This blog was written for McKinney HR by Carer Positive, G51 3UT Carer Positive is a Scottish Government scheme delivered by Carers Scotland. They work with Scottish employers to build and develop workplace support for members of staff who have caring responsibilities at home.  Landmark new employment legislation came into force on 6th April this year, giving employees who have caring responsibilities in their home lives a right to 5 days unpaid leave. The Carers Leave Act brings vitally needed support to around a quarter of a million carers in employment across Scotland, helping them ..read more

This blog is written by Jill Burges, HR Consultant, Licensed Menopause Trainer and McKinney HR Associate. The subject of menopause has gathered traction over recent years and is thankfully now a subject which has shifted from the whispered ‘m word’ to the mainstream. We’re seeing it in headlines, in Parliament… and in more and more organisations as they seek to strengthen the support they’re offering, as they recognise the importance of creating supportive & inclusive workplaces. In fact, the past six years have seen seminal change. Rewind to 2017 and there was barely a menopause policy t ..read more

Conversations around mental health and suicide are among the most challenging and sensitive discussions that can arise in the workplace.  We asked workplace psychotherapist, Louise Scott from Mind & Mission to provide guidelines to help managers have these difficult discussions effectively. Louise told us “In the workplace, it is of paramount importance that managers learn to navigating difficult conversations about mental health and suicide.  Managers have a responsibility to create a supportive environment where individuals feel safe and supported to talk about difficult issue ..read more

At the end of February 2024, Mary Poppins was changed from a U (universal) rating to a PG (parental guidance) rating. The film, first classified in 1964, has now exceeded the guidelines for a U rating and been reclassified for two uses of discriminatory language.   A PG rating suggests that “unaccompanied children of any age may watch, but parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger, or more sensitive, children. A U rating should be “suitable for audiences aged four years and over”. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) stated “We unders ..read more

The Apprentice is back on TV in February and the 1st episode welcomed fresh energetic candidates to Scotland. Behind the beauty of Cawdor Castle in Nairnshire, there were uglier behaviours that included winning at any cost; blaming each other, teams against each other, cliques forming in sub teams; providing client questionable service levels, rash decision making, lack of accountability or planning and a general aura of crumbling under pressure. No one was there to put an arm round them or to harness all that energy and help them turn it into an amazing output. Of course, this is TV and love ..read more

There is current speculation around Strictly Come Dancing, where former contestant Amanda Abbington has submitted a Subject Access Request for footage of her rehearsal training with dance partner Giovanni Pernice. It is alleged she is suffering from PTSD and is believed to have needed therapy.  A former contestant and partner also described being left broken, physically, and mentally by Giovanni’s manner. Conversely other ex-dance partners have come out in support of him.  The BBC who airs the show state they “offer a comprehensive range of support to all individuals” and that “Stric ..read more

The Christmas period often marks a rise in reports of domestic violence. It is imperative that we can all recognise the common signs within the workplace such as sickness absence, performance issues, lateness, appearing withdrawn or agitated. These can also have an impact on the wider team. Combining the figures for men and women – approximately 1 in 5 people are victims of domestic abuse at some point in their lives.  That means that for every 100 staff members:  There could be up to 20 who are victims of domestic abuse at some point  Businesses could lose up t ..read more

It is often a minefield for SMEs and small Charities when it comes to HR.  Often the person responsible for this area is ‘handed’ the title of HR person, in addition to their main role within the business.   Luckily, there are great resources out there to support those that have the stress of this extra responsibility.  ACAS and gov.uk are great examples, with sites full of free downloadable resources to get you started with those policies and procedures that are required by law.  However, what happens when the business starts to grow out-with the basics?  Or whe ..read more

At McKinney HR, we are passionate about supporting our clients to address, resolve and recover from conflict and challenging situations in the workplace. We have a specialist team of Scottish Mediation Network registered mediators. The team also have significant experience in Employee Relations with a sound grasp of workplace conflict. As mediation becomes a more widely utilised and successful method of resolving conflict at work, some common questions around “why would I use mediation?” are addressed. Irene Murray, an experienced Mediator and McKinney HR Associate, shared some useful inform ..read more

According to gov.uk, there are approximately 5m disabled people in employment in the UK (Sept 2022), yet many often think of disability in very narrow terms, such as wheelchair bound. Yet, in today’s work environment, many disabled employees have “invisible disabilities” which can have a significant impact on their day-to-day activities yet cannot be seen by others.   Invisible Disabilities include: Mental health conditions. Neurodivergent conditions – Examples include Autistic Spectrum Condition, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, dyslexia, and others.  Sensory impair ..read more