One Source News

OneSource Absence Changes - Latest Updates

As our first communication returning after the new year, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce the changes we are delivering as the One Source project.

As part of our commitment to our employees, we continue to find ways to ensure our practices and processes are as efficient and effective as possible to maximise the impact of our digital initiatives and get the most out of systems. Along this journey we identify areas which require change, improvement, or removal. In 2023 we demonstrated this commitment by successfully introducing Oracle Recruitment Cloud, otherwise known as ORC. Based on feedback from our hiring managers, the “new process is slicker” and much “more intuitive to use and navigate.”

Carrying this momentum into 2024 we would like to act on your feedback and provide you with early notice of changes and regular updates of what you can expect to see this year from One Source. 

We will be introducing a change to the way we manage absences in One Source alongside reviewing our current sickness absence policy. For you as an end user, you can expect to see a change in the way One Source looks, with an improved user-friendly format and the ability to capture sickness absence reasons within one system (rather than the secondary tailored interface we currently use). As part of our approach to adopting Oracle standardised functionality, Managers will be able to open and close sickness absence in one system without duplicating entry of employee details.

Other benefits we are working towards are:

• Absence reports based on a grouping of similar absence types which will allow us to view any trends or patterns emerging around wellbeing. What does this mean for you? As a Council we will be utilising this information to better tailor our wellbeing support for you and your teams.
• Ensuring our Attendance and Wellbeing policies are effective and remain so, through the validation of live absence data.
• Employees will be able to utilise OneSource to view existing sickness absences and to identify if half or nil pay will be activated and when. This will support those who find themselves unwell, as they will be aware of the information relating to their pay and renumeration without delay as payroll or HR previously maintained this information.

It is important to note that since we have implemented OneSource over 3 years ago, there have been enhancements to the system which drive benefits for Walsall and our users, and we endeavour to deliver these to maximise OneSource’s capability.

The change is expected in the later part of 2024, and we will continue to bring you updates via the intranet and other forums.

We look forward to bringing you more insight into the ever evolving and improving One Source project.

Watch this space!