HR & Employment Law Insights
Helping family businesses, start-ups and early stage growth, third sector, professional services, trades and construction, manufacturing and engineering, and other growing or established businesses throughout the UK make sense of HR and employment law challenges.We hope you enjoy the wide range of blog articles featured. We cover a wide range of topics including HR best practices, employment law updates, recruitment strategies, employee engagement, tips for effective people management, and addressing people challenges to help businesses navigate their HR needs with confidence.
How to Handle Difficult Conversations at Work as an Employer
Difficult conversations at work are an inevitable part of being an employer. Whether it’s providing constructive feedback, addressing misconduct, or discussing performance issues, these conversations are essential for a productive and harmonious workplace. Handling...
Are Staff Gifts Tax Deductible?
As Christmas approaches, many employers are thinking about how to show appreciation for their staff. A common question during this festive season is: Are staff gifts tax deductible? This topic is especially relevant now, given the recent national insurance increases...
Reskilling and Upskilling: Preparing for the Future of Work
As industries evolve and technology advances at an unprecedented pace, businesses and professionals alike face the need to adapt. Reskilling and upskilling have emerged as crucial strategies to ensure employability, competitiveness, and business resilience in the...
Skills-Based Hiring: The Game-Changer Redefining Recruitment?
In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, employers are recognising the growing importance of skills-based hiring. This recruitment strategy prioritises a candidate’s competencies over traditional markers like formal education or prior job titles. As we move into 2025,...
Can I Enforce Christmas Leave During a Shutdown?
As the festive season approaches, many employers and HR managers face a common question: Can I Enforce Christmas Leave During a Shutdown? Balancing operational needs and employee expectations during the holidays can be challenging. In this blog, we’ll explore the...
White Paper Pay Review Report for 2025
A number of our clients have been asking us what other businesses plan to do in relation to pay rises and asking our thoughts on the economic outlook. Whilst we have some of this information, as part of our ongoing efforts to support your business needs and provide...
Can I Make Employees Work Christmas Overtime?
The festive season is a busy time for many businesses, and employers often find themselves needing extra hands to meet demand. A common question arises: Can I make employees work Christmas overtime during the festive period? Understanding your legal responsibilities...
Do I Have to Pay Employees a Christmas Bonus?
As the festive season approaches, many employees look forward to a Christmas bonus as a token of appreciation from their employer. However, for employers, the question of whether this must be paid isn’t always straightforward. In the UK, there are specific legal and...
How to Conduct a Successful Year End Review
As the end of the year approaches, it’s the perfect time to reflect, evaluate performance, and set goals for the future. A year end review is essential for businesses looking to improve employee performance and strengthen organisational growth. A recent YouGov survey...
Bradford Factor | The Pros and Cons
The Bradford Factor is a widely used HR tool designed to measure and manage employee absenteeism. This formula is particularly effective in highlighting the disruptive impact of short, frequent absences compared to prolonged absences. However, while this can be an...
Terminating an Employee with Mental Health Issues UK
Mental health awareness is growing, but challenges still arise when addressing it in the workplace. Employers have a duty to support employees struggling with mental health issues, but what happens if the situation becomes untenable? When it comes to terminating an...
Pregnancy Risk Assessment: An Employers Guide
Conducting a pregnancy risk assessment is essential to ensure the health and safety of the pregnant employee and her unborn child. This assessment identifies potential workplace risks to pregnant employees. Neglecting to conduct one could result in serious...
Making a Position Redundant by Restructuring: Employer Guide
In the current economic climate, making a position redundant by restructuring has become a pressing consideration for many businesses. Rising operational costs and the recent increase in National Insurance contributions for employers are placing significant financial...
How to calculate redundancy pay for a redundant employee
If you are at the stage where you are working out how to calculate redundancy pay, you have already explored other options, followed the right redundancy process, told employees, gone through the consultations, and selected employees for redundancy. Or you may be here...
Return to Office: Balancing Employer Goals and Employee Rights
The topic of "return to office" has been a highly debated one as businesses adjust their workforce strategies. While remote working was a necessity during the pandemic, employers are now encouraging employees to return to the workplace, citing reasons from improved...
Zero Hours Contracts Guide for Employers
Zero hours contracts have become a prominent feature in the modern workplace, sparking considerable debate among employers, employees, and policymakers. These contracts, which do not guarantee a minimum number of hours, provide flexibility for both businesses and...
Zero Hours Contracts Rights Update | Employment Rights Bill
The UK government’s recent Employment Law Bill could significantly shape the future of zero-hours contracts rights. These contracts, often associated with flexibility and unpredictability, are prevalent in sectors like retail, hospitality, and care. However, as...
Managing People | Ask The Expert – Lynn
Managing people effectively is crucial for any organisation’s success, and line managers play a pivotal role in this. They are often the primary link between employees and the business, responsible for creating an environment where team members feel motivated,...
Employment Rights Bill: Preparing for Flexible Working Request Reforms
The UK Employment Rights Bill, with its latest flexible working request reforms, is set to transform the workplace landscape. This legislation focuses on making flexible working a default right, rather than a privilege. This marks a significant shift for both...
The Latest on Zero-hours contract holiday pay
According to ONS figures, as of March this year, around 1,030,000 employees in the UK are on zero-hour contracts. If you employ staff on this type of contract, it's essential to understand and clearly outline zero-hours contract holiday pay and entitlements. In this...
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace | Ask The Expert – Jenna
Sexual harassment in the workplace is an urgent and growing issue in the UK, demanding a proactive response from HR teams and organisations. Tribunal cases in the UK related to sexual harassment increased by 7% from January to September 2024, rising to 125 cases from...
TAKE THE GUESSWORK OUT OF HR
Business-focused HR support & advice
Our monthly support plan means HR-related processes are simple, efficient, and work to the long-term benefit of your business.
Contact us today to discuss your business and how we can assist with all your HR needs.