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When should a Settlement Agreement be used?
Settlement agreements are voluntary and once signed, legally binding and essentially a method for an employer and employee to part on mutually agreed terms. Under a settlement agreement, the employee waives certain rights with regards to bringing any form of unfair...
How To Easily Support And Protect Your Survivors
As you work through your restructuring plans and start to come out the other side, it’s time to think about what your remaining team structure is and how they have been impacted. We often forget that they may need support over and above the norm, mental and physical...
Prevention is nearly always better than cure on National Sickie Day
Tempted to call in sick today? You’re not alone, as today (Monday 3 February) is traditionally the day when most people are likely to ‘pull a sickie’. Known as ‘National Sickie Day’, the first Monday in February is deemed the most popular day of the year to call in...
Advice for EU citizens moving to the UK after Brexit
With the imminent Brexit date getting ever closer, currently scheduled for this Friday (31st January) there is still a great deal of confusion and ambiguity surrounding what will happen to EU citizens coming to the UK to live and work after we leave the EU. Here,...
Key Employment Law Changes in 2020
A variety of employment law reforms are scheduled to come into effect in April 2020. Here is a summary of the key changes that might affect your business in the coming months. Holiday pay From April 2020, the holiday pay reference period will be lengthened from 12 to...
Is Blue Monday hiding wider mental health issues in the workplace?
How is your Monday going? It is the start of a new week, probably lots to do, reading and actioning emails and maybe planning ahead for yourself and your team members. But did you know that today is “Blue Monday”, supposedly the most depressing day of the year. It is...
Latest Updates on IR35 Legislation
IR35, which was introduced in 2000, is an anti-tax avoidance rule that applies to all contractors and freelancers who do not fall under HM Revenue & Customs’ definition of being self-employed. From April 2020, every medium and large private sector business in the...
The Benefits of Hanging Out With Your Colleagues
Being at work is no longer seen as a separate life for employees these days. Socialising with your team outside of the office is fast becoming a desirable part of the job, with work being seen to millennials and Generation Z as a key part of who they are and that...
What is the National Living Wage & What Does it Mean for Employers?
A new National Living Wage will be introduced this year, coming into effect from 1 April 2020 and will see low-paid workers earn nearly a thousand pounds more a year. Rebranded from the Minimum Wage in 2016, the policy has helped to cut the number of people...
Why You Need HR in 2020
It's the start of a brand new year and a brand new decade but if you want your business to succeed in 2020 you need to look after your employees, as they really are your greatest asset. By getting the best out of your employees, by treating them fairly and providing...
Five New Year Work Resolutions
A new year can signal a new beginning with new goals and resolutions, new plans and new directions. Lots of people find New Year’s resolutions intimidating and daunting, but you can take some small actions to achieve your goals as you head into a new year at work. If...
CAN POLITICS BE AN ISSUE IN THE WORKPLACE?
With the UK going to the polls on 12th December, for the first time since 1923, it’s not just the Christmas party that colleagues might be discussing in the office over the coming weeks. Politics can be an emotive issue for some employees, and this can affect employee...
Your Christmas HR Questions Answered
As the Christmas party season draws ever closer, it provides an opportunity to reflect on the successes of the past year and of course to relax and have some fun with colleagues. It is a season of fun festivities and for many, it really is the most wonderful time of...
What to do if you suspect an employee is under the influence of alcohol?
Today marks the end of Alcohol Awareness Week and in this blog our Senior HR Coordinator, Olivia Gunson looks at the issues around alcohol in the workplace. In most circumstances it would be unusual for an employee to be under the influence of alcohol during working...
How a Little Kindness Can Go a Long Way
Is the old adage ‘nice people finish last’ always true? Small acts of kindness in the workplace benefit not just the receiver, but also the giver and the whole organisation, thereby creating a positive workplace culture. It is important for employers to create an...
Bullied by your boss? What should you do?
Unfortunately these days, bullying does not get left in the school playground and for some it continues well into adulthood, making their lives miserable. Bullying is becoming more common within the workplace and while peer to peer bullying is bad enough, being...
How do I manage stress in the workplace?
We live in a world where stress is almost unavoidable, it is part of our everyday lives and although it can be beneficial; allowing us to stay focused and motivated. However, it can become a problem and have a negative impact on a person’s mental wellbeing,...
Applying for a DBS Check – Simplifying the maze of levels
Here, our Talent Manager, Paul Steed outlines the steps to complete when applying for a DBS check. A DBS check is carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and is for the purpose of helping employers make safer recruitment decisions each year. They do...
Don’t Make Halloween a Workplace Horror!
This Thursday is Halloween and here in the UK, celebrations to mark the date are a growing trend, with many workplaces now getting into the fiendish fun! But gone are the days when we used to bob for apples and perhaps make a poorly crafted costume out of a discarded...
The Growth of Flexible Working – What are the Benefits?
Recently announced research from insurance provider Aviva has identified the regions in the UK with the highest and lowest proportion of workers who are primarily based at home. Powys in Wales tops the table, with 25.7% of workers based at home. This was then...
Should we introduce a menopause policy?
In an ever-aging workforce the 'MakeMenopauseMatter' Campaign was launched in 2018 to highlight the lack of menopause awareness in society. One of the campaign’s key concerns is that too many women experiencing the menopause feel unsupported at work and currently 1 in...
In-House vs Agency Recruitment – Which is best for SME’s?
When recruiting as an SME, should you utilise your internal team or engage with an agency? This is an age-old question with no definitive, or even correct, answer. Choosing the right option can be an arduous and often thankless task, so knowing the advantages that...
Leave & Pay Entitlement for those Adopting Children
This week is National Adoption Week, which aims to raise awareness of the adoption process, and the importance of finding loving permanent families for vulnerable children. Going through the complex process of adoption can be an emotional and challenging path, but for...
