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Running a business can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s certainly never easy. From managing day-to-day operations to growing the business and keeping employees and clients happy, there’s a lot to keep track of, and your HR responsibilities only add to the load. From...
If you're wondering, "What is gross misconduct?" then you're in the right place! In this guide, we’ll explain exactly what gross misconduct means, providing expert insight into the types of behaviour that fall under this category, and outlining the steps an employer...
The Dangers of Relying on AI for HR Advice: Why Human Expertise Is Crucial for SMEs As technology advances, businesses increasingly turn to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to streamline operations and improve efficiency. In Human Resources (HR), AI promises to...
NVIDIA organisational culture is a key driver behind its impressive journey from a fledgling startup in 1993 to a tech giant worth £2.3 trillion, NVIDIA's journey is a testament to visionary leadership and innovation. But the real magic behind NVIDIA’s success lies in...
The Labour Party's resounding victory on July 4, 2024, has ushered in a new era of employment reform in the UK, promising to transform the workplace landscape dramatically. With a decisive mandate for change, Labour's ambitious agenda aims to address long-standing...
Achieving Harmony: The Art of Work-Life Balance in Modern SMEs In an era where the line between professional commitments and personal life is increasingly blurred, mastering the art of work-life balance has never been more vital. For SMEs across the UK, understanding...
Technology and Human Insight Are Shaping The Future of Recruitment Recruitment is a vital function for any organisation that wants to attract and retain the best talent in the market. Recruitment involves a series of steps from identifying the specifications of the...
How An HR Consultancy Keeps You Compliant In the UK, modern laws, regulations and standards are designed to protect employees from unfair treatment by ensuring balanced and equitable workplace practices. For SMEs, understanding these laws and implementing policies and...
In the fast-paced and ever-changing landscape of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), achieving success is a journey full of unique challenges. From talent acquisition and compliance to employee development and well-being, an organisation’s HR support is a...
Remote Work Revolution: A Complete Guide for SMEs Over the last few years, the landscape of business has shifted towards remote work becoming less of a novelty and more of a reality. Across the United Kingdom, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are adapting to...
Introduction In the ever-evolving landscape of business, understanding the dynamics of company culture, employee engagement, and loyalty is pivotal, especially for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The recent leadership crisis at OpenAI, a trailblazer in...
In this month's Horizon, we are going to discuss three new employment bills, new guidance from ACAS relating to mental health, and the government proposals for changes to holiday calculations. On the 24th of May 23, we saw three new employment bills go through their...
Stress awareness month has been held in April since 1992 raising awareness of what causes and what cures there are for our increasing modern day stress epidemic Stress is something that everyone feels at times, especially when dealing with change or life challenges...
This month we have seen the usual increases to statutory payments for April, along with Jeremy Hunt – Chancellor - announcing his Spring budget. Further details are outlined below. The Bank of England has also increased its interest rates again in the aim to control...
The UK government has made a commitment to ‘building back greener’ to transition to net zero emissions by 2050 with COP26 making decarbonisation a business imperative. What is Green HR Green HR is when HR focuses on expanding its roles and initiatives to support a...
What is diabetes? Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease, which over time can lead to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. Diabetes is characterised by elevated blood glucose levels. There are 2 main types of diabetes: Type 1...
TOP 9 BEST EMPLOYEE BENEFITS YOUR TEAM WILL LOVE WHAT ARE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS? Employee benefits are part of a compensation package for employees offered alongside a basic salary, designed to support staff wellbeing and overall job satisfaction. The best employee...
What is Human Resources (HR) The Human Resources (HR) function contributes hugely to a Company, it plays an important role to assist with Employee Satisfaction, Performance Management and Productivity and assists to maintain Company morale and culture. The main role...
When recruiting a new employee to join a team, you’re paying for more than just a salary. The cost of recruitment may be more than you realise. The process of replacing employees can also affect a small business's productivity and time management, which can negatively...
Are your employees expected to attend too many meetings in their day to day job? Could this be demotivating your employees? Are we really addicted to meetings and is it a form of control? In a recent survey done with a pool of managers, they felt that 83% of the...
Customer service is the experience and support you offer customers before, during and after they purchase a product or service from you. Giving excellent customer service is so important for customer retention, growth, reputation, and to ensure a business’s long-term...
A job description describes the general tasks, duties and responsibilities of a position. It lists the vital functions of a job and the experience, knowledge, qualifications and skills required for the role. Job descriptions allow employees to understand what is...
As part of their success profiles, the Civil Service has developed a set of defined behaviors that are associated with job success. Knowing and understanding what these nine civil service behaviors are, and how to provide examples of each in competency-based questions...
Problem-solving is the process followed in order to identify a problem and its source, and then find a solution to it. The ability to problem-solve is really important to an employer as problems crop up in any workplace. They will want all employees to have the...
Competency-based questions are asked during an interview to find out how you can demonstrate a specific skill required for the role in which you are applying. They are amongst some of the most common types of questions asked, and therefore it’s really important to...
There are times when an employee has resigned from their position, or the employee has been dismissed by the company and the company does not require the employee to work their notice as per their contract of employment. When this happens, there are two options that...
Employee Retention – How do Flexible Benefits help? A business’s ability to retain employees, and prevent or reduce the number of employees who choose to leave the business, is known as Employee retention. Being able to increase, or having high employee retention has...
Competency-based questions are asked during an interview to find out how you have demonstrated a specific skill required for the role in which you are applying. You will need to draw on your own experiences and give an example of how you have put that skill into...
The values of an individual can be really personal and will largely be based on experiences and influences that have occurred during their lifetime, and the principles in which they have lived by. Although they can of course change over time, values are often...
Many interviews will now include a mixture of questions relating to both the task or technical aspects of a role as well as the behavioural aspects. Much of the time, you will be able to pick up what specific behaviours a company is looking for from the job...
STAR Method – How to Answer Interview Questions the Right Way STAR is a method that is commonly used by candidates to help them to prepare for an interview. This method can be used to help layout and answer interview questions that require examples in a clear,...
When preparing for an interview, it's always worth assuming that you will be asked a question that centres around what you could bring to the role. The aim of this question is usually to gain an understanding of whether or not you have some of the key essential skills...
4 day working weeks – Are they as effective as people say In recent times, there have been many factors contributing to the conversation of the 4-day working week coming to the UK. There is becoming a wider acceptance that frequent, long hour days doesn’t necessarily...
The Importance of the Candidate Experience When an organisation embarks on a recruitment programme, they are often looking for more than one outcome. The most obvious, and pressing, is to fill a specific vacancy, which has been identified either as a result of...
Protected Conversations Since July 2013, employers have legally been able to have an off the record discussion with an employee to discuss the idea of terminating their contract of employment. These are able to be done as a protected conversation. A protection...
Why this is a common question. This is a common interview question as the interviewer needs to ascertain why out of all the other candidates you should be offered the role and why you will be an asset to the organisation. This is one of many questions the interviewer...
The Cambridge Dictionary defines a line manager as:- the person who is directly responsible for managing the work of someone else in a company or business, and who is one level above that person. Simple…sounds easy enough doesn’t it? What are the Responsibilities of a...
What is EAP? An EAP is a workplace wellness programme. The goal of an EAP is to provide employees with the tools and resources that they need to improve their mental health and help balance their work/life. According to the CIPD: “Mental health-related absence is the...
On average, a regular employee spends a third of each day in their workplace. It therefore stands to reason that the condition of the physical working environment can be enormously impactful on their job satisfaction, motivation, patterns of interaction and overall...
An email switch off policy encourages all employees to log out of their work email accounts and intranets outside of their regular working hours. With many employees continuing to work from home or in hybrid working arrangements, the benefits of an employee’s right to...
Employee absence is a significant cost for many businesses, yet research suggests that only a minority of employers monitor that cost. Apart from annual holiday entitlement, an employee may need time off for the following reasons: Short term or long term sickness,...
Strategies to Reduce Employee Absenteeism in the Workplace Absenteeism causes a financial burden to any business, as well as discontent amongst staff who are left to pick up the workload of an absent colleague. But there are things to be done to reduce absenteeism in...
Sometimes it can all seem a bit of a minefield for employers when it comes to statutory rights to time off for parents. With a variety of “options” and certain rules regarding notice to be given; it is always wise to sense check the latest government regulations....
What is HR software? HR software is a ‘human resource management system’ and essentially is a tool to make managing people easier. We are going to explore how it does this and what benefits it gives your business. Some big benefits: Time-Saving You have a...
Religion and Belief discrimination is illegal in the UK. Religion is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2021. Employees in the workplace can belong to various religions and have various beliefs. Employers have a duty to support employees regardless of...
This is a common interview question that many candidates will not understand the deeper meaning of, they may think this is a quick easy question I can answer by responding with ‘I have the skills in this area/field of work’ or ‘this is a position I am interested in...
What is Racism Race discrimination is when someone is unfairly disadvantaged for reasons related to their race, which as defined by the Equality Act 2021 includes, colour, nationality and ethnic or national origin. Race discrimination has been illegal in the UK since...
As a leader, your most important role is to provide clear direction to your employees. A leader must ensure that their team members understand what their individual goal and the team goal is and how to work towards achieving them. To develop yourself to become a...
Developing in-house talent is critical to an organisation’s future, with businesses often finding it difficult to fill key roles with external candidates, recognising in-house potential and nurturing it, massively supports organisations in having the most effective...
What is an HR investigation and when is it needed? Sometimes employees in the workplace can make accusations against fellow colleagues or an employee’s conduct may be deemed inappropriate by managers; in these instances, as part of the process to resolve conduct...
“Tell me about your weaknesses” is the dreaded interview question that candidates hate or fear to be asked, but interviewers love to ask! It’s a popular question with all companies looking to recruit these days. The question is aimed at finding out how candidates can...
Having a diverse workplace is more than just good HR and the following of legal legislation, it looks at the value of each employee as an individual and ensuring that your organisation boasts an environment and culture where all employees feel included, able to...
Feeling confident, and doing well in an interview starts with preparation…and a great interview outfit that you feel comfortable in. When you receive that exciting invite, take note of the detail, paying particular attention to anything you need to do ready for the...
Feeling confident and doing well in an interview starts with preparation and a great interview outfit you feel comfortable in. Unfortunately, with the variety of dress codes, you may not know where to start. Read our guide to learn about the ideal interview outfits...
Some teams work amazingly together and other teams fall apart at the first hurdle. Teamwork is essential for smaller companies to perform their strategic tasks in order for them to be successful, having good teamwork allows companies to use a wider range of...
Dressing to make a great impression at an interview is essential, as we tend to hold onto our first impressions of people, which can be hard to change later. What you wear to an interview can demonstrate to interviewers how you may present yourself and the company. ...
An eating disorder is a condition that affects the way people eat or perceive food. Eating Disorders can be complex and can affect people in different ways. An eating disorder is a serious mental illness which can affect people psychological, socially and physically....
Amid a global pandemic, we have seen change after change to the way we live and work, we find ourselves in a constant state of flux within “the new normal” looking to an uncertain future. However, COVID-19 has shown us the importance of flexibility, reactivity and...
Unfortunately, one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage. A miscarriage can affect a woman and her partner in different ways, and both will need support and help from their employers if they suffer a miscarriage. However early a miscarriage takes place it is a loss...
Telephone interviews have become increasingly popular recently as they save time and costs during recruitment. The information helps them to eliminate the weaker candidates and refine their selection quickly. Many recruiters use phone interviews for their initial...
Video interviewing has gained popularity in recent years, and since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, face-to-face interviews have become nearly impossible, leading to the adoption of video calls as a new way to conduct recruitment interviews...
To hire non-UK resident workers, your organisation must hold a valid sponsorship licence. If your business has ever thought about submitting an application to the Home Office to become a sponsor licence holder, then read on for some of the key considerations. Why...
It is important that employers can prove, if required in an employment tribunal, that any redundancy criteria they have used when making redundancies, has been applied and scored fairly for all employees. The most popular redundancy criteria that are used are:...
Great news! You have been invited back for a second interview. This is so positive for a number of reasons. Obviously, you are a step nearer that role you are interested in, and have invested so much time in. Secondly, you are a credible candidate for this and for...
To help break the ice, many interviewers look to include a couple of fun interview questions to help settle the nerves and, ultimately, to find out more about you. However, these are often questions that you have not heard before and do not directly relate to the...
What is Autism Autism affects how people view the world and interact with others, it is a lifelong developmental disability. It is not an illness or disease, it cannot be ‘cured’, if someone has autism then they have that condition for life. It is a spectrum condition...
There’s no hiding the fact that interviews are nerve-wracking experiences - 93% of candidates have experienced interview anxiety during their career. Most of us feel out of practice by the time it comes to our next job interview. However, by following our golden...
Domestic abuse is an awful crime that can deeply affect those involved. Usually domestic abuse occurs in the home, the impact of the abuse affects a victim’s life in every aspect, including their work. Recent research shows that one in five people have had to take...
Job sharing is when two employees share one full-time position. Job sharing is a form of flexible working as job sharers are part-time employees, however they are different in that they do not have a part-time job each. Job sharing involves the following being shared...
What is Agile Working? The first question here is to define what we mean by agile working and how that differs from other types of working practices, such as flexible working. Put simply agile working can be described as a Company’s responsiveness to change, with work...
Employee relations can best be described as the relationship between employers and employees, and encompasses both the individual and collective relationships. It is essential for employers to maintain a positive relationship with employees to ensure the workforce...
What is Performance Related Pay? Performance related pay (PRP) is a process that links an employee’s salary increase to their individual performance. The concept of PRP is that performance is measured against pre-agreed objectives agreed between a manager and...
Before we get started, here are some statistic for employers taken from Alcohol Change UK; More than 25 million adults in England regularly drink alcohol. Lost productivity due to alcohol use costs the UK economy more than £7 billion each year. 35% of people say...
What is Garden Leave? There are times when either an employee has resigned from their position, or they have been dismissed by the company, with notice, that the company do not require the employee to work their notice of employment, as per their contract of...
Excluding sickness absence due to the coronavirus pandemic, sickness absence rates in the UK have fallen to their lowest records at 1.7% in the private sector, with experts advising employees are coming into work when they are unwell. Here are some (pre COVID-19)...
An unlawful deduction of wages occurs when an employee has either been unpaid or has been underpaid their wages by their employer for some reason. There must have been an actual deduction of wages, not just a threat or proposal to deduct money, for it to be classed as...
Employers use competitive remuneration packages to attract and retain the very best employees. Skilled and high-quality talented individuals are constantly in high demand and many businesses are in competition with one another. A good remuneration package adds to an...
Suspension is when an employee is sent home from work, usually while receiving full pay and benefits. The right to suspend will usually be set out in the employee’s contract of employment, the employee handbook or disciplinary policy. Whilst a suspension is not a...
Unauthorised absence refers to a situation where an individual fails to come to work without providing a reason or notifying their employer. It is also commonly referred to as ‘AWOL’ (Absent Without Leave) or ‘Absent Without Permission.’ Read on to learn more about...
Employers may look to change employees’ terms and conditions of employment for several reasons including: Reduce pay or benefits; Change employees’ responsibilities; Change to working hours or days; Change to an employee’s place of work. Employers should consider...
What is Jury Service? Jury Service is a public duty within the UK, where individuals can be called to serve on active UK court cases such as assault, fraud and murder. As it’s a public duty, fines can be issued against individuals who do not turn up for jury service....
In the UK there are three different types of employment statuses under the Employment Rights Act 1996. Make sure you’re aware of yours and, as an employer, the status of each of your workforce. What is an Employment Status? A person’s employment status is what defines...
What is summary dismissal? Summary dismissal is when an employee is dismissed with immediate effect without any notice or pay in lieu of notice (PILON) Summary dismissal normally occurs when an employee has committed gross misconduct. Gross misconduct can be justified...
What is Unpaid Leave? Unpaid leave in the UK is when an employee takes time off work and has no legal right to be paid for the time away from work. There is little legislation relating to the unpaid leave entitlement, however, there are two areas where unpaid leave is...
Why is coaching becoming so popular and sought-after Personal development and coaching are becoming hugely popular in the workplace as the millennial generation seek the fastest way to become successful and improve their earning potential at work. Many workers are...
Direct discrimination is when someone is treated unfairly because of a protected characteristic. Under the Equality Act, there are nine protected characteristics which include; age disability gender reassignment marriage and civil partnership pregnancy and maternity...
Employees are critical to the success of companies and to achieve success, employees need to be heading in the same direction. Performance management is a way to get employees there. Learn more in our guide. What is Performance Management? Performance management is an...
Change management is a structured approach for ensuring that changes are thoroughly and smoothly implemented, and that the lasting benefits of change are achieved. It requires businesses to define and adopt strategies, structures, procedures, and technologies to cope...
With so many HR and employment policies recommended to businesses, it can be difficult to know which are the most essential. Keep reading to learn the top 13 HR policies a company should have to stay compliant with employment contracts and UK employment law. What are...
Unless employees are confident enough to speak out, issues like sexual harassment, discrimination, health and safety failings and unethical behaviour can be hidden in a business. Employee voice is about the people being able to communicate their views to their...
In the ever-changing working landscape, it is more important than ever to have a strong CV (Curriculum Vitae), highlighting your skills and experience to maximum effect. With the average time you have to grab an employer’s attention down to around seven seconds, you...
As a small business owner, you will wear many hats, balancing varying responsibilities and demands. Managing health and safety arrangements does not have to be complicated, but should always be a priority, as the cost of breaching health and safety could be severe....
What is Dismissal? Dismissal is the termination of employment by an employer against the will of the employee. Any dismissal that occurs must be shown to have followed a fair procedure. When to dismiss an employee? Dismissal is normally deemed fair only if you...
Whether it something you realise or not, all companies have an employer brand – it’s essentially the company’s reputation and what people think of you as an employer. The CIPD define employer brand as; ‘a set of attributes and qualities, often intangible, that makes...
If you want to succeed, you need to set goals. Without goals you lack focus and direction. Goal setting…provides you a benchmark for determining whether you are actually succeeding. (source: Mind Tools) Setting goals for employees Setting goals helps employees to stay...
Raising productivity through employee engagement Employee engagement looks at the way organisations interact with employees to improve employee happiness in the workplace. This can include things such as; how employees work with others; their behaviour in the...
What is a probationary period? A probationary period is a contractual period of time at the start of an employment contract between a new employee and an organisation. During the probationary period the employee can be exempt from some contractual rights, e.g....
Investigations: The Role of the Investigation Officer is Key All Employers have situations where an Employee misbehaves or becomes comfortable and complacent in their employment or the role that they do. On these occasions things may occur that require addressing via...
What is presenteeism? Presenteeism is working: when you are ill excessive hours with a reluctance to take time off. Presenteeism is an accelerating trend in the U.K. The CIPD/Simplyhealth Health and Well-being at Work survey states that Presenteeism more than tripled...
When it comes to planning for the future, CEOs are expected to know it all. Not just finding the right candidate, they are also responsible for inspiring their team to generate new ideas and constantly improve on performance. Of course, it isn’t always easy. Here are...
