December 13, 2018
When you think of Christmas, lots of traditions spring to mind such as mince pies, mulled wine and mistletoe. However, the idea that if you meet someone under the mistletoe, you have to kiss them, does not sit easy with many of us. Especially at a work Christmas party. As an employer, should you remove…
View Post
November 30, 2018
We have stocked up on grit for our driveways, had snow tyres fitted on our cars and stockpiled the fridge within hours of the Met Office issuing a weather warning that snow is forecast. But while most of us agree that snow is picturesque, adverse weather conditions can have a catastrophic effect on businesses that do not have…
View Post
November 26, 2018
Christmas may be ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, but for many employers it can be a time-consuming and administrative nightmare. With an influx of annual leave requests, increased employee absence levels and coordinating Christmas rotas it can be difficult for employers to keep track of it all. Plus there’s the pressure of organising the…
View Post
October 24, 2018
We’re very excited to be back at the CIPD Annual Conference & Exhibition, on Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th November Free to attend, this year’s CIPD exhibition is taking place at Manchester Central and promises to be bigger and better, with the UK’s best HR suppliers exhibiting. The exhibition allows HR professionals to test-drive the…
View Post
October 5, 2018
If you’re an HR Manager, you’re responsible for a long list of functions that are crucial to the success of the business you work for. From recruitment, to employee relations, learning and development, talent planning, compensation and benefits, change management – the list goes on and on. With so many plates to spin, where do…
View Post
October 3, 2018
The term ‘flexible working’ is becoming a popular one. But what actually is it? Who is doing it? How are requests made? And must you agree to a flexible working request? What is flexible working? Flexible working is a way of working that suits an employee’s needs. It might involve an earlier or later start…
View Post
October 1, 2018
Following our comprehensive walk through on harassment, we’re now looking specifically at workplace bullying. Read on to understand your responsibilities as an employer and find out how to proactively avoid and discourage workplace bullying. What is bullying? Although it’s not actually defined by law, ACAS characterises bullying as ‘offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an…
View Post
September 20, 2018
With effect from 4 October, your employees will no longer be able to join any Childcare Voucher scheme you may offer. However, those who are already enrolled into the scheme will still be able to benefit from it, providing: you continue to run the scheme they remain in your employment they do not take an…
View Post
September 18, 2018
Suspending an employee can seem the next logical step when an allegation of harassment has taken place, but employers should be careful and consider the ‘law of unintended consequences’. The recent incident between actress Roxanne Pallett and actor Ryan Thomas within the Celebrity Big Brother house highlights how a seemingly innocent act can escalate into…
View Post
September 10, 2018
Organisations should treat any form of harassment seriously – not just because of the legal implications and because it can lead to under-performance, but because people have the right to be treated with dignity and respect at work too. Employers should foster a fair and inclusive working environment that enables everyone to feel they can…
View Post
September 6, 2018
Chairing disciplinary hearings or listening to formal grievances are activities that take lots of managers out of their comfort zone – even many HR managers dislike this aspect of the role. Follow these ten tips to take away the pressure and ensure the best outcome for your business and workplace relationships. 1. Prepare for the…
View Post
August 28, 2018
In July 2017, the Government launched a national survey of LGBT people. The survey received more than 108,000 responses, making it the largest national survey of its kind anywhere in the world. Some of the most important findings: 23% of survey respondents employed in the 12 months preceding the survey had experienced a negative or mixed reaction…
View Post