Managing flexible working requests from parents
The start of a new academic year brings flux to many households up and down the country. Some families may be sending their children to school for the first time, whilst others are well into the annual routine of it. As an employer, you may find it is a time of year when you are more likely to get requests for flexible working, as kids need to be in new places at new times. The law on flexible…
What the general election may mean for SME employers
So, the starting pistol has been fired for the six-week sprint to a general election which will be held on 4th July. Issues like small boats, the NHS and the economy may dominate much of the headlines, but the outcome of the election will be of huge significance to employment law too, and therefore SME employers. We already know the trajectory of Conservative policy on employment law: a…
Free 2024 employment legislation factsheet
With a wealth of new employment legislation coming in 2024 we have put together a factsheet consolidating the changes so you can see at a glance what they are.
When was the last time you reviewed your employee benefits?
HR Dept's new blog discusses the principles behind having an employee benefits package and why you should review it periodically to ensure it is delivering value to you and your employees.
Government announces changes to holiday pay, TUPE and Working Time Regulations
HR Dept. writes...Good news for small and medium-sized businesses. The Government announces changes to holiday pay, TUPE and Working Time Regulations.
Managing resignations – Following the eti-quit
At the height of the so-called Great Resignation (in the second quarter of 2021), 3.2% of employed people changed jobs. Annualised up that would be about one in eight employees. If your business has been around that long, the chances are you have experienced resignations in the recent past. We look at how best to manage resignations within your business.
Time to plan the Christmas party! Tips from HR
A Christmas party can help prevent morale from flagging at this time of year. Here are a few tips from HR to help ensure your party goes without a hitch.
Fostering financial well-being amongst staff
Given ongoing difficulties such as persistent inflation and the rising cost of essentials like groceries and energy, it comes as no surprise that financial pressures have become the biggest cause of stress outside of work in 2023.
Five ways to combat new job nerves when you hire
Studies show that 80% of people are nervous before starting a new job. Having spent time and money on the recruitment process, you'll want to make sure your new employees have a smooth onboarding process and hit the ground running as soon as possible.
How to do a great holiday handover
Whatever you are looking forward to when you take some much-deserved annual leave, there is the small matter of the holiday handover you need to get out of the way first. A good holiday handover means you can properly switch off and benefit from your downtime without worrying about business. It will also take away much of the anxiety from the people you ask to step into your shoes.
Conflict resolution in SMEs
Workplace conflict normally arises from strained relationships between team-members, or between managers and employees. Left unchecked it can have serious consequences, including: lowering morale, increasing absenteeism, turnover of staff and ultimately a drop in productivity. So how can SME's best manage this difficult problem?
Is it okay to do background checks after I have hired someone?
Background checks are a staple of most recruitment processes. But performing these checks are not without their own issues. For example, in a competitive recruitment market, you may miss out on the best candidates if your vetting process takes too long.
Do you worry about your employees’ use of social media?
TikTok, Facebook, Twitter… social media provides employees with a million and one ways to bring your company into disrepute: from posing in uniform and bad-mouthing customers on a personal channel to making an ill-judged comment on your official page.
The importance of getting a workplace investigation right
The importance of conducting a workplace investigation correctly and fairly is paramount, with this only being achieved with the correct polices and procedures being implemented and followed.
How can I attract staff by being more sustainable?
Sustainability within the workplace has grown in importance and prevalence among employees. So does being more sustainable as a business really help attract staff?
7 ways to welcome older people back to work
Several studies have suggested that older employees are more likely to have a great work ethic, be loyal, less likely to call in sick, and are more motivated by community and mission as opposed to perks and salary – all a great attraction to SME employers. HR Dept have a few ideas on how you can welcome back older employees into your business.
On-boarding hybrid staff – how to get them up to speed and feeling part of the team
Many business's have implemented hybrid working to bridge the gap between office and remote working. The benefits of collaborating together in one workplace cannot be overstated. We are social beings and need to be present to make meaningful relationships and bond. But as this type of work evolves, how you can best manage inductions for new hybrid staff? The HR Dept. have some tips.
How SME employers can manage last-minute family emergencies within their team
There are occasions where an emergency will arise and people just have to leave work. From an employers perspective this can cause some issues. We look at what employers must do by law, and how they should best manage the situation.
Are references worth the paper they are written on?
From a dearth of candidates, new behaviours like ghosting or having to redesign roles to accommodate hybrid or remote working, hiring can be a real struggle. One of the more perennial challenges during the recruitment process is taking references. Are they worth the trouble?
What do statutory pay rises mean for SMEs?
As sure as April brings showers, it also brings statutory pay rises. With thanks to inflation, pay rises jump higher than normal placing SMEs under considerable pressure. Be prepared with our handy summary of statutory rights to help you plan and budget for the imminent rises this April.
Three ways the “Back to work” Budget may help you recruit
Like many SMEs, you may have been struggling with recruitment and/or retention over the past couple of years. Here, HR Dept highlights three ways the 'Back to work' Budget may help you recruit.
Do you have leadership contingency plans in place?
Contingency planning for your high level staff is essential for small businesses yet a survey from a financial services provider found that 61% of UK SMEs have not done any succession planning. So how do you put succession or leadership contingency plans in place?
What are the top recruitment and retention trends in 2023?
Now that we are well into 2023 there are plenty of trends gathering momentum in recruitment for the year ahead. If you are currently hiring, or simply want to make sure you retain existing staff, here is a look at some of the things to get right (and avoid) in 2023.
What will the new fire and rehire code of practice mean for employers?
The Government has announced a crackdown on the practice of dismissing staff one day and rehiring the next on different terms and conditions. Read on to find out more.
Addressing productivity in your SME before turning to overtime
Overtime can be a good solution to an acute business problem, often being less expensive than hiring additional staff. It can add an extra layer of flexibility to your workforce which enables you to meet tight deadlines for customers or get through busy periods. But is it always the right answer?