International and domestic politics, issues of gender and sexuality: people disagree about lots of things. Understandably, many organisations worry about the impact of controversial beliefs being expressed in the workplace - perhaps because of the effect on other employees, perhaps just because of the distraction that disputes can cause. In this edition of the podcast, employment law specialist Darren Newman joins us to discuss how organisations can navigate conflicts of belief in the workplace. Darren sets out the relevant case law and tackles questions including: Can employers distinguish b ..read more

Running an employment tribunal claim can be complicated and requires careful management. We are joined by part-time employment tribunal judge Tina Elliott, who offers practical tips on how to prepare effectively. The topics we discuss include: case management hearings; document disclosure; witness statements; and video hearings ..read more

The rules around COVID-19 were very clearly drawn in 2020. But what is the state of play now, not just in relation to COVID but to illness in the workplace generally? What should organisations do about employees who are nervous about returning to the workplace? Or about at-risk employees, particularly when infection rates are high? Or about long COVID - is it now treated as a disability? Bar Huberman, strategy and practice head of content at XpertHR, offers guidance. Resources Disability discrimination: Employee with long COVID was disabled Hybrid working: Setting up the workplace for effectiv ..read more

According to a YouGov survey, 15% of people meet their partners at work. Given how widespread the phenomenon is, to what extent does HR need to take an interest in office romances? Stephen Simpson, principal strategy and practice editor at XpertHR, joins us to discuss the finer points of workplace relationship etiquette and to answer the (somewhat unromantic) question: Should the UK introduce US-style "love contracts"?   Resources How to manage personal relationships at work Personal relationships at work - line manager training Personal relationships at work policy Personal relationships ..read more

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Mindfulness can be a great tool for building employee engagement and team cohesiveness. XpertHR's in-house mindfulness teacher, Christopher Bryant, explains how to make it work for you. Related resources How a mindfulness group can help HR promote engagement and teamwork ..read more

Gender pay gap reporting is now well established in the UK. But what approaches are being taken elsewhere in the world, and what difference might the new EU Pay Transparency Directive make? Elle Barreto and Ro Carracedo Lopez, international editors at XpertHR, answer these questions and more. Related resources Demystifying the EU Pay Transparency Directive for UK employers EU employment law developments Gender pay gap reporting How to measure and report a gender pay gap ..read more

What financial challenges does the coming year have in store for organisations as they plan their reward strategy? Paula Flores and Hannah Mason, data insight analysts at XpertHR, make their predictions based on the findings from our autumn pay forecasts and priorities survey. Resources XpertHR surveys Reward planning 2024: priorities and key challenges Forecasts for pay awards in 2023/2024 Benchmarking - HR Metrics ..read more

In this edition of the podcast we are joined by Fay Wallis to discuss growth mindsets, the power of small steps and other strategies to build your confidence as you develop your career. About Fay WallisFay specialises in career and executive coaching for HR professionals. She is the creator of The HR Planner, a resource for setting and achieving your work and career goals for the year. She is also the host of HR Coffee Time, a podcast that focuses on career development in HR. Her website is brightskycareercoaching.co.uk. Resources Leading practice guide: Managing change successfully ..read more

There’s been a lot of discussion around flexible working reforms in the media and elsewhere recently, sometimes generating confusion as well as providing insight. So what are employers’ current obligations, what changes have been agreed by Parliament and when are they due to be implemented? In this edition of the podcast, we are joined by XpertHR senior legal editor Laura Merrylees to answer these questions ..read more