News

By now, most people are already aware and putting plans in place for May, when the UK will enjoy an additional bank holiday to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. The bank holiday will fall on Monday 8th May, following his coronation two days before, and will give workers across the country the potential of an extended weekend to enjoy this historic event. 

As the workforce continues to age, it’s becoming increasingly important for employers to find ways of accommodating the needs of older workers. Supporting an aging workforce not only benefits the employees themselves but can also lead to improved productivity, knowledge transfer, and reduced turnover.  

With more businesses embracing remote and flexible work arrangements, the idea of pets in the workplace continues to gain in popularity. They are no longer just the preserve of small, rural businesses either.  In this article, I’m shining a light on some of the reasons why taking animals to work… works! 

Christmas is on the horizon and organisations up and down the country are planning their annual get-togethers. Whatever size team you have, the workplace Christmas party conjures up a variety of connotations and interpretations. Some people love them, others attend out of a sense of obligation. Whether you view them as a way of acknowledging your employee achievements, a celebratory team building activity or maybe your people simply expect a work-social to feature in their festive calendar, we’ve put together some important considerations when planning your workplace Christmas party.

In a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, it has been decided that employees who are on permanent contracts, but who only work for part of the year, such as term-time workers or people on zero-hours contracts, are entitled to the same holiday pay as their colleagues who work all year.

We spend most of our waking time in the workplace and many of us develop close bonds and friendships with our co-workers. When things get tough, we’re often the first people to notice changes in their mood and habits. A once cheerful and chatty person may become snappy or dismissive if they’re experiencing stress.

Workplace related stress can affect an individual’s behaviour, performance, and relationships with their co-workers. It’s one of the most common reasons for long term absence and can affect both their physical and mental health.

The Good Work Plan highlights the need for workers to have a voice and documents how high levels of employee engagement can improve organisational performance and boost productivity.

What does this mean to you and your business?

As we embark on Employer Brand Awareness Week, it’s inspiring to see how far we have come over recent years when looking at how organisations are evolving to attract and retain their best talent. Employer brand relates to how your people and potential hires view your business. It goes beyond a physical brand (or placing a beanbag in the boardroom) and it’s gaining pace.

Read on to learn more about the four-day work week, the pros and cons to your workplace and consider whether this is something you would consider implementing.

Monday 18th May 2020 marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, the UK’s national week to raise awareness of mental health, mental health problems and inspire action to promote the message of good mental health for all.

People need a certain amount of pressure to challenge and motivate them to meet targets and perform in their roles. But excessive levels of pressure or facing continued challenges over an extended period can lead to stress, which in turn leads to higher rates of absence, reduced engagement, and a reduction in productivity.

With plenty of employment law developments coming into effect in April 2022, business owners and HR professionals need to ensure that their organisations understand the changes and any implications. We’ve put together the following roundup to help you keep your policies up-to-date.

Accessibility involves removing any barriers that exist, to provide equal access and the workplace is no exception. All employees should have equal access to the tools, tasks, and space required to perform their roles. As an employer, you have the power to make positive adjustments to your workplace.

We’ve put together some considerations to help you make your workplace more accessible.

The last two years have been filled with disruption and uncertainty but we’re hoping to reduce the number of reactive measures that we’ve helped businesses to implement over the course of the pandemic. Here’s some insider intel on what we can all expect to see and watch out for, as we continue into 2022.

  Self-certification for sickness absence has been, until recently, capped at the first seven days. Due to the increased pressure on GPs, employees can now self-certify for 28 days. GPs are finding themselves under increasing strain, with the focus on providing emergency care and delivering the coronavirus booster programme. The new guidance now means that…

Performance Development Reviews can play an important role in an organisation’s people strategy and support their approach to hiring, motivating, and promoting employees. They can also be used when discussing pay reviews or to identify when performance management may be needed.

When PDRs are done well, they can support individual career development and help to develop an organisation.

As an HR team, we’ve experienced a multitude of working environments and understand the importance that work-life balance can have on your people.

If you can positively impact the work-to-home-life ratio, your people will feel less stressed and more motivated which will ultimately increase their productivity and reduce the risk of workplace conflicts.

As a business owner, hiring your first employee is a huge milestone! It is the first step in expanding your business.

Your employer branding is what you tell the world about your culture, values and daily working experience.

Do you know the difference between an employee and a worker and how to distinguish between the two? Are you aware of the implications of getting it wrong? Read more below to find out more and how to ensure that you don’t fall foul in this important area of employment law.  In UK employment law,…