Difficult conversations in the workplace

Nobody enjoys holding a difficult conversation in the workplace, but the reality is that they are an inevitable part of every leadership role. Whether it’s addressing poor performance or behaviours, turning down employee requests or tackling personality clashes, it can be tempting to bury your head in the sand. However, mastering the art of holding … Read more

Disability Discrimination

Recent ACAS figures show a significant jump in disputes involving disability discrimination. Early conciliation cases have increased by more than 40% compared to the previous year, with notifications moving from roughly 15,000 to just over 20,000. Tribunal‑related cases have followed a similar trajectory, climbing by over 40% to close to 12,000 referrals. Mental health and … Read more

How to build low-cost, high-impact emotional reward strategies

HR-Starter-Pack

Rewarding employees is no longer just about bonuses or annual recognition schemes. In today’s workplace, emotional rewards, those thoughtful, personal gestures tied to meaningful life moments, can make a real difference. They build trust, boost loyalty and create a workplace culture where people feel genuinely valued. And the best part? These rewards don’t need to cost a … Read more

The Summer Holiday Season

The summer holiday season is upon us. However, before we get there, there are a few things to think about and plan for. In this feature, I will walk you through some holiday-related issues that can arise during the summer months and the law that applies to them. Background The Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR) … Read more

Mental Ill Health

Business leaders have a key role to play in ensuring that their organisations do not discriminate against workers who are suffering from mental ill health. Introduction Mental health is important in the workplace. Many people in employment have a recognised mental illness. Still more suffer from mental ill health or stress-related issues. The majority perform … Read more

Effectively Managing Long Term Absence

The latest CIPD Labour Market Outlook has revealed that employer confidence is at its lowest level since 2020 and that due to rising employment costs, many organisations are looking to scale back recruitment and limit training investment. With this being the case, managing employee absence, especially long-term absence, is as important as ever. Background The … Read more

Five things to know about supporting employee mental health

Approximately one in 6 people in the UK suffer from some form of mental health issue. In 2023/24 (the latest available statistics from the Office of National Statistics), 16.4 million working days were lost to work-related mental health issues including stress, depression and anxiety, with sufferers taking on average 21.1 days off. Positive employer attitudes … Read more

Neurodiversity in the workplace

Embracing neurodiversity in the workplace is essential for fostering an inclusive environment that leverages the unique strengths of all employees. Neurodivergent individuals—those with neurological differences such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others—often possess exceptional skills in areas like pattern recognition, creativity, and attention to detail. By valuing these diverse perspectives, organisations can enhance innovation, problem-solving … Read more

Neo-Natal Care

Since the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 became law, we have been waiting for regulations to provide the fine details of how this will work in practice. This has now happened with the Neonatal Care Leave and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2025 and ahead of them coming into force on 6 April 2025 (subject … Read more

How to calculate holiday pay: A complete guide for employers

In theory, calculating holiday pay should be relatively straightforward. However, several tribunal decisions since 2014 mean employers should consider additional factors such as overtime and commission payments when considering an individual’s normal pay. Employment case law is constantly changing, so employers must remain up to date and ensure the law is being applied correctly to … Read more