A series of employment law changes have come into force, and it is crucial that businesses take a proactive approach to implementation. The three key pieces of legislation to be aware of are: Employment Rights (Flexible Working) Act 2023 Carer’s Leave Act 2023 Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023 The changes involve: Rolled Up Holiday Pay/Holiday Pay Calculations Statutory Paternity Leave National Minimum Wage Flexible Working Regulations Right to Leave for Carers Extending Redundancy Protection for Pregnant Women and New Parents Rolled Up Holiday Pay/Holiday Pa ..read more

Our popular podcast, Real World HR hosted by our founder Louise Kennedy explores an array of talking points and industry trends across the ever-evolving HR landscape. Our most recent episode saw Sarah Hamilton-Gill, founder of Leap into HR Consulting hit the studio. Sarah is a highly acclaimed HR Consultant and business owner with over 30 years of experience in the industry. She is the UK’s leading mentor for HR consultants and the founder of Leap into HR Consulting Virtual Bootcamps, the first HR consulting training program to become CPD accredited both in the UK and internationally. Sarah is ..read more

How can the way we are treated at work influence our productivity? In this episode of Real World HR, host Louise Kennedy is joined by FCIPD and MBA Business Coach & Mentor, Dulcie Swanston. Dulcie has over 20 years’ experience in the FTSE 100/250 with powerhouses like Bass and Mitchells & Butlers Plc, and she’s not just a Master Executive Coach, but also a Business Mentor across sectors like retail and pharmaceuticals globally. Founder of Tea Break Training Ltd and ‘The 52 Project’, author of ‘It’s Not Bloody Rocket Science’, and a voice on BBC, Dulcie stands out as possibly the only F ..read more

The cost-of-living crisis affects us all, but how does it affect us in the workplace? In this episode of Real World HR, host Louise Kennedy is joined by committed social justice advocate; Alison Dunn. Alison has been the Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Advice Gateshead since 2012 and has led the independent charity to support hundreds of thousands of people in the North East and maximise household income, resulting in approximately £84m of financial gains over a ten-year period. Under her leadership, the charity has undergone significant growth, increasing turnover from £1.4m to over £5.8m ..read more

Health is a verb not a noun – it’s something that you need to work on, not something you have. On the latest episode of Real World HR podcast, we are joined by the Health Hacktivation doctor, Dr Alka Patel. As a doctor, coach, speaker, author, and podcaster, Alka’s mission is to help you make informed decisions about your lifestyle and self-care by giving you the latest information on health and technology practices. She’s passionate about helping people live better and longer lives. Tune in and listen to Dr Alka’s guide to living with longevity, impact, vitality, and energy. Spotify: tinyurl ..read more

In our latest podcast episode of Real World HR we are joined by Tom Chapman from The Lions Barber Collective. Tom is an absolute trailblazer in the industry, and the self-acclaimed busiest barber in the world has made it his mission to propel the stigma of mental health among men into the mainstream. After a decade working at Toni & Guy, Tom founded his own hair studio in 2011. After losing a friend to suicide, he quickly realised that the salon and barbers provided a safe environment in which he could openly talk to his clients. In 2015 The Lions Barber Collective was founded, with a grou ..read more

The statistics around male suicide are prevalent in the news and a heart-wrenching subject that employers need to be addressing in the workplace.  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the average suicide rate in England and Wales in 2022 was 10.7 deaths per 100,000 people, stating that men made up about 74% of the suicide deaths. In our latest podcast episode of Real World HR we are joined by Tom Chapman from The Lions Barber Collective. Tom is an absolute trailblazer in the industry, and the self-acclaimed busiest barber in the world has made it his mission to propel th ..read more

What a year 2023 has been, one of growth, multi-award wins, new contracts and team expansion. In a nutshell it has most definitely been a buoyant and successful year here at Oculus HR, and there have been so many highlights which have contributed to one of our best performing years. Top picks include the launch of Season 2 of our Real World HR podcast. From the onset the reception has been amazing, and it was great to hit 2023 with a jam-packed Season 2. The variety of guests and topics covered in the studio have been so inspiring, from Alice Rowen Hall, Sam Spoors to Sharon MacArthur, we are ..read more

November signals Men’s Health Awareness Month and the annual campaign organised by Movember is seeing some hard-hitting and shocking statistics circulating in the media. With the month dedicated to bringing awareness to a wide range of men’s health issues, the campaign attempts to tackle and reduce the stigma around talking about men’s health and wellbeing. Proactivity is key, and employers need to accept that there is in many cases an historical reluctance for men to seek help and support. Wellbeing is a concept that at times can be banded around businesses in an attempt to tick boxes, but ge ..read more

Here at Oculus HR, we are committed to providing innovative and flexible HR solutions to SMEs regionally and nationally through our dedicated and holistic approach, our multi-award-winning team always have their finger on the pulse when it comes to our ethos around ‘Real HR’, and its application to our expansive client base. Vibrant and forward thinking the team with our Founder Louise Kennedy at the helm are always looking at refreshing and innovative ways to support clients, with added value concepts receiving much praise, from our popular podcast series to leading industry insight features ..read more