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Survey indicates rise in workplace conflicts

The latest survey of UK workers has found that almost half of them believe that there has been an increase in conflicts in the workplace, leading to discussion about how HR should approach the issue. This survey found that 44% of UK workers think that

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What the potential end of NDAs may mean for the HR industry

One of the biggest changes that the Employment Rights Bill could bring concerns non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). These are widely used in the business world, but the bill could make them legally unenforceable in certain circumstances. This blog will cover everything HR needs to know. What

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New parents leaving jobs due to lack of support

The latest piece of research has found that the overwhelming majority of new parents feel that they were not given the workplace support needed, with some leaving their jobs as a result. This research was carried out by Growth Spurt, a scheme that helps people

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Meet the Founder: Jivan Dempsey

Helping Growing Businesses Scale with Smart, Affordable HR Solutions HR isn’t just a back-office function. For growing businesses, it’s the backbone of sustainable growth. But all too often, founders are forced to choose between expensive corporate-style HR support and DIY approaches that don’t scale.  

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Research shows HR pros taking on too much work

The latest survey of HR professionals in the UK has found that close to half of them continue to work past the point of exhaustion, which has raised concerns about the possibility of burnout. This survey was conducted on behalf of Bainland Lodge Retreats and

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How should HR respond to the zero hours contract changes?

Businesses across the UK will be facing a number of changes when the Employment Rights Bill becomes law. One of the most controversial concerns the flexible contracts known as ‘zero-hours contracts’. These are widely used in the corporate world, so what should HR do ahead

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Research shows productivity slumps during summer months

A new piece of research that has just been released indicates that employee productivity levels slump in the summer, which presents a challenge for businesses in the UK. The organisation behind that research is the Global Payroll Alliance and its findings make for worrying reading

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Majority of employees in favour of pay gap reporting

The majority of employees in the UK think that ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting is a good for employees, according to the latest research study to be published. This study was produced by Scope and People Like Us. It saw the organisation speak to

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UK employees not accessing health benefits

The latest research shows that one third of employees in the UK are not currently accessing health benefits that they are entitled to, which raises questions about how they are being administered. This data was published by Simplyhealth, a company that offers healthcare services. It

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Research finds older employees fear career stagnation

The latest research has found that older employees feel that they have fewer opportunities for progressing their careers, which suggests that focused training programmes are something HR should look at. This finding is contained within a report that was published by the Chartered Institute of

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Employee wins tribunal case over ADHD

A woman has secured a partial victory over the company she used to work for in a case that revolved around her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), providing a useful lesson for HR. Bahar Khorram was employed by Capgemini UK, an IT company. She was

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What the miscarriage leave changes mean for HR

The Employment Rights Bill is going to mean a lot of changes, but one area that has been overlooked concerns miscarriage leave. If the bill becomes law, workers who lose a baby before the 24-week stage of pregnancy will be entitled to at least a

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Carter row sparks workplace racism discussion

The FA has spoken out in condemnation of the abuse suffered by the England player Jess Carter, sparking a fresh conversation about the subject of racism in the workplace. Carter plays for the England women’s team and was targeted after the team lost to France

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Study indicates reforms to sick pay will benefit economy

A new study indicates that the sick pay reforms the government will be introducing are set to benefit the UK economy, bringing real advantages for businesses as well as employees. WPI Economics analysed the planned changes on behalf of the TUC, and the results suggest

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Salary secrecy costing companies new talent

The reluctance of many companies in the UK to provide salary information as part of job listings is costing them the ability to attract talent, according to the latest study to be released. This study was produced by Jack & Grace, a communications agency. The

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Report finds women not reporting workplace assaults

A new report has found that the overwhelming majority of women are keeping quiet about sexual assaults in the workplace, suggesting that there is a major cultural issue that needs to be tackled. The report that this finding comes from was published by Unite, the

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Research shows workplace trend for ‘rage quitting’

The latest research study to be published indicates that there is a rising trend among UK employees for ‘rage quitting’; with one out of every seven stating that they have done this. Reed.co.uk conducted a survey of workers in this country that spoke to over

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Three corporate values that can be transformative

The values of your business should be more than simply words – they should be principles that are applied at every level. That way, you will attract employees who buy into them, which will keep engagement and productivity high. Here are some of the values

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Employment Rights Bill roadmap launched by Government

A roadmap that deals with the new Employment Rights Bill has been launched by the Government, and it lays out how and when the changes proposed by the bill would be implemented. One thing that the document confirms is that many of the changes would

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Research shows younger workers most uncompromising on DEI

The latest research to be released has found that younger workers are particularly uncompromising when it comes to DEI policies, with three out of every five stating that they are a make-or-break issue. This research was carried out by IRIS Software Group and it shows

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What is the role of HR in change management?

The human resources (HR) department of a company has a number of different roles within it. As the name would indicate though, most of its responsibilities are to do with people. HR is supposed to ensure that a company gets the right people and foster

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SME managers and employees disagree over productivity

A new report indicates that the managers and employees of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) disagree over the meaning of productivity, which is having significant impacts for their companies. This report was published by Employment Hero, a company that provides HR tech solutions. It

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Rising HR demand expected in the UK

The level of demand for HR services among small businesses in the UK is expected to rise dramatically over the course of this year, according to a new survey that has just been conducted. This survey indicates that 80% of small companies are going to

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HR workers more vulnerable to depression on average

The results of a new report that has just been issued show that those working in the HR industry are more vulnerable to depression, with close to half qualifying as clinically depressed. That finding is taken from the HR Mental Wellbeing Report, which was carried

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What HR teams can do to build trust

No company can really hope to succeed unless its employees have faith in the mission, but building and maintaining that trust is an ongoing matter. It can also be adversely affected by events in the wider world – such as economic pressures. So, what can

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Businesses suffering due to lack of employee soft skills

The latest research indicates that employers in the UK are not thinking enough about the importance of soft skills during the recruitment process, leading to performance issues among new hires. This research found that 75% of employers – which adds up to three quarters of

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New survey highlights problems faced by disabled employees

A new survey has highlighted the scale of the problems faced by disabled employees in the UK, revealing shocking levels of harassment, discrimination and bullying. This survey was conducted by Opinium on behalf of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and it makes for disturbing reading.

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Signs it’s time to outsource HR

Deciding whether to outsource HR can sometimes be unnerving for enterprises of any size because of the perceived additional costs involved and loss of control. However, choosing to outsource to a specialist in HR provides firms with a wide array of advantages. These include an

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HR teams back stealthy campaign for DEI

HR teams are showing their support for a new campaign called ‘DEI by Stealth’ that aims to ensure that policies for diversity, equity and inclusion survive the ongoing backlash. This campaign was created by prominent people from within the HR industry and it is taking

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11 signs of a toxic work environment and how to deal with it

Toxic work environments are characterised by destructive behaviours that have a negative impact on employee well-being and morale, but also on productivity. A multi-faceted problem for many enterprises, toxic work environments are places where manipulation, harassment and bullying are commonplace, creating a hostile atmosphere that

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Key aspects of HR project management

HR project management helps companies transform their processes for significant gains. Effective project management creates positive change with HR procedures aligned with enterprise ambitions, improved workplace environments and employees engaged and more productive. In this article, we’re breaking down the key aspects of HR project

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Benefits of HR project management

HR project management provides numerous benefits to modern businesses. From engaging employees and improving teamwork to improved efficiency and resource allocation, companies can enhance how they operate with experts in HR at the helm. Here, we look at some of the key company gains on

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Examples of employee HR services

Human resources departments are central to the modern corporate world. They are responsible for supporting employees, from the day they arrive at a company to the day they leave. That involves a tremendous amount of work, which is why many companies outsource some aspects of

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Immigration white paper brings challenges for HR

The government has now published its white paper detailing changes that it plans to make to the visa system in the UK, and the proposals will bring significant challenges for HR departments. One of the biggest changes listed in this paper is the requirement for

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Research reveals rise in employment tribunal backlog

The latest research shows that there has been a big rise in the backlog of employment tribunal cases over the past year, and it also indicates that the situation is likely to get worse. This analysis was carried out by Littler, an employment law company.

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Survey shows half of workers taking social media risks

A new piece of research conducted by a cyber security company has found that half of UK workers are reckless when it comes to social media, potentially creating financial or reputational problems for their employers. This study was produced by CyberArk and its findings will

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The benefits of opting for a managed payroll

When it comes to working out and distributing salaries, companies have two choices: in-house or managed payroll. The first of those options means that the internal HR department handles it, while the second involves outsourcing it to a third-party. This blog will outline some of

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HR professionals cite employee engagement as priority

The biggest priority this year for a significant number of HR professionals is to find ways of boosting employee engagement levels, according to a new survey that has just been published. This was cited as the main focus by 31% of them, which adds up

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UK workers among the most unhappy in Europe

Workers in this country are close to the top of the rankings when it comes to unhappiness, according to a piece of research on the subject that has just been published. The study that this finding comes from is the annual State of the Workplace

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Six reasons to outsource HR as an SME

When it comes to HR, an increasing number of SMEs are choosing to outsource. Given that HR is something that even smaller firms cannot afford to ignore these days, there are real benefits to bringing in outside expertise. This blog will list some of them.

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Study finds data breaches by workers on the rise

The number of accidental data breaches by employees in the UK has reached the highest level it has been in more than half a decade, the latest research has revealed. This research was conducted by the financial advice firm Nockolds and it shows an annual

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Three ways to assess employee engagement

One of the many functions of an HR department is to make sure that employee engagement levels remain high. That is because workers who are enthusiastic and interested will be more focused and productive. If you’re looking for methods you can use to assess employee

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Companies that scrap DEI policies could face legal challenges

Specialists in employment law are warning UK companies that they could face legal challenges if they decide to scrap their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes, as backlash against these policies mounts in the US. The Employment Lawyers’ Association (ELA) has published an open letter

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Study shows women less willing to embrace AI up-skilling

The latest research study indicates that women are much less keen than men on gaining the knowledge and skills needed to utilise artificial intelligence (AI). This study was produced by Robert Half, a recruitment company. It is called the Candidate Sentiment Survey, and it covers

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Government extends right-to-work checks to gig economy

The government has announced that right-to-work checks will now be a legal obligation for companies in the gig economy, as it tries to cut back on illegal working practices. This change brings the rules for gig economy firms in line with those for more traditional

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Research indicates better health enjoyed by hybrid workers

The findings of a new study indicate that hybrid workers are healthier, on the whole, than those who work full-time in the office, and this could have serious repercussions for businesses. The study in question was carried out by The International Workplace Group, a company

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Male employees increasingly seeking mental health support

The latest research into the workforce in the UK has found that mental health issues are a primary concern for male employees, and a significant percentage want employers to do more. This research was carried out by Bupa, a company that offers private healthcare. It

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Three reasons to build a healthy company culture

When management teams are planning for business success, one area they often overlook is the culture of the company. In the end, that can prove just as important as any of the more easily measurable metrics though. Here are some reasons why you should focus

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What is a company culture consultant?

When people use the term ‘company culture’, what they are referring to is the personality and character of a business. Company culture means not just the stated – and written – policies and values of a business, but how its employees behave on an everyday

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Chief executive claims culture change needed at Foxtons

One of the biggest estate agents in the country is being tasked with overhauling the culture of its workplaces following reports of discrimination, according to its chief executive. There have been reports of harassment towards junior employees at the estate agents Foxtons, with these being

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Survey indicates HR pros now more receptive to AI

A survey of HR professionals in the UK has found that the overwhelming majority of them now view artificial intelligence (AI) as something that could be transformative for their industry, although as a complement to human beings rather than a replacement. The ‘State of Employee

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New bereavement leave rights for workers planned

Workers who suffer the loss of a baby during the early stages of pregnancy could be set to gain new bereavement leave rights, following a change to the bill covering employment rights. This amendment would see the entitlement to bereavement leave extended to cover employees

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Report shows young people worried about skills

A new report has found that over half of the young people in the UK have worries about their skills, qualifications and experience, fearing that the lack of them will affect their career prospects. The results of the latest King’s Trust Youth Index show that

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HR chief shares top tips during networking event speech

The chief HR administrator for Star Refrigeration delivered a speech at a recent event that was organised by Investors in Young People (IIYP), where she spoke about how the firm has managed to recruit new talent. Gillian Dunbar gave this speech during the Good Practice

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Three reasons why your company needs HR

The term ‘human resources’ is one that everybody in the business world will have heard of, but it is also one that is often misunderstood. HR is about a lot more than just hiring and firing people. If you do not have an HR team

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Report shows IT onboarding failures costing businesses

A new report states that failures during the onboarding process for IT staff are costing businesses heavily, both in terms of money and of employee retention. This report was produced by Nexthink, a platform that provides digital staff management software. It argues that onboarding processes

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Majority of companies in UK continuing with DEI

New research has shown the majority of companies in the UK are continuing to run programmes dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), despite the backlash against these policies in the wake of the US election. This finding comes from a poll that was carried

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HR teams looking to leverage AI through recruitment

A new survey of those working in human resources (HR) has found that the majority of HR professionals regard artificial intelligence (AI) as a key priority. This survey was conducted by Avature, a software firm that provides Human Capital Management (HMC) technology. More than 100

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Green jobs demand belies wider slowdown

The latest research shows that there has been a big rise in demand for workers with green skills, at a time when the employment market as a whole is in a slowdown. This revelation comes from the newest Green Jobs Barometer published by PwC. That

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New study shows value of DEI for businesses

A study that has just been published highlights the value that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies can have for businesses, at a time when they are in the firing line. This study comes from EY UK and its results show that DEI policies have

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CEOs optimistic about business prospects

A new poll of CEOs in the UK has found that the levels of optimism among them are growing, even in the wake of economic and political turbulence. The CEO Outlook Survey is the poll in question and its results make for interesting reading. 100

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Stress: The Small Business Owner’s Silent Partner!

Welcome to Stress Awareness Month! If you're a small business owner, you know that stress is more than just an occasional nuisance—it's practically a business partner. From the exhilaration of launching your venture to the daily grind of keeping things afloat, stress can take its

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You want to outsource your HR but not sure where to start?

As an SME you’re probably looking after a number of spinning plates and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Outsourcing your HR can help to reduce your workload and give you what you need to manage payroll, time and attendance, recruiting, onboarding and HR admin. Here

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How to Change an Organisational Culture

Organisational culture and how to change it has been the subject of much debate and analysis. How to Change an Organisational Culture “It’s how we do things round here”. Organisational culture and how to change it has been the subject of much debate and analysis.

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Why Do We Resist Change?

In your organisation, do people know what they like, and like what they know? If so, they’re not alone. In this blog, we’re looking at what lies behind our resistance to change. Why do we get “stuck” – and what can you do about it?

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The Data Dilemma

How accurate, real-time data could make all the difference to your HR department, and to your organisation as a whole. You may find the expression “information is power” somewhat of a 1980s cliché – perhaps it puts you in mind of a hard line, super-assertive

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What is HR Transformation?

At FiveRivers Consulting, we’re all about HR transformation. And now is the time for us to define what we mean. How does it work, and how could it (quite literally) transform YOUR organisation? Transformation is moving from one state to an altered state, ideally making

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How To Write a Killer Business Case

Now is the time for HR transformation. Here’s how to get your stakeholders on side. When you’re considering a top-to-toe transformation revolution in your HR department - securing improvements and efficiencies across process, technology and data -  you’ll need everyone – the Board and other

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Managing Absence in the Workplace – 5 Top Tips for Managers

Most employers will expect their staff to miss a certain number of days from work. Whether its sickness related, family or emergency related, or covid-19 related absence, we’ll all miss work at some point. But to ensure absenteeism doesn’t become a problem it’s important that

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Conquer your fear of public speaking with a positive mindset

Most people at some point in their working and personal life will engage in public speaking. Whether you are presenting to clients, contributing in meetings, being on camera, giving a speech, or doing job interviews. Public speaking is a vital skill which, surveys suggest, can

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Global Forgiveness Day

Saturday 7th July was not just an exciting day for English football it was also Global Forgiveness Day – a day to forgive and be forgiven, a chance to set things right, put aside old differences, move beyond grievances and hurts and start afresh. I

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Can hypnotherapy help with anxiety stress or depression?

A recent article in the Metro quoted a survey by PwC suggesting a third of British employees across junior and senior roles suffer with anxiety, depression or stress – a sixth with mental health issues – suggesting the role of technology blurring the lines between

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Mindfulness to manage anxiety and depression

Mindfulness has become very popular in recent years. It is claiming huge mental health benefits in treating anxiety and depression and has become integral to psychotherapy, especially within cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), with a common goal of helping people gain perspective on irrational, unhelpful and

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