From October 2026, employers will be under a strengthened duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, including harassment by third parties such as clients, customers and service users. Many organisations feel reasonably comfortable. Training is delivered. Policies exist. Completion rates are high. But comfort is not the same as compliance. And compliance […]
The phrase toxic boss gets used a lot. It is neat, memorable and emotionally satisfying. But it is also increasingly unhelpful. In practice, it rarely captures what is actually happening at work. Most of the situations we see are not about one dramatic incident or an obviously malicious individual. They are about patterns of behaviour […]
Introduction We are hearing it more and more from clients: workplace grievances are increasing. That alone is not surprising. Pressure is high, budgets are tight, and patience is thin. What is more concerning is how quickly organisations default to formal grievance processes as the primary way of dealing with conflict at work. Grievances are often […]
When the job market is strong, employee engagement moves up the agenda. Leaders worry about retention. Managers are encouraged to listen more closely. Culture suddenly matters. When the job market tightens, that urgency often drops away. People stop leaving. Turnover stabilises. On the surface, things look calmer. But staying in a role is not the […]
Apologies are more than polite words. They are a powerful tool to prevent grievances, repair trust and strengthen workplace culture. Yet in many workplaces, apologies are rare or uncomfortable. Small conflicts can be left to fester until they turn into formal complaints. Why apologies matter When someone feels wronged, whether through words, actions or oversights, […]
At first glance, treating everyone the same sounds like the fairest approach. After all, equality feels simple, neat and just. But anyone working in HR knows that equal treatment does not always mean fair treatment. What feels “fair” on the surface can sometimes disadvantage the very people we are trying to support. Fairness is about […]
Domestic abuse doesn’t stop at the office door, and neither do its effects. HR teams and line managers often notice poor attendance, changes in behaviour, or, occasionally, direct disclosures. It can be tricky to know how far your responsibility extends and how best to respond. Supporting employees safely sits within a wider context: capable leadership, […]
The start of the year is the perfect time to reset how we approach employee relations. Too often, organisations wait until complaints escalate before acting. A reactive approach puts stress on employees, managers, and HR. Instead, preventative ER practices build culture, trust, and accountability from the outset. This blog explores how organisations can adopt a […]
As 2025 comes to a close, it is a good time to reflect on what worked and what did not in your workplace culture. Some habits, like ignoring minor issues, inconsistent feedback, or low accountability, undermine respect and engagement. A cornerstone of a healthy workplace is employee voice. Organisations that listen, act on input, and […]
Many leaders still conflate everyday feedback with difficult conversations. This misunderstanding often leads to avoidance, escalating minor issues into formal grievances or disengagement. Leaders who struggle with basic respectful feedback are failing in a core responsibility. Difficult conversations are a separate skill, requiring preparation and sometimes HR support. This blog explores why these two skills […]
Culture shapes behaviour in the workplace. It can prevent issues from escalating but it can also create conditions where problems quietly grow. In many organisations, HR only hears about issues when formal complaints are raised. No news is not always good news and waiting for complaints can be costly. This article will help HR leaders […]
Sexual harassment at work remains a serious issue in UK workplaces. It disproportionately affects women and the LGBTQIA community but can target anyone. According to the 2024 Skills and Employment Survey led by UCL, women were nearly twice as likely as men to experience workplace abuse in the past year, and LGBTQ workers reported sexual […]
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