Northgate-is - News Item 732

Paperless HR set to lead the way in 2008

~ paper-heavy departments spearheading green initiatives ~

The HR department is set to go green in 2008, according to research carried out by Harte Hanks on behalf of Northgate HR.  Almost one third (29 per cent) of British companies are planning to move payroll processes online this year, removing one of the most paper-intensive parts of the business.

Online HR processes allow employees to enter expenses, absence forms, and other admin duties online instead of using paper. The research revealed these processes are becoming increasingly popular, with one third of firms planning to increase their use of ‘self-service’ HR to save more paper in 2008. The research was carried out at the end of 2007 among over 200 senior HR executives in the UK.

“It’s often HR that sets the green agenda for the rest of the company, and green initiatives are no exception,” said Malcolm Aldis, CEO at Northgate HR. “It’s encouraging to see that HR managers are practicing what they preach and setting the examples of best practice. Using a self-service system, employees and line managers can process and approve expense claims, absence forms and perform other administration duties online – eliminating the need for paper.”

South East housing association The Hyde Group started its move into a paperless environment in 2007. Through processing job application forms and other HR administration online, it now estimates it saves 95,000 sheets of paper every year – enough to cover a football pitch.

“The HR department has really set the green standard for the rest of the organisation,” said Roddy Horton at the Hyde Group. “Moving HR admin online also allows managers to access forms remotely, and keep a clear audit trail.”
 
“It’s easy to challenge our reliance on paper, and the shift is as much about a change in employees’ attitude as it is about new technology,” continued Malcolm Aldis at Northgate HR. “There’s still a long way to go, but this research proves that green issues are moving up the HR agenda. The paperless office, at least in the HR department, is becoming a realistic prospect.”

(355 words)

NOTES TO EDITORS
About Northgate HR (www.northgate-is.com/hrs)
With over 40 years’ experience, Northgate HR is the UK’s largest supplier of HR, payroll and pensions applications. Northgate HR solutions are developed to provide maximum flexibility and seamless integration. They can cater for the diverse requirements of HR, payroll, benefits and pension management across all market sectors and in organisations of any size.
 
Solutions can be delivered in-house, via an Application Service Provider (ASP) or outsourced, providing forward thinking and state-of-the-art business management tools. With a comprehensive suite of software solutions combined with unparalleled levels of expertise, Northgate HR can fulfil its vision to provide solutions that simplify key business tasks and deliver value added benefits to customers, enabling them to provide vital human capital information to assist in HR management and business strategy. 
 
Northgate HR is the specialist HR and Payroll systems division of Northgate Information Solutions. Northgate Information Solutions plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange. For further information visit Northgate Information Solutions at www.northgate-is.com.

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