by kate | Aug 4, 2022 | Employment Law, Managing People, Policy, Process, Uncategorized, Wellbeing
What is it? When someone at work dies or experiences serious harm under the suspicion of Abuse or Neglect, the process of Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) is implemented. SARs is a process that decides if serious harm inflicted on a vulnerable adult or multiple... 
by kate | Aug 1, 2022 | Employment Law, Managing People, Process, Redundancy
What are the most common and easy-to-address risks in making someone redundant? Dismissals on grounds of redundancy must be true to form, it cannot be to hide a performance or conduct issue that you don’t want to address. This can cost you, long-term employees, as... 
by kate | Jul 28, 2022 | Benefits, Business Strategy, Managing People, Policy, Uncategorized, Wellbeing
The cost of living is having an impact on many families and understandably requests for pay rises are on the increase. As an employer, there are other ways and means that you can support your employees especially when a salary increase isn’t necessarily... 
by kate | Jul 8, 2022 | Benefits, Managing People, Wellbeing
Over half of the UK workforce would like more flexibility when it comes to work (though we here at KUHR estimate that figure to be much higher, ADP reports that 6 in 10 employees feel this way). Flexibility can come in many different forms and one of them most common... 
by kate | Jun 30, 2022 | Benefits, Managing People, Wellbeing
The Laws around fit notes have changed several times now. The first change was that doctors can now sign fit notes digitally, which is why leniency towards the change in a signature’s appearance should be upheld. As of right now (1st of July), the law has allowed... 
by kate | Jun 30, 2022 | Benefits, Benefits, COVID-19, Employee Enagement, Managing People, Policy, Structure, Uncategorized, Wellbeing
Could the pandemic effect be the reason more and more Gen Z workers are feeling the effects of burnout? A 2021 survey from jobs website Indeed showed millennials and Gen Z workers were reporting the highest rates of burnout, at 59% and 58% respectively. Reporting... 
by kate | Jun 22, 2022 | Benefits, Business Strategy, COVID-19, Managing People, Policy, Recruitment, Structure, Uncategorized, Wellbeing
Ever since flexibility became the new norm in a post-pandemic era, work-life balance has been in the control of the employee. As a result, demand for jobs that offer remote work has dramatically increased. According to data found by LinkedIn UK, paid job... 
by kate | Jun 13, 2022 | Benefits, Benefits, Business Strategy, Employee Enagement, Managing People, Policy, Structure, Uncategorized, Upskill People, Wellbeing
Did you know that the health risks loneliness has equates to the same risks as smoking 15 cigarettes per day? Aside from the impact loneliness has on your mental and physical health, studies suggest that severe loneliness costs businesses £9900 per person, every year... 
by kate | May 26, 2022 | Employee Enagement, Employment Law, Managing People, Policy, Process, Uncategorized, Wellbeing
As an employer, by law, you have a duty to protect workers from stress by performing risk assessments and making necessary and reasonable adjustments based on your findings. What counts as stress? The HSE definition of stress is it’s an “adverse reaction people have... 
by kate | May 5, 2022 | Employment Law, HR Investigations, Managing People, Policy, Uncategorized, Wellbeing
Specific legislation protects new mothers, pregnant women and those who have had to endure miscarriage (for up to 2 weeks post-miscarriage). This legislation was called to attention during an Employment Tribunal. This specific case had to assess potential sex... 
by kate | Apr 27, 2022 | Employment Law, HR Investigations, Managing People, Policy, Statutory Entitlements, Uncategorized
Redundancy is difficult for all parties involved. It’s hard for employers to let someone go, make financial arrangements, and fill the skills gap they’ve left behind. On the other hand, the redundant employee now has to find a new job! So, let’s take a... 
by kate | Apr 13, 2022 | Benefits, Managing People, Uncategorized, Wellbeing
As the cost of living increases up and down the country, most households will be facing a decline in their standard of living as wages fail to keep up with increased costs. The past two years have been anything but stable and these increases in costs are now on top... 
by kate | Mar 17, 2022 | Business Strategy, Managing People, Policy, Process, Recruitment, Uncategorized
Inflation is the next biggest challenge for employers looking to recruit. Following The Great Resignation and the newfound power that candidates have over employers, many are now looking to remuneration as both incentive and demand which for many sectors is a setback... 
by kate | Mar 9, 2022 | Benefits, Employment Law, Statutory Entitlements
Statutory Increases From 2022 As of this coming April, The UK’s Employment Laws have changed regarding the minimum rates of pay, statutory sick pay and statutory family-related pay in order to keep up with the current rates of the UK’s Cost of Living. As... 
by kate | Mar 4, 2022 | Benefits, Managing People, Uncategorized, Wellbeing
People assume that working from home is the cheaper alternative to paying petrol and fares for the commute to work. However, some of us must pay for our own equipment, incur an increase in costs from an increase in electricity usage and in some cases -not to get into... 
by kate | Mar 2, 2022 | Benefits, Managing People, Structure, Uncategorized, Wellbeing
Wellbeing in the workplace is now becoming a staple part of corporate HR. When companies prioritise their people, their health and growth, the ROI in recruiting, retaining, work output and overall business performance is clear to see and can’t be argued with.... 
by kate | Feb 24, 2022 | Employment Law, Managing People, Policy, Uncategorized
As of last month, The Home Office updated the right to work guidance. The key changes are as following: As of right now to the 5th of April 2022, employers have the option to conduct a right to work check of Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), Biometric Residence Card... 
by kate | Feb 17, 2022 | Employee Enagement, Managing People, Uncategorized, Wellbeing
At any given moment in time, 1 in 5 people are having suicidal thoughts. Mental health difficulties were a pandemic well before COVID made the issue a thousand times worse. At work, employees are taking days off – faking illnesses and making excuses – in... 
by kate | Feb 3, 2022 | Benefits, COVID-19, Managing People, Uncategorized, Wellbeing
Aside from the new wave of mental health awareness after the pandemic, there are still big wellbeing killers in the UK workplace today. From rising medical concerns such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer, to conditions of working all be it either in the... 
by kate | Jan 27, 2022 | E-Learning, Employment Law, Learning and Development, Managing People, Policy, Upskill People
As a small business, are you confident that the staff training you offer is sufficient for your company and the roles of your employees? There are many reasons why staff training should be a priority within your business and as an example, we wanted to bring your... 
by kate | Jan 20, 2022 | Employee Enagement, Managing People, Structure, Uncategorized
There are plenty of reasons why both employers and employees are considering the 4-day working week. National Insurance contributions are set to rise in April and the 4-day working week could reduce UK employees’ commute costs anywhere between £160-£796 a year. Not... 
by kate | Jan 11, 2022 | Employment Law, Managing People, Policy, Process
The 2010 Equality act prevents employers from asking health-related questions in order to avoid discrimination, exclusion, and inequality. Employers have been historically known to ask about health or disability in the early stages of recruitment. As a result,... 
by kate | Jan 6, 2022 | Employment Law, HR Tech, Managing People, Policy, Process, Structure, Uncategorized
Are you, like many businesses in the UK, having to reconsider finances in 2022? The small business community are now taking redundancy plans as a popular option for cutting back on expenses. Whether you’re the one being made redundant, or the employer having to make... 
by kate | Dec 21, 2021 | COVID-19
Latest updates Coronavirus Support for Businesses Rishi Sunak today announced today there will be three new measures to help businesses during this troubling time for many businesses with this new wave of COVID-19. Cash Grants for Hospitality Eligible... 
by kate | Dec 16, 2021 | Business Strategy, Learning and Development, Managing People, Upskill People
Our two Kickstarters have been on the come-up! They started out with no office experience at all and have grown to become two very valuable members of the KUHR team. This year we’ve laughed, made memories and exchanged gifts. If you ask us, it still feels like... 
by kate | Dec 14, 2021 | COVID-19, Policy
The Prime Minster has currently pledged to get all adults over the age of 18 a booster vaccination by the end of January which he changed last week. To aid in the changes to the COVID-19 booster roll out being bought forward to the end of December – the... 
by kate | Dec 8, 2021 | Benefits, Business Strategy, Managing People
Have you reviewed your benefits package recently? Did you know that there is a new Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme that you could now be offering your employees? This specialist scheme is like the modern-day cycle to work scheme, available to help support... 
by kate | Nov 4, 2021 | Benefits, Business Strategy, Managing People, Payroll, Recruitment
A surprising number of the workforce claim that they’re underpaid which can often lead to employees feeling undervalued, increased job dissatisfaction, lower productivity and an increase in absence. Furthermore, low salaries as advertised in job vacancies are... 
by kate | Oct 21, 2021 | Business Strategy, Managing People, Process, Recruitment, Structure
Are you aware of the importance of your company’s brand in the marketplace? Do you understand the benefits of maintaining that brand to reflect your company values and product/service? We wanted to delve in a little deeper into employer branding and look at how... 
by kate | Oct 12, 2021 | HR Tech, Managing People
Tech Tuesday We’ve got another #TechTuesday for you, and this week we want to talk about a great tool called Toggl. Have you heard of it? Do you know what it does? If you are yet to give it a go, it is about time you tried it! Toggl is an extremely handy... 
by kate | Sep 27, 2021 | Managing People, News
Pocket HR Membership So you may remember in November 2020 we launched our founding members on the wonderful world of Pocket HR. Since then we have been tweaking and improving Pocket HR and I would like to thanks our founding members for their patience and... 
by kate | Sep 16, 2021 | Breathe, HR Tech, Managing People
Breathe HR Software keeps on getting smarter and smarter! It’s been just over 2 months since Breathe launched their brand-new Rota, Time and Attendance module, and they now have even more useful new features. Let us introduce you to the Breathe – People Portal mobile... 
by kate | Sep 10, 2021 | Managing People, Policy, Process
There have been some recent employment tribunal cases with regards to employers, not allowing employees time off to go and deal with things such as going to pick up their child from nursery who was sick and not allowing an employee to amend their working hours. So, we... 
by kate | Aug 10, 2021 | HR Tech, Managing People, Process
Tech Tuesdays It is safe to say that when it comes to transcribing meetings, volunteers are often hard to come by. I am yet to find a person who loves writing up minutes or transcribing interviews. Let me introduce you to Otter, a mobile app and website that... 
by kate | Aug 5, 2021 | Employment Law, Managing People, Process, Recruitment
Do you ask your new hires for references? A couple of years ago I wrote a blog on DO NOT Make This Costly Mistake When Checking References but one thing I didn’t touch on was what you should do if you get a bad reference. Can you just dismiss someone? Should... 
by kate | Jul 27, 2021 | Learning and Development, Managing People, Process
Tech Tuesday Have you ever spent far too long writing out an email to someone to explain how they should go about completing a task, only to find that when you reach the end…the wording is probably not all that clear, there would still be room... 
by kate | Jul 13, 2021 | Benefits, Managing People, Recruitment
Tech Tuesdays So as a self-confessed geek most people that know me, know that I love tech and finding new apps and programs to help small business owners – or frankly just to turn the kettle on to make sure the water is boiled for tea when I walk in the door... 
by kate | Jul 8, 2021 | Managing People, News, Recruitment
Hi! I’m Tia and I’m the newest addition to the KUHR team! With no previous experience in HR, I was offered this opportunity as HR Assistant through Kick-starters. I am super fortunate to have the chance to gain some very valuable work experience with a team that is... 
by kate | Jun 30, 2021 | Employment Law, Managing People, Process, Recruitment
The current rules Following Brexit, there were no changes to the exiting right to work checks and the current guidance remained in place. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens resident in the UK before 11pm on 31 December 2020 are eligible to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme... by kate | Jun 30, 2021 | Employment Law, Managing People, Recruitment
The current rules Following Brexit, there were no changes to the exiting right to work checks and the current guidance remained in place. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens resident in the UK before 11pm on 31 December 2020 are eligible to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme... 
by kate | Jun 29, 2021 | COVID-19, Managing People, Payroll
What is the current scheme? So at the moment until the 30th June 2021 the scheme is the following: Employers can continue to claim 80% of worker’s pay. Employers need to pay the NI, Tax and pension contributions of the employees. Employers can use flexible... 
by kate | Jun 28, 2021 | Managing People, News, Recruitment
Hi there! I’m Dyllan, the newest and (I’m reliably informed) loudest member of the KUHR team! I’m delighted to announce I’m one of the young up-and-coming kick-starters who are here to learn as much as we can while we can. So far, it’s been a blessing to be working... 
by kate | May 16, 2021 | Business Strategy, Employee Enagement, Managing People
Introducing Hannah Hi! I´m Hannah, and I’m over the moon to be the newest member of the KUHR team… until our young Kickstarters join us in June! I´ve been part of the team for a while, working part-time from Mallorca, Spain. But I’m delighted to announce... 
by kate | May 13, 2021 | Managing People
5 ways Employee Engagement will enable your small business to grow. To build the most effective team and to ensure long-standing employees it is important that your team members feel empowered rather than micromanaged. It is a fine balance between giving freedom to... 
by kate | Apr 27, 2021 | COVID-19, Managing People, Structure
So this morning I was on BBC Radio Solent talking about if the workplace is going to change because of the pandemic and what SME’s need to think about before going back to the workplace – if they go back to the workplace. 1. What happens if there is an... 
by kate | Apr 8, 2021 | COVID-19, Managing People, Wellbeing
If you could show all the employees on your team how much you appreciated them, what would be the first thing you’d do? Remote working is now well and truly embedded in to our working day and many believe that working remotely could be here to stay either as a whole... 
by kate | Mar 25, 2021 | Employment Law, Managing People
Do Small Businesses need to publish a Modern Slavery statement? The Government has confirmed that it is going ahead with major changes to the duty on large employers to publish an annual modern slavery statement. So what is a large employer? A large employer is... 
by kate | Mar 18, 2021 | Employment Law, Managing People
How does IR35 apply to Small Businesses? As you may remember IR35 was delayed for the private sector from being implemented due to COVID-19. However, the legislation is going into force from 1st April. Below are the 7 key steps that small business owners need to... 
by kate | Mar 3, 2021 | COVID-19, Managing People
5 Top Tips for Managing Employee Holidays in 2021 Managing holidays for your team is difficult at the best of times but with COVID and Furlough, managing employee holidays in 2021 is even harder! So I thought it’s high time to give you some tips on Managing... 
by kate | Feb 4, 2021 | Employment Law, Managing People
What are the New UK Immigration Rules? Welcome to our quick blog post about new UK Immigration rules. Now, due to the United Kingdom leaving the European Union, new UK immigrations rules now apply. Free Movement for European nationals ended on 31st December 2020. This... 
by kate | Dec 10, 2020 | COVID-19, Managing People, Structure, Wellbeing
Excessive Workloads During the Covid-19 Pandemic Would you have imagined this is what your 2020 would have looked like at the start of the year? Blink and you might have missed it… March to December seems to have gone by quicker than you can say “How many... 
by kate | Nov 5, 2020 | Managing People, Wellbeing
Welcome to Steps to Success: Wellbeing Challenge! So, boys and girls; how are you feeling about this lockdown? It sucks, doesn’t it? Well, there’s good news, the Steps to Success: Wellbeing Challenge is here to rescue you from the... 
by kate | Oct 31, 2020 | COVID-19, Managing People
“Remember, remember the fifth of November for gunpowder, treason and plot!” They say the last man to enter Parliament with honourable intentions was Guy Fawkes, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer has pulled some helpful Coronavirus Government Support out... 
by kate | Oct 26, 2020 | COVID-19, Managing People
Job Support Scheme Expanded (For Businesses Required to Close) As of the 26th October 2020, The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak has announced on Friday 9th October 2020 that the Government’s Job Support Scheme will be expanded to firms required to close due... 
by kate | Oct 23, 2020 | Managing People, Process
HR in Your Pocket! Before we introduce Pocket HR, a quick question: Have you ever wished you had help with HR? Starting out as a business owner – full of hope and expectations – human resources probably wasn’t that high on your priorities list. Perhaps you... 
by kate | Oct 22, 2020 | Managing People, Process
Following Proper Redundancy Process is Vital So, let’s start by looking at a few examples of how companies have made mistakes in the redundancy process: East London NHS Foundation Trust v O’Connor; Mr O’Connor was unfairly dismissed after accepting an... 
by kate | Oct 9, 2020 | Managing People, Wellbeing
A Fitness Challenge for You and Your Employees! 2020 has been a helluva tough year, right? What with Coronavirus and all the lockdowns, furloughing, and job uncertainty that comes with it, we can’t wait for New Years! With the ever-changing rules that we are... 
by kate | Sep 7, 2020 | Employment Law, Managing People
Knowing Your Redundancy and Furlough Rights As the Government Job Retention Scheme begins to require increasing employer contributions, it is forcing employers to evaluate the continued sustainability of their business, potentially leading to tough decisions. So,... 
by kate | Sep 2, 2020 | Managing People
How The Kickstarter Job Scheme Grant Works The Kickstarter Job Scheme Grant enables businesses to create 6-month job placements for people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. Placements must ensure that... 
by kate | Aug 13, 2020 | Managing People, Recruitment
In a speech to the House of Commons on 8th July, Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlined the next stage in the Coronavirus Economic Recovery Plan. The measures covered include the New Apprenticeship Scheme – which we covered in our previous blog – and this, the new Government... 
by kate | Aug 3, 2020 | Uncategorized, Managing People
The Apprentice Incentive Bonus is Here! The governement has provided some clearer understanding of Apprentice Incentive Bonus and what is happening with apprenticeships. Even better news… the lovely Gary from DA Training and Consultancy has put it in plain... 
by kate | Jul 23, 2020 | Managing People
What is Survivor Bias? During WWII, the United States Army wanted to protect their airplanes and needed to know where to put additional armour. They looked at their bombers, that were returning from the war riddled with bullet holes, and plotted points on a chart to... 
by kate | Jun 4, 2020 | Guest Blog, Managing People, Wellbeing
How to have Conversations about Mental Health in the Workplace Having conversations about mental health can feel difficult. Ali Grady, Director of The Thrive Team and Mental Health First Aid Instructor shares her tips on how to have a conversation with someone who may... 
by kate | Mar 12, 2020 | Managing People, Wellbeing
Latest updates What To Do About Coronavirus and Small Business What is Coronavirus (COVID-19)? Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome... 
by kate | Mar 11, 2020 | Employment Law, Managing People
March 2020 Budget and Small Businesses Today, Southampton boy and New Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak released his 2020 Budget. Unveiled were some great support available to Businesses, many ainmed at Small Businesses in particular with the current... 
by kate | Feb 20, 2020 | Managing People
What Is (And Isn’t) Acceptable Office Etiquette? The workplace has changed almost beyond recognition over recent years. Technology, open plan working spaces and flexible work patterns are just a few factors that have had a radical impact on how our staff work... 
by kate | Jan 30, 2020 | Managing People
What Does Veganism At Work Mean For Your Business? The month of January is becoming more commonly recognised as ‘Veganuary’ which sees people trial a vegan diet or lifestyle as part of their New Year’s resolutions. While such a spontaneous change in... 
by kate | Jan 23, 2020 | Managing People
Presenteeism Is Already Negatively Affecting Your Business Happy New Year! We all made it through Christmas and New Year unscathed but now midwinter; the season of presenteeism is upon us. Today, we’ll be learning what the term means and making a New Year’s resolution... 
by kate | Dec 17, 2019 | Managing People, Wellbeing
The Rise of Napping at Work Did you know that 85% of mammal species are polyphasic sleepers? Humans are part of the minority that have just one period of sleep and one period of wakefulness during the day. Interestingly, it’s also disputable whether this is our... 
by kate | Dec 13, 2019 | Managing People
Emotional Intelligence: What Is It And Why Does It Matter? Do you know someone who always seems to know just the right thing to say, at the right time, even in the most challenging situation? Have you ever worked for a manager who can deliver highly critical feedback... 
by kate | Nov 28, 2019 | Managing People
What happens when annual leave and staff sickness absences collide? It’s an all too familiar situation, you have an employee about to start a period of annual leave and they fall ill. They come to you with the question: “Can I reclaim my holiday entitlement because... 
by kate | Nov 22, 2019 | Managing People
The Right To Work: What Do You Need? Your friendly Government Website is very clear on the implications of employing an illegal worker. A cool 5 years of jail time and an unlimited fine could be imposed upon an individual found guilty of employing someone for which... 
by kate | Oct 31, 2019 | Managing People
Is It OK To Monitor Employees’ Social Media? Whether it is legal to monitor employees’ social media is a question employers often ask me, and it always brings two thoughts to my mind. Do you have good policies in place to define the use and monitoring... 
by kate | Oct 20, 2019 | Benefits, Managing People
How To Offer Employee Benefits On A Budget Running a business of any size is hard work. If you’re running a reasonably small business, it can be even harder because very often everything is down to you – the owner. You need a team behind you to lighten the load and... 
by kate | Oct 3, 2019 | Benefits, Managing People
Take Part In Our 2019 Benefits Survey And Win Tea For Two! As a Small Business, deciding on what benefits to give to your teams, if any, is hard. Unlike large corporate companies, small businesses do have a little more flexibility in what they can offer their teams in... 
by kate | Sep 27, 2019 | Managing People, Wellbeing
How Can You Help Improve Your Employee’s Mental Health? Employee’s mental health is reflected in the way they think, feel and behave. Given how hard it is to quantify, compare and authenticate subjective mental states, the topic of mental health is often... 
by kate | Aug 30, 2019 | Managing People, Recruitment
Our Recruitment Support Service Makes Hiring Your Perfect Employee A Breeze! You’re busy. So busy that you’re run off your feet. Your team are working overtime and the mere thought of anyone taking a day off or calling in sick brings you out in a cold sweat!... 
by kate | Aug 1, 2019 | Managing People, Policy
Silence Can Be Golden… If You Have The Right Policies In Place Towards the end of 2017, Sainsbury’s found themselves on the wrong side of a tribunal after dismissing an employee for wearing headphones to listen to music while working. The employee worked in a... 
by kate | Jul 19, 2019 | Benefits, Managing People, Payroll
Working Out Holiday Pay Is Easy… Right? Everyone knows that getting your employee’s Holiday Pay correct is very important. Yet it seems employees frequently feel like their bosses are getting it wrong. The lack of clarity on the subject is highlighted by the... 
by kate | Jun 27, 2019 | Managing People, Wellbeing
A Quick Guide To Occupational Health First things first. Occupational Health Physicians are doctors – let’s get that out of the way for starters! I admit, the fact that I have to say that may just be me showing my naivety. However, I remember when I was first... 
by kate | Jun 25, 2019 | Managing People
What Are The Pros & Cons Of Occupational Sick Pay Schemes? All businesses experience staff absence due to ill-health from time to time. For some, it can be an occasional inconvenience. For others, it can become a headache that compromises the businesses’ ability... 
by kate | May 9, 2019 | HR Tech, Managing People, Policy
Remote Working Can Be Hugely Beneficial For Your Business The benefits to employees of remote working are often obvious. But what about the benefits to you as the business owner? Broadly speaking, there are four main areas of your business that will benefit when you... 
by kate | Apr 1, 2019 | Employment Law, Managing People, Payroll, Statutory Entitlements
April 2019 Employment Law Update: Are You Meeting Minimum Requirements? The April 2019 Employment Law Update means that as another year passes, another set of statutory pay increases take effect. So, if you employ staff or are an employee affected by one of the... 
by kate | Mar 28, 2019 | Guest Blog, Managing People, Wellbeing
Mindfulness Will Help You Become The Best Version Of Yourself! This is week as part of KUHR’s Wellbeing month, we thought we’d highlight something that is becoming more popular to incorporate in our everyday lives, not just at home, but at work too –... 
by kate | Mar 21, 2019 | Managing People, Wellbeing
Learn To Let Your Staff Switch Off And Reap The Rewards! The majority of people feel the pressure of our ‘always-on’ culture and don’t recognise the importance of learning to switch off. Perhaps you’re a business owner who is feeling stuck in an unavoidable... 
by kate | Mar 14, 2019 | Guest Blog, Managing People, Wellbeing
How Physical Exercise Helps Small Business Owners Reap Huge Rewards As part of Kate Underwood HR’s Wellbeing Month, we couldn’t really let the importance of physical exercise for small business owners pass by unmentioned. We all know that looking after... 
by kate | Mar 6, 2019 | Guest Blog, Managing People, Wellbeing
What Are Your Responsibilities Surrounding Food Allergies? Here at Kate Underwood HR, we’ve decided that March is Wellbeing month in the office. Naturally, one of the things we’ve been thinking about is allergies and allergens in the workplace. In particular (with... 
by kate | Feb 21, 2019 | Managing People, Process, Recruitment
How To Improve Your Job Descriptions Job descriptions often don’t get the love and attention they deserve. When it comes to hiring a new member, job descriptions are still largely ignored by smaller organisations. In my experience, many small and medium-sized... 
by kate | Feb 7, 2019 | Managing People, Recruitment
How To Avoid Costly Recruitment Mistakes Once you’ve decided now’s the right time to recruit new people into your business, how can you make sure you make the right decision? Well, you need to think carefully about how to go about it. Eliminating Recruitment Mistakes... 
by kate | Nov 29, 2018 | Guest Blog, Managing People
A Quick Guide To Self-Employment & Training I thought I’d ask a self-employed friend to be this month’s guest blogger so they could share their story about their journey from redundancy into self-employment and their advice for people in the same boat. ... 
by kate | Nov 22, 2018 | HR Tech, Managing People, Payroll, Process
The BreatheHR Payroll Export Tool Revolutionises Payroll Here at Kate Underwood HR & Training, I know what it feels like to be the boss of a growing small business. When it comes to the most important commodity of all – time, it often feels like sand... 
by kate | Nov 14, 2018 | Managing People, Policy
Kate’s Guide To Celebrating Christmas And Religious Festivals Religious belief has been a protected characteristic in the workplace for a very long time. However, many businesses are still struggling to fully understand how to recognise this when it comes to... 
by kate | Nov 8, 2018 | Learning and Development, Managing People, Policy
What Are the Rules Surrounding Small Businesses Enforcing Training Agreements? Training Agreements can be hugely beneficial. As a small business, it is essential to keep employee turnover as low as possible as the cost to replace can be a lot more than you think.... 
by kate | Oct 25, 2018 | Managing People, Process
Do You Always Carry Out Return To Work Interviews? Cards on the table time. Do you ALWAYS carry out a Return to Work Interview when an employee comes back from a period of sickness? Or, like many business leaders, are you too busy? Maybe you see it as just another... 
by kate | Oct 11, 2018 | Managing People, Recruitment
Not Checking References Could Cost You Dearly What are the three most important words in the English language? “I love you”? Maybe. “Let me help”? Perhaps. Well, arguably, three of the most important words in the world of Human Resources are... 
by kate | Oct 4, 2018 | Managing People, Recruitment
The Many, Surprising Benefits of Hiring An Intern This summer, I was very fortunate to have a lovely intern called Sean to join the KUHR team. I would highly recommend taking on an intern if you are a small business and ever get the chance. Not only did I gain great... 
by kate | Sep 20, 2018 | Managing People, Wellbeing
Is Your Business At Risk From Presenteeism? Mental Health in the workplace is big news right now – and rightly so. As a responsible employer, you care about the physical and mental wellbeing of your staff, right? For example, if you were asked ‘How are your company... 
by kate | Sep 13, 2018 | Managing People, Policy
Your Back To School Policy Could Be Good For Your Business The Summer holidays are over, the leaves are turning beautiful golden brown colours, children have started back to school and the peak leave period is over. Surely then, it’s now safe to say that business, as... 
by kate | Aug 15, 2018 | Managing People, Wellbeing
Chillax! It’s National Relaxation Day I know, I know – there’s a ‘National Day’ for everything these days! Though National Donut Day may sound heaven-sent, thank goodness all these celebrations are not all Bank Holidays or nothing would get done! The History Of... 
by kate | May 8, 2018 | Employment Law, Managing People
Important Working Time Regulations Update In March this year, I featured a guest blog ‘5 things employers should know about working time regulations and holiday’. However, a recent case in the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has prompted me to add some... 
by kate | Apr 10, 2018 | Managing People, Recruitment
Exit Interviews: Useful Information Or Too Little, Too Late? To say the HR world is divided over the value of exit interviews is an understatement. A quick internet search soon returns countless articles both extolling the benefits of gathering constructive feedback... 
by kate | Mar 28, 2018 | Employment Law, Managing People
What Are Your Options If An Employee Makes A Flexible Working Request? When it comes to flexible working, once known as “flexi-time”, the modern workplace has undergone momentous changes over recent years. Technological advances mean that more and more... 
by kate | Feb 26, 2018 | Managing People, Policy
How To Overcome Weather Disruptions To Your Business As Small Business owners, many unplanned events can affect your business. One of them being your staff not attending work, and this week, this might be because of adverse weather disruptions. My inbox is full of... 
by kate | Feb 6, 2018 | Managing People, Recruitment
Eight Ways To Avoid Wasting Time & Money When Hiring Employees When it comes to hiring employees, according to a CIPD study, it costs about £2,000 to recruit a new member of staff. Bear in mind, that’s just the recruitment process, the overall cost is a lot... 
by kate | Jan 16, 2018 | Employment Law, Managing People
5 Simple Ways Small Businesses Should Prepare For GDPR Over the last week, the main topic of HR conversation has been about how small businesses need to prepare for GDPR. Some discussions have been very proactive, but there are many that believe they do not need to... 
by kate | Oct 5, 2017 | Employment Law, Managing People
Contractor Or Worker? Ask These Three Questions To Find Out! In the last couple of weeks, I have performed quite a few HR Health Checks where I have had to determine whether a team member is a contractor or worker. As part of the health check, I must ascertain if the... 
by kate | Sep 21, 2017 | Benefits, Managing People, Payroll
How To Calculate Annual Leave For Part-Time Employees One of the most commonly asked questions, when I am doing my HR Health Check, is “How to calculate annual leave for part-time employees?” Although employers are giving their employees holidays there are... 
by kate | Aug 26, 2017 | Benefits, Managing People, Payroll, Policy
Do You Have A Pets At Work Policy? We all know that Britain is known for its love of pets but what are the practicalities of having a Pets at Work Policy in your workplace? You might have seen a few pictures of my cat (and IT Manager), Jess helping me out. Days like... 
by kate | Jul 5, 2017 | Managing People, Policy
Making Tough Redundancy Decisions In today’s working life as an employee, people will have an average of 10 jobs in their lifetime. Therefore, working in HR is not always pink and fluffy. Unfortunately, sometimes, you have to be confident and ruthless enough to... 
by kate | Jun 21, 2017 | Managing People, Wellbeing
What Steps Should You Take To Keep Your Employees Cool? English weather is joked about all around the world and perhaps deservedly so. However, we do experience the occasional heatwave, and with climate change, just like sea-levels, their frequency is on the rise. So,... 
by kate | May 21, 2017 | Managing People, Process
Maternity Leave: Your Options As An Employer When small businesses on an employee, bosses accept there will be challenging times ahead. You must change your way whole way of thinking, prepare for short-term absences and cover holidays; but nothing will prepare for the... 
by kate | Mar 8, 2017 | Managing People, Process
How Do You The Best Out Of Your Probationary Period? I often get asked how long a probationary period should be. Recruiting the right candidate is usually a tricky task but employees do have tools to make sure you have made the right decision. If you have a constant... 
by kate | Jan 27, 2017 | Guest Blog, Managing People, Wellbeing
How To Support An Employee Going Through Divorce Employees from time to time will have some personal issues that will affect them. As an employer, you need to decide how much support you want to give to them. Today, we’re going to be looking at an all too common... 
by kate | Dec 31, 2016 | Managing People, Wellbeing
How Do You Achieve Perfect Work-Life Balance? How to achieve the best work-life balance is, of course, one of the eternal questions and one that may remain elusive for decades to come. As 2016 draws to a close, I started to consider starting my own business and found... 
by kate | Dec 9, 2016 | Managing People, Recruitment
How To Prepare For Your First-Ever Employee A few weeks ago, CharlieHR tweeted asking for guest bloggers and, since I’m trying to do more blogging, I thought I would give it a try. It was tough choosing a topic but finally found one that would be useful, so... 
by kate | Dec 7, 2016 | Guest Blog, Managing People, Wellbeing
All Yule Need To Know About Surviving Christmas At The Office! Christmas at the office can be almost as bad as going home to visit the family. For some, it’s a time of spreading joy, love and peace to all men, for others it’s filled with useless gifts, bad... 
by kate | Nov 28, 2016 | Managing People, Structure
4 Ways Small Businesses Can Manage Employee Holidays Over the last few years, new events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become popular in the UK as employee holidays. From a business perspective, you need to make sure you can deal with holiday requests on... 
by kate | Nov 8, 2016 | Managing People, Process
Are Verbal Offers Of Employment Contractual Or Not?”Verbal offers are not worth the paper they’re not written on!”In today’s blog, we’re going to be asking whether verbal offers of employment are legal. Due to the internet, the amount of... 
by kate | Sep 30, 2016 | Managing People, Process
Do You Have Fair Process & Procedures? When it comes to fair process and procedures, I’m quite often asked: “Is that really necessary?” My response is always something along the lines of “Well, if you were in that situation, how would you... 
by kate | Aug 4, 2016 | Employment Law, Managing People
5 Steps To Check Your Job Applicant’s Right To Work In The UK As a small business, deciding to employ someone is a huge step and huge responsibility, and as we all know from Spiderman’s Uncle Ben: “With great power, comes great responsibility!”... 
by kate | Feb 28, 2016 | Managing People, Wellbeing
What Is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? Corporate responsibility is sometimes known as corporate social responsibility, or CSR for short. It is defined as “the responsibility of an organisation for the impacts of its decisions on society and the... 
by kate | Feb 15, 2016 | Managing People, Process
Do You Need To Issue A Contract Of Employment? I wish there were an easy, yes or no answer to this question, but like everything in life, the devil is in the details. With all the red tape nowadays it can get very confusing whether someone is an employee or a... 
by kate | Feb 7, 2016 | HR Tech, Managing People, Policy
Why A Social Media Policy Is A Must For Your Small Business Hands up who has a smartphone! Of course you do – it’s the twenty-first century! We live in a world where a whopping “77% of consumers say they are more likely to buy from a brand they... 
by kate | Jul 5, 2015 | Managing People, Process
How To Deal With Employee Sickness I have just spent some time reading a few great articles around employee sickness and how much it costs small businesses. During my time, I have heard a multitude of excuses as for why someone cannot come into work, some obviously... 