Sickness Absence

Sickness is a core day to day activity for most managers.  It can take up a lot of time, and our experience suggests many managers struggle with this aspect of HR.  We will work with you on the best way to promote attendance at work in a way that is consistent and reasonable, through managing absence.  We will:

• Support and advise you in managing short or long term sickness absence, pregnancy related or disability related absence, or absence due to a degenerative condition or work related stress
• Record sickness absence data and analysis
• Organise Occupational Health assessments
• Support you in carrying out informal and formal sickness absence meetings 
• Progress ill health retirements
• Manage and progress staff terminations on the grounds of capability due to ill health

Staffing Disputes

Healthy workplace relationships are essential to the success of any business.  Even minor problems can develop into grievances or disputes if they’re not dealt with quickly and effectively.  Dealing with conflict at an early stage will save time, money and stress for both your business and your staff.  We will work with you to turn an issue into a positive result.  We will:

• Support you and advise on managing staffing disputes or grievances on issues, including:
• Unfair treatment
• Poor communication
• Poor work environment
• Bullying and Harassment
• Sexual Harassment
• Verbal and physical abuse or fighting in the workplace
• Increase in workload
• Unresolved problems from the past
• Unclear job roles
• Operating equipment and machinery in an unsafe and dangerous manner
• Refusal to carry out work

Disciplinary and Capability Issues

Disciplinary and capability proceedings can be a minefield, and getting the process wrong can be costly and damaging to your business.  We will work with you to handle misconduct, gross misconduct or issues of capabililty in a supportive manner.  We will work with you, support and guide you through the process, including:

Staff Engagement

Employees are a businesses best asset.  Businesses that invest in their staff will enjoy faster growth and outpace their competitors.  Investing in staff does not have to cost money either, it’s more about investing in the emotional and intellectual commitment of staff to deliver high performance.  We will work with you, supporting and advising you to understand the principals of how to engage with staff, by:

Benefits, Rewards and Pay

Businesses can sometimes struggle on how best to structure employee compensation, and even though salary is important, it isn’t always the most important.  Flexible working or time off in lieu can be just as valuable to an employee as a salary is.  We will work with you to design, develop, set up and implement a reward structure that fits your budget, is important to staff and ultimately develops performance.  

General Day To Day HR Issues and Advise

We provide advice, guidance and support on any HR issues, including:

• Flexible Working Rights
• The Working Time Directive
• Maternity, Paternity, Adoption and Parental regulations
• Annual Leave queries
• Pay queries
• Ensure staff welfare and relations
• Manage discrimination or equal opportunity complaints
• Compassionate leave queries
• Working hours queries
• General queries on relevant HR polices and procedures

Training and Development

Leadership and staff development is critical in keeping people engaged and motivated.  It creates opportunities for them to use their strengths every day.  Accomplishing goals will motivate staff and gives them a chance to develop their skills.  Training and development doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money either.  We will work with you to invest in your workforce, resulting in a loyal and productive team.  We will help you to:

• Identify staffs training needs to support business growth and development, and future performance
• Research and source appropriate and “added value” training courses
• Provide bespoke line management coaching and training
• Provide bespoke leadership training
• Design, set up and manage a Performance Appraisal process
• Ensure accurate training records are kept
• Linking your Training and Development Strategy to the businesses core competencies, effectively leaning towards staff retention

Organisational Change

Sometimes changing the way your business works or operates means having to go through a redundancy process.  Conversely, as a business grows, its strategies, structure, and internal processes grow with it.  Businesses and employees can have a hard time coping with these changes, and businesses can experience decreased productivity and morale during periods of change.  We will work with you and advise and guide you through your organisational change processes.

HR Strategy

Having an HR Strategy is about aligning your staff and their functions to the overall mission of your business, making sure your HR practices are harmonious with your business goals, which will help you achieve financial and commercial objectives quicker.  We will work with you to ensure your business is supported through the right HR Strategy and HR function.  We will:

• Design and develop an HR Strategy that fits the business context, bearing in mind the culture, financial standing, communication structure, the businesses needs and vision for it’s future
• Ensure the HR Strategy is aligned to the HR Management Policies and Procedures, and integrates the HR function
• Develope people solutions to help business objectives
• Create people initiatives to help your leadership team achieve the businesses vision

Statutory Compliance

Ensure your business is conversant and compliant with Employment Legislation.  We will:

• Draw up Contracts of Employment, Terms and Conditions, Written Statement of Particulars
• Carry out an HR ‘health check’ to assess the businesses risk against legal requirements
• Design or update HR policies and procedures
• Ensure compliance with employment law standards
• Lead or support Trade Union negotiations and meetings
• Support Employment Tribunal preparation and assistance with legal representation
• Lead, support and negotiate compromise discussions

Business Planning

Assessing the future of your workforce and business goals is a continual process, used to align the needs and priorities of the business with those of its workforce.  To ensure it can meet legislative, regulatory, service and production requirements.  We will:

• Work with you to identify and analyse your business needs, in terms of the size, experience, knowledge and skills of your workforce
• Forecast your future workforce needs
• Continually assess and monitor your ongoing workforce needs

GDPR

Ensuring the personal data you process is secured.  We will:

• Advise and guide you on the General Data Protection Regulations
• Carry out audits of HR personal data
• Create a data register
• Maintain the data audit and data register

COVID Response

As infection from the virus continues to pose a risk, all employers are being affected in some way.  Your people’s health and wellbeing should remain at the heart of how you respond.  We understand the difficulty this has had on many businesses, and can support you with any questions or advice you need on:

• Returning to the workplace
• The Flexible Furlough Scheme and your Flexible Resourcing Plans
• The health, wellbeing and safety of staff
• Staff who are self-isolating, shielding and SSP
• The impact that school closures is having on your staff
• FAQs about pay, annual leave, sickness absence, redundacy