Millions to be able to request flexible working on day one of employment

Millions of employees will be able to request flexible working from day one of their employment, under new government plans to make flexible working the default. Flexible working doesn’t just mean a combination of working from home and in the office – it can mean employees making use of job-sharing, flexitime, and working compressed, annualised, or staggered hours. The raft of new measures will give employees greater access to flexibility over where, when, and how…

What do PM Liz Truss’s campaign promises mean for HR?

As Liz Truss becomes the third female prime minister after Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May, let’s look at some of her key proposed policies and what these might mean for employers and HR. 1.    Cutting tax and addressing the cost of living crisis  A substantial leadership promise is Truss’s pledge to cut tax by reversing the national insurance hike announced by her political opponent Rishi Sunak – a decision he took to fund the NHS, which…

Creating economic recovery and growth after the pandemic – can we do it from home?

Creating economic recovery and growth after Covid-19 is at the forefront of our minds.   It is undeniable that the pandemic has changed how we live and work in ways that have been altering our behaviour at home and at work. Many organisations changed their business model to survive during Covid-19. Some of the changes in business models and consumer behaviour are here to stay. But which ones? Time will tell. As an HR consultant, I…

Office for Students to support upskilling and retraining workforce

Office for Students launches the Higher Education Short Course Trial Challenge Competition to fund up to 20 successful bits from higher education providers to trial short courses aimed at boosting skills and getting more people into work. Universities Minister Michelle Donelan said: “Learning is a lifelong journey, and this competition is a critical step in creating courses which meet the needs of learners, employers and our wider economy.”  This competition is under the umbrella of…

Can UK employers make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory?

The UK vaccination programme is well underway. Every day we are getting closer to offering a vaccine to all adults in the UK. This is a gargantuan task for the Government and, of course, for the medical staff across the country. Where does this leave the employers? Can an employer force their staff to have the Covid-19 vaccine? Making vaccination compulsory is a risky line to take. Employers need to be very careful when deciding how…

Working from home – friend or foe to our relationships at work?

The UK marks today one year since the first Covid-19 lockdown. 12 months since our living rooms and bedrooms have become our office. Has this affected our working relationships? Do you remember the last time you had lunch and shared a few ideas with your colleagues while sitting next to each other in the office kitchen? What about being at the right time in the right place and giving someone a certain piece of information…

5 ways to keep your people motivated – lessons from the pandemic

We are getting slowly but surely back to a ‘new normal’. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard these two words – ‘new normal’ – in the last few months and I know for sure I am not alone in this. It’s nothing ‘normal’ about this situation but there’s a lot we can change to improve the way we work and support our people.  Whilst under this immense pressure to keep our organisations…

When passion pulls you in – What makes you forget to eat?

I was 20 years old when I founded my first children’s charity. I remember the excitement I felt like it was yesterday. I remember how eager I was to change the world. I had been volunteering for a good few years before this moment. I remember all that energy, the sheer enthusiasm, the limitless opportunities around me, and the strong desire to do my part for society and to serve my community. It’s been 12…