidelines for the employees themselves; such as keeping your distance, wearing a mouth mask, etc. Progressive adaptation is key.  [...]

Back to the office in June? Get ready now2021-04-27T13:41:08+00:00

Start your own Business Seminar : 20 May 2021

2021-06-15T12:08:20+00:00

Start your own business in Belgium - Online Edition Thursday 20 May 2021 Welcome to the 2021 edition of Belgium's premier business start up event. This event is dedicated to helping you set up your business in Belgium. This half day seminar takes you through all the practical and essential steps you need to take to get your business up and running. Local Knowledge has teamed up with ING, The Bulletin, Group S and LBBH to bring you expert advice on how to start your own business in Belgium. Once again this event is running as an interactive webinar – read on for more details. Registration is free but compulsory. Date: 20 May 2021 Platform – Webinar – Room opens 13h45 14h00 Opening session: Introduction to the format and the speakers 14h10 Keynote - hear from a local entrepreneur 14h40 Each expert introduces their subject - company structures, social security for self-employed, tax matters, banking and finance. 15h00 Parallel break out rooms - you move from session to session to get more information on each of the issues that interest you. We also have a facilitated networking room where you can chat informally to other participants. Post your questions in the chat session [...]

Start your own Business Seminar : 20 May 20212021-06-15T12:08:20+00:00

Start your own Business Seminar 2020

2021-04-14T11:21:40+00:00

Start your own business in Belgium - Online Edition Thursday 14 May 2020 Welcome to 2020 edition of Belgium's premier business start up event. This event is dedicated to helping you set up your business in Belgium. This half day seminar takes you through all the practical and essential steps you need to take to get your business up and running. Local Knowledge has teamed up with ING, The Bulletin, Group S and LBBH to bring you expert advice on how to start your own business in Belgium. We’re adapting to the times and running the event as an interactive webinar this year – read on for more details. Registration is free but compulsory. Date: 14 May 2020 Platform – Webinar – Room opens 13h30 14h00 Opening session with Anne-Sofie van den Born 14h30 Types of company & freelancer structure in Belgium (Local Knowledge) 15h00 Self-employment & social security (Group S) 15h30 Tax matters (LBBH) 16h00 Banking and finance ING) 16h30 Open session: Ask an expert Key features Our audience is free to come and go as they please so it is not a requirement to attend all sessions – you can zoom in on the sessions that are of interest to you We will [...]

Start your own Business Seminar 20202021-04-14T11:21:40+00:00

Get work permits faster

2020-04-26T11:53:31+00:00

The Belgian authorities have recently taken a series of measures to speed up the work permit application process.   Last year the authorities introduced a single permit (permis unique in French, gecombineerde vergunning in Dutch) which combines the work and residence permits (managed by two different authorities). This was done to speed things up in the long run but in fact the effect was to dramatically increase the processing time. To address the delays the government has introduced two new measures:    First the ‘office des etrangers’ (OE) will received more staff – they suffer from a permanent shortage of staff which is one of the reasons for the lengthy waiting time.     Two, non-EU nationals who are awaiting a work permit renewal can continue to work as usual as long as the regional migration office has approved the renewal – while waiting for the OE’s approval the commune will give the employee a temporary right to reside in Belgium. Third country nationals who change employer can also work under the same arrangements as long as the regional migration service has approved the new employer application.     The national social security office) is in the process of developing [...]

Get work permits faster2020-04-26T11:53:31+00:00