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.

Can I recover the cost of training if an employee leaves my company?

"Can I recover the cost of training if an employee leaves my company?" This is a question we get a lot before making an employee training repayment agreement. We understand a lot of business owners get frustrated that after investing in training, an employee chooses...

Is there really freedom of speech in the workplace?

Freedom of speech is a fundamental human right that is enshrined in many national and international laws and declarations. However, when it comes to freedom of speech in the workplace, this right can be a bit more complicated. We take a closer look at...

Can an employee who walked out pursue an unfair dismissal claim?

We get asked HR related questions every day and each week we will be sharing our top question of the week that we have been asked here at The HR Booth. This week we were asked if an employee who walked out can pursue an unfair dismissal claim. THE QUESTION We had an...

The Spiral Staircase Approach to Employee Career Management

We investigate the spiral staircase approach to employee management. That all-important career ladder may feel like a rush to the top, with each step moving closer to the pinnacle of power, but this isn't the case in the modern workplace. Careers are a far more...

Can I fire an employee if they will not relocate?

We are pleased to announce the first edition of our brand new blog series - Question of the Week. We get asked HR related questions every day and each week we will be sharing our top question of the week that we have been asked here at The HR Booth. This week we were...

The Role of the Manager and HR Department in Resolving Employee Complaints

In an ideal world, the workplace would be a harmonious place with employees and managers working together peacefully. However, this sadly isn't always the case and employee complaints are bound to happen. Whether a grievance is related to a particular work...

Carer Positive

As it is National Carers Week we thought it would be good to share some useful information regarding positive steps employers can take to support employees who may have to look after relatives. This week, Alistair attended the Kitemark launch in conjunction with Carer...

Terminating Absent Employees – Policies and Processes to Follow

Dealing with absent employees who aren't at work due to health issues is a tough process to follow, particularly if you feel a lot of sympathy for the individual's plight. Terminating employees needs to be a well-managed and fair process. However, long-term absence...

Why does my business need outsourced HR Support?

As your business start to grow and expand, are you finding it more difficult to manage HR yourself? If yes, this can be a sign that it's time to look at outsourced HR support. Outsourcing HR to the right company will allow you to work on growing your business while...

Managing Technostress in the Workplace – How to Overcome Technology Fear at work

Is your business a hive of technology, keen to make the most of latest developments in order to maximise efficiency and productivity? If so, you might be surprised to learn that your staff are at risk from technostress, a relatively new term being coined to describe a...

The Benefits of Using the Nine-Box Grid in Evaluating Talent

In business it can be very difficult to objectively measure not just the current performance of staff, but where they are heading in the future. Succession planning is a vital component of an efficient organisation and it's something that should never be skipped over...

HR Related Policies for the UK Parties – UK Election 2015

As the General Election rapidly approaches as the political parties’ ramp up their seduction techniques to woo their constituents, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect what the various victories would mean for employment law and HR.

7 Interview Lessons From a Candidate’s Perspective

How do you feel before a job interview? I get very nervous before and during interviews. I find I get sweaty hands, a dry throat and I feel like I’m not able to get the words out that I am trying to say. I’m sure you can relate. Applying for a job, going to interviews...

Holiday Pay Update April 2015

Regular readers will be aware of the developing cases around holiday pay, specifically in relation to overtime and commission. We were already aware of the ruing around overtime, and on 25 March 2015, the long-awaited outcome in Lock v British Gas was handed down by...

Shared Parental Leave – Are you Ready or this major change?

From 5th April 2015, the final round of changes to “family-friendly” rights under the current government comes into effect. A new system of shared parental leave will replace additional paternity leave, for parents of babies due from 5th April. So what is it? Shared...

Spring Clean Your Work Environment = More Efficiency

As we are now in Spring, it’s a good time to carry out a Spring clean. Being untidy or disorganised at work, either working with a cluttered desk or an untidy van, is a real drain on efficiency. Disciplining yourself to work tidy not only improves productivity, but...

When is The Right Time to Seek External HR Consultancy in Your Business?

An HR Consultant will help you keep your finger on the pulse in the HR world. Regardless of what industry you work in, if you have employees you will have to ensure that you perform certain HR functions and comply with legislation. Depending on the time and resources...

How to Drive Higher Levels of Employee Retention

Staff are a Company’s biggest asset, employee retention needs to be a key priority. Managing expenditure is one of the most fundamental requirements to keep a company profitable, but without question one of the biggest costs is employee-related. Getting staff to...

The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 Explained

The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, aimed at aiding UK small businesses, introduces key changes like overhauling the tribunal system, updating copyright laws, and simplifying regulations. It focuses on reducing unnecessary overheads and legal burdens, including revising health and safety rules and encouraging settlement agreements over tribunals, while introducing a fast-track system for challenging anticompetitive behavior and simplifying equality measures.

A Guide to Human Rights in the UK Workplace

The European Convention on Human Rights was created in the aftermath of World War II, and designed to prevent the atrocities which occurred from ever being allowed to take place again. Employee monitoring is legal but must comply with all human rights legislation. The...

Is HR an Art or a Science?

Human Resources is a field that deals with the management of people within an organisation. It encompasses a range of activities, including recruitment, training and development, performance management, employee relations, and compensation and benefits. However, the...