T’was 8am the Monday after the ‘Works Christmas Do’ and all through the office not a worker was stirring…? Everyone loves a good ‘Christmas Do’! I’ve certainly graced the boozy streets of Leeds before in December!Aaaand let’s face it… if ever there is going to be some dicey shenanigans, the chances of it happening on this night in particular are pretty high! So, how do we navigate alcohol-induced absences, inebriated inhibitions flying away and potentially offended or even (god forbid)injured employees? Has someone caused upset or damage at the venue? Has an employee drunkenly overstepped the ..read more

We all get affected by the weather.  I mean “you have a sunny disposition” comes from somewhere, right? When the sun shines (unless it’s baking to the point of melting your soul!) we all have a bit more of a spring in our step. Conversely, how often do we say “the weather is miserable” when it’s gloomy and raining. Emotional and state of mind seem to be tethered to the weather. The most extreme version of this is Seasonal Affective Disorder. What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? www.mind.org.uk defines it here: “Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that you experience ..read more

“Get some fresh air”: idiom meaning. To have a walk outside/outdoors and breathe some clean air. You can use this expression for example when you are tired, panicked or stressed and you need to take a walk to relax. We all know the expression well. We all crave “fresh air” from time to time. But let’s apply the science to one of the simplest self-help acts we can undertake. 1. Fresh air chemically boosts your mood! Simply spending a little time outdoors helps to boost your mood and helps to de-stress and whittle away your anxieties. Fresh air helps to raise oxygen levels in your brain, which s ..read more

As we know, awareness of mental health has never been more prevalent both at home and in the workplace. Quite rightly, all over the world we’re seeing reforms in mental health policies at work and attitudes in general. As work takes up a huge amount of our time, it’s become commonplace to focus on a worker’s mental health to a) bring the best out in them as an employee and b) simply be a good human being and look after those around us. For many years now, companies of a certain size have followed the best practice of having one or more of their employees attend a first aid course for physical ..read more

Running a business is pretty full on… Sales, profit, loss, employees, where you’re going to have the Christmas do…all take a huge amount on grey matter to deal with! Therefore, having to keep up with the subtle and not so subtle changes in employment law year in, year out can be extremely challenging! So, strap yourselves in… for my quick (trust me… I did my best!) guide on what to expect as an employer in 2023. What employment law changes do you need to be aware of? National Minimum Wage Firstly, the big one! On the 1st of April, National Minimum Wage (NMW) is due to be increased. Details as ..read more

The menopause. I’m 34 at the time of writing this and in my line of work, it’s a hot topic and one that is rightly being talked about more. Menopause sounds truly horrific. Symptoms include: changes to your mood, like low mood, anxiety, mood swings and low self-esteem problems with memory or concentration (brain fog) hot flushes, when you have sudden feelings of hot or cold in your face, neck and chest which can make you dizzy difficulty sleeping, which may be a result of night sweats and make you feel tired and irritable during the day palpitations, when your heartbeats suddenly become more ..read more

I’ve often helped friends and family out over the years with advice around their work situation/legal things – like they would help me in their area of expertise. And on occasion, I’ve had chats with people one removed, or looked over an email/letter etc. I’ve never thought anything of it. Over the weekend, I was asked by a friend if I’d have a chat with his pal who was going through an upsetting time at work. I had this weird moment where I was like…do I do this for free? It’s different when you have a guaranteed salary coming in. ‘Time is money’ now I’m self – employed, right? Wrong. I calle ..read more

I don’t know about you, but I find the news at the moment quite upsetting to read, and I find myself avoiding it. I then feel ignorant and like I should be taking more of an interest, but ignorance really is bliss sometimes, isn’t it? Not only is the political state of the country rather embarrassing, but there is also so much concern about the cost of living, fuel costs, energy bills, mortgage rates etc. There are hundreds of posts about this at the moment, so I wanted to keep my two pennies worth brief and focus on what matters to me. And that is what we can do to help the people in our indi ..read more