A Long-Term Cultural Indicator

Over the years, our Heartbeat has evolved in every direction – from negative scores during challenging times to moments of 100% positive feedback when the team felt especially stable and aligned.

These fluctuations aren’t a sign of instability – they’re a sign of honesty. They show that the eNPS is not a snapshot but a living indicator of team culture, trust, and cohesion.

A consistently high eNPS reflects strong collaboration and sustained satisfaction. A sudden drop, on the other hand, signals that attention or support may be needed – giving us the opportunity to act early. That’s the true strength of the eNPS: it makes cultural health visible and actionable.

The Status Determination Procedure (“Statusfeststellungsverfahren”)

In Germany, the Statusfeststellungsverfahren is an official administrative process conducted by the German Pension Insurance Authority (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) to determine whether an engagement qualifies as employment or self-employment.

Step-by-step overview:

1. Application by either the client (company) or the contractor (freelancer).

2. Review by the DRV based on documentation and the actual working relationship.

3. Written decision issued by the authority.

4. Option to file an appeal if there is disagreement.

Important: This is not a quick process. Depending on the case’s complexity and administrative workload, the procedure may take several weeks to several months. Companies should plan accordingly and avoid making long-term decisions until the results are available.

The process is particularly useful for long-term collaborations, new or critical roles, or when there is uncertainty about the working arrangement.

Digital Support: Leapsome as an HR Partner

The webinar also demonstrated how modern HR systems like Leapsome help simplify payroll. Centralized data, transparent absence tracking, and automated reports reduce manual work and prevent data gaps. Especially for growing teams, digital support is key to maintaining compliance.

👉 Learn more: www.leapsome.com‍

Personal Reflections & Learnings

In the podcast, Erica also shares personal stories — including how her family life and work life influence one another. A guiding principle for her has always been courage to try something new, even when uncertainty is present.

“What’s the worst thing that can happen to me?”

That mindset encourages her to take chances, reflect, and grow through experience. One of her favorite quotes captures this outlook perfectly:

“Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.”

It’s a philosophy that defines her journey — staying open to new paths, embracing change, and viewing mistakes not as failures, but as valuable lessons.

Impact & Feedback

The cooperation with financeAds International GmbH is a prime example of how CoSourcing works without an internal HR department — and still delivers full professional support.

"Working with the KUNO team has been a game-changer for our HR operations. You get the benefit of a whole team of experts, not just a single point of contact. They are proactive in their communication, reliable in their processes, and always bring a solution-oriented mindset to the table – whether it's day-to-day topics or more complex challenges.”

- CEO, financeAds International GmbH‍

6. Cleaning Up HR and Payroll Systems

Year-end is the perfect moment to tidy up your systems — not as a theoretical audit, but as a practical clean-up. Over the year, HR Information Management Systems and payroll databases often accumulate incomplete or outdated records.

Now is the time to check:

• Are all relevant employee details complete and up to date?

• Are there information fields or sections rarely used that can be simplified or removed for the new year?

• Should internal structures or data categories be updated to make systems leaner and more efficient?

It’s also worth reviewing data retention and deletion policies: Which personal records must be deleted, and which must be archived for compliance reasons? Regular reviews prevent unnecessary data storage, ensure compliance with data protection laws (e.g., GDPR), and reduce long-term storage and admin costs.

Conclusion: This clean-up creates order, clarity, and data security. It saves time in the coming year and ensures HR and Payroll start 2026 with accurate and reliable data — a small investment with a big impact.