Is it illegal to not have a HR department? No, it's not a legal requirement. As the business owner, you can choose whether you do or do not hire a HR manager, have an in-house HR department or outsource your HR. Legal Obligations & Responsibilities In the United Kingdom, there is no specific legal requirement for you to have a dedicated Human Resources (HR) department. However, there are various legal obligations and responsibilities related to employment and personnel management that all employers in the UK must adhere to, whether they have an HR department or not. These obligations inclu ..read more

  In a dynamic and ever-evolving job market, organisations are re-evaluating traditional hiring practices to unlock untapped talent potential. The recent surge in experience or skills based recruitment, where degrees take a backseat, is reshaping the recruitment landscape.   The Shift Away from Degree Requirements Traditionally, degrees have been seen as a key qualification for job applicants, often serving as a measure of a candidate's knowledge and commitment. However, this mindset is gradually shifting, employers recognise that degrees do not always guarantee the necessary skills ..read more

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen organisations all over the country develop their ability to react and adapt to change. However, one fact that has remained consistent throughout all the staff retention schemes is this; employees still accrue annual leave whilst in employment – furloughed or not. Research by Glint has revealed that reports of burnout have doubled from March (2.7%) to April (5.4%) in 2020, and lack of time off is no longer the only explanation for this increase. This research continued to show that employees struggling to balance their personal and professional lives were ov ..read more

It has been quite a journey!  Everything we know has been tested; our relationships, our resolve, our resilience to name but a few.  We had to quickly transition, from crisis management to establish stability and are now starting to move into recovery where we will all be looking to find our new “normal”. Through conversations and through our own experiences, we have been hearing how people have been affected and how they are dealing differently with the situation.  As we start to move into recovery, all these different emotions and experiences will be back together again in th ..read more

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a new scheme to replace the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) following the prime minister's most recent announcement, tightening Covid restrictions.   Most UK businesses will be curious about the impacts of the furlough scheme ending, and may wonder how they are going to retain staff as government support scales down. The government's response is the newly unveiled Job Support Scheme, which is set to open on 1 November 2020 and last for six months.  The scheme requires that employees work a minim ..read more

Businesses all across the UK have felt the devastating impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Glassdoor research suggests that up to 50% of workers in the UK are concerned for their jobs. We're here to help with our guide to redundancies during the Coronavirus. 59% of London/Birmingham employees are also worried about losing their jobs. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been a crucial tool in helping businesses retain their staff, however many organisations are having to ask themselves what life will look like after the virus subsides - and many have come to the unfortunate ..read more

With businesses across the UK ready to make a comeback after the Coronavirus Pandemic, many will seek to streamline their organisational structure to adjust to the new world of business post lockdown. With this restructuring often comes the challenging minefield of the redundancy process. Up to 43% of UK employers admit that they would not be able to navigate the redundancy process in line with the law by themselves. Legislative changes to adjust for the CJRS can make even an experienced manager’s knowledge of redundancy outdated. Furloughed employees who are made redundant, post 31st July, w ..read more

The Coronavirus update of 7 September 2020 has introduced new guidelines on how we can meet and socialise whilst still protecting ourselves from infection. The rule of 6 is the most notable change which means that from Monday 14 September, we can’t socially meet with people from other households in groups of more than 6. This applies indoors and outdoors, including in private homes. The most notable symptoms still include: a high temperature a new, continuous cough a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste The best advice still seems to be: Wash your hands regularly and for 20 ..read more

Home Office Updated Guidance on Right to Work Checks During the highest point of the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Home Office announced on 30th March 2020 that they would accept adjusted checks of Right to Work documentation.  This included allowing organisations to view someone’s details over a webcam on a video call, or workers sending in scanned documentation rather than sending the original documents via post.  This was done to potentially limit the spread of the virus by reducing face-to-face contact from the physical checks, but keeping businesses moving and thriving during a dif ..read more

In light of the Government updates on Covid-19, here are some of our FAQ and our advice to help you through the current evolving situation.   What are the main changes I need to look for in the July guidance? Employers can bring furloughed employees back to work for any amount of time and on any shift pattern, while still being able to claim a CJRS grant for the hours not worked.  Claim period starting on/after 1st July must start and end within the same calendar month and must last at least 7 days. For example, in July, an employer is entitled to receive 60% (up to the £2,500 c ..read more