An increasing number of businesses are turning to technology to cut down on employment costs as they grapple with the changes being introduced by the Employment Rights Bill.

That’s the view of Alasdair Hobbs, of Telford-based HR specialists Human Results, who said a lot of businesses were struggling with rising recruitment costs, as well as the increased minimum wage and National Insurance contributions.

The Employment Rights Bill includes a range of new legislation, fundamentally changing how businesses manage new recruits.

Although the “day one” unfair dismissal rights have now been removed from the Bill - employees will instead get those rights following six months’ service - Alasdair warned employers that HR processes needed to be tight.

He said structured documentation, regular performance reviews, and transparent communication were all vital - and difficult to deliver consistently.

“Inadequate probationary period management poses significant financial and operational risks for businesses,” Alasdair said.

“For instance, failed probations without proper documentation can lead to unfair

dismissal claims, with tribunal cases costing businesses an average of £8,500 in legal fees alone, not including settlement costs and management time.

“Then there’s recruitment expenses - replacing an employee who fails probation costs between £3,000 and £30,000 depending on seniority, factoring in advertising, interviewing, and onboarding.

“Poorly managed probations can also result in extended periods of under performance, directly impacting team productivity and morale.

“That’s why we launched Iguana - a flexible people management software solution designed for UK businesses of all sizes.

“It enables organisations to maintain accurate personnel records, manage absence and holiday bookings, and track the complete employee lifecycle through one customisable system.

“Our clients have found that having a structured framework has been instrumental in navigating the new legislative landscape effectively - and it’s why an ever-growing number of businesses are turning to technology like this to help them cut their costs.”

For more information, contact Human Results by visiting www.humanresults.co.uk or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.