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RotaCloud blog

Posts by Anna Roberts

Photograph of Anna Roberts
Anna is a former Blog Editor, now Web Developer, at RotaCloud.
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A black and white image, showing a distant silhouette of someone walking away.

When employees go silent: Why you should worry about quiet employees at work
7 min read
Photo of a woman sitting in an armchair with her knees up, sipping from a ceramic mug

How to boost staff wellbeing through smarter shift planning
7 min read
A man in a grey t-shirt leaning back and yelling into a megaphone.

Employee rights: 9 myths and misconceptions
8 min read
Someone covered in a white sheet to look like a ghost, with sunglasses and a bowler hat over the sheet.

AWOL from work: How to manage employee no-shows
8 min read
A young man sits on a bus, mobile phone to one ear and a finger in the other, looking frantic.

How to manage consistent employee lateness
7 min read
Someone with a clock for a face poses dramatically in a spotlight, shelves of clocks behind them.

6 practical tips to improve employee attendance at work
8 min read
Man wearing headphones, staring at an Apple laptop, and looking slightly anxious

12 management tips & techniques for first-time managers
5 min read
Man looking sidelong at the camera from inside his mechanic business

How to identify barriers to small business growth
6 min read
Photo of woman's hand using a light red calculator resting on a desk.

Labour cost percentages guide [+calculator]
7 min read
Photo of a hand placing a coin into a blue piggy bank with a smiling face

13 low-cost & free team-building ideas for businesses
11 min read
grey notebook next to a yellow, eraser-tipped pencil

20 winning interview questions to ask candidates
9 min read
Female and male runner wearing red tank tops crouched on an indoor running track.

How to choose between two outstanding candidates: 10 tiebreaker questions
7 min read
Female professional sitting at a desk covered with papers using a vivid pink calculator

What is the Bradford Factor? A guide for managers [+ calculator!]
9 min read

Absence management: a complete guide for SMEs
10 min read

Annual leave rules & restrictions: everything you need to know
10 min read

How to calculate holiday accrual for hourly staff [calculator]
4 min read
A group of four baristas smile and pose together behind their rustic-style coffee shop counter.

Reducing Staff Turnover: the Ultimate Employee Retention Guide for SMEs
14 min read
Rusted green metal gate locked shut with a chain and padlock

How inaccessible rotas could be holding your business back
4 min read
Screenshot of RotaCloud's staff availability tools for easier rota planning

Why it pays to build the rota around your staff
5 min read
Slimline digital watch on male wrist displaying 12:00 on May 9

How to reduce time theft & keep accurate employee time records
6 min read
Woman wearing glasses and a light blue shift smiling while reading a paper document.

How to create an employee handbook that people will actually read
5 min read
Close-up photo of a smartwatch displaying the time 16:47 on a slender woman's wrist.

How to solve your overtime management problems
8 min read
Two female baristas wearing aprons using a laptop computer on a wooden counter.

Rota planning in hospitality: 8 steps to success
7 min read

17 HR blogs you should be following [Updated for 2022!]
7 min read

40 quick tips for boosting seasonal sales in retail (updated for 2021)
6 min read
Man wearing sunglasses floating in the sea reading a book.

5 innovative annual leave policies for your small business
9 min read

Preventing restaurant no-shows — 6 tips for managers & restaurateurs
8 min read

Five surprising benefits of using rota software
4 min read

A year of not going on holiday: how 2020 changed how we use our annual leave
7 min read

How to manage leave requests fairly
7 min read

The presenteeism problem: Why your staff should be taking more sick days
8 min read
Cartoon of a woman lying on a sofa reaching for a laptop on the floor

Eight ways to boost employee wellbeing during the dark winter months
6 min read

Why you should encourage staff to take annual leave
3 min read

How we're building a better workplace — Employee wellbeing at RotaCloud
9 min read
A collage of York pubs

A big shoutout to our favourite locals during lockdown
1 min read
Close-up photo of beer taps in a bar

York’s pub owners on the challenges of running a business in the time of Covid-19
7 min read

Introducing RotaCloud Pro: A new tier of tools & features *Update*
7 min read
Cartoon of a clothing retail store with staff wearing face masks

Is a retail recovery on the way? Reasons to be cautiously optimistic
4 min read

How to schedule staff in a fast-paced, ever-changing workplace
6 min read

Three essential tips for first-time rota planners
4 min read
Cartoon image of a red government budget chest

Budget 2020: Key takeaways for small business
2 min read

Beyond the Departure Bored: Flexible working and an easier commute
4 min read

RotaCloud 2019 year in review [infographic]
1 min read

Working Time Regulations: is it time for a change?
3 min read
Close-up-photo-of-male-hands-using-a-smartphone

Self-service rota planning: everything you need to know
5 min read
Restaurant owner wearing apron smiling and using a touch-screen.

The essential software toolkit for independent restaurants
13 min read

What we learnt at the Health + Care Show 2019
3 min read

How to optimise staff coverage on a tight budget
5 min read
Bread, hummus, and salad on a plate.

Eight of the biggest food and drink trends for 2019
4 min read
Man with glasses cringing while looking at the camera.

Six of the biggest marketing fails of 2018
9 min read
Judge's gavel being tapped on a polished wooden desk.

UK Government announces workplace reforms: how do they affect you?
2 min read
Man in business attire holding his classes and rubbing his temples.

Five HR and people management controversies from 2018
5 min read

Blind hiring: everything you need to know
5 min read
Close-up photo of two pairs of hands over an interview table.

Is your hiring process fair?
16 min read
Cartoon showing a manager holding a sheet of paper while three people wait in line

How to narrow the field when recruiting: 7 easy steps for managers
6 min read
Cartoon of angry-looking woman sitting in front of a computer screen

Recruitment 101: how to write and publish a job ad that gets results
10 min read

Why data protection matters to every small business
5 min read

How to get more TripAdvisor reviews — Tips for small business owners
6 min read

How to manage your TripAdvisor listing
4 min read

Carrying over annual leave: everything you need to know
4 min read

Will 2019 bring predictive scheduling laws to the UK?
5 min read
Isometric photo of several old-fashioned alarm clocks displaying different times

Flexitime: is it right for your business?
6 min read

Why & how your business needs to act on GDPR
5 min read

How to conduct the perfect job interview [free template]
4 min read
Cartoon of a smiling man surrounded by hearts and social media icons

The biggest social media successes of 2017
5 min read

Autumn Budget 2017: key takeaways for small businesses
2 min read
Cartoon of a smiling man using a laptop with a speech bubble reading 'applied' above it

How to improve candidate experience: a guide for small businesses
5 min read
Cartoon image of a smiling business person pointing to charts and graphs

Eight common mistakes made by first-time managers
7 min read

How to find the leadership style that works for you
7 min read

Top leadership skills all new managers need to master
8 min read

Nine retail blogs you need to follow
4 min read

The 10 most irritating office habits
6 min read

How to find the right business partner
7 min read

Friday face-off: Mac vs. PC for business
4 min read

Seven tips for running effective staff meetings
7 min read

How retailers can use psychological pricing to boost sales
7 min read

Friday face-off: daily stand-up meetings: Useful or useless?
3 min read

Starting a business with a friend: 10 tips & questions to ask yourself
9 min read

How to respond to negative Facebook reviews — A guide for SMEs
11 min read

How to set up a pop-up shop: the basics
5 min read

How to manage employees on zero-hours contracts
9 min read
Photo of a young woman smiling while speaking into a large megaphone

The ultimate guide to influencer marketing for hotels
16 min read

How to handle disputes between staff: a guide for managers
6 min read
Cartoon image of a boss and intern fist-bumping

How to make your internships super effective
10 min read

10 signs it's time to move into your first office
5 min read

Internet history: what today's top UK websites looked like in the noughties
6 min read

Friday face-off: structured vs. unstructured Interviews
4 min read
Cartoon of a computer screen surrounded by floating food and drink icons

How to start a cafe or restaurant blog from scratch
14 min read
Cartoon of smiling people wearing brightly coloured t-shirts standing in a row

SME tips: how to diagnose and treat business growing pains
7 min read

Ethics & evolution — Expert advice from cafe owner Ruth Hampson
8 min read

How to build trust in your workplace: the ultimate guide
9 min read

Are you ready for the new tax year?
4 min read

How to Hire Your First Employee [+ Checklist]
6 min read
Top-down cartoon image of six palms holding silver and gold coins

A Beginner's Guide to Crowdfunding for SMEs
8 min read

Eight Things SMEs Need to Know About Hiring Apprentices
3 min read
Cartoon of a group of people walking towards an open exit door

HR Help - Can I Fire An Employee For...?
7 min read

How To Go Paperless in 2017
7 min read
Close-up photo of a stack of coins with a wall clock out of focus in the background.

How to reduce labour costs (without firing anyone)
7 min read

Recruitment 101: Active vs. Passive Job Seekers
10 min read
Cartoon image of people's silhouettes connected by lines with red crosses between them

Top HR Mistakes Small Businesses Make & How to Avoid Them
7 min read

Recruitment 101: Candidate Personas Explained
7 min read
Cartoon of a road with a danger sign and a bottomless hole in the middle

14 Pitfalls New Small Business Owners Need to Avoid
9 min read

Who's Working During Christmas? [Infographic]
1 min read

Employee Motivation During Christmas: A Tale of Two Sectors
5 min read

Working Hard or Hardly Working: What Your Staff Are Really Up To [Infographic]
1 min read

How To Manage Unhappy Employees
6 min read

How to Reward Employees Without Giving Them A Pay Rise
5 min read

Why On-The-Job Training Matters (and How to Get it Right)
7 min read

Everything You Need to Know About TripAdvisor Instant Booking
7 min read

Four Controversial Marketing Campaigns (and What You Can Learn From Them)
6 min read

Is HR Outsourcing Right for Your SME?
4 min read

Should You Let Your Employees Access Social Media at Work?
6 min read

Four Practical Staff Management Tips for Busy Periods
4 min read

12 must-read blogs for restaurateurs
5 min read
Cartoon image of two smiling employees sitting side by side, with one employee pointing at the other

How to Build an Effective Employee Referral Program from Scratch
6 min read

Employee Engagement: a Practical Guide for Employers
7 min read

15 Hospitality Blogs Every Hotelier Should Be Reading
6 min read

The Ultimate SaaS Toolkit for Small Businesses
10 min read

The Ultimate Guide to Employee Perks (For Every Budget)
8 min read
Photo of a kitchen pass-over with kitchen staff on either side

Five Ways to Keep Seasonal Staff Motivated This Summer
4 min read

TripAdvisor Review Express: The Free E-mail Marketing Tool Every Hotelier Should Be Using
5 min read
Meeting room in a high-rise office which neatly aligned chairs and a long table

Nearly Half of UK Employees Don't Trust Their Employers: Here's Why
3 min read

Work On Your Business, Not In Your Business
4 min read

TripAdvisor: Recovering From Bad Reviews
5 min read
Photo showing half of a wall clock with the hour hand just past 2

Time: The Biggest Barrier to Business Growth
3 min read

Five Affordable Ideas for Boosting Employee Engagement
4 min read

'Tis Nearly the Season - Planning Your Staff Christmas Party
3 min read