HR Advice For Small Businesses
Good news for employers: an employee being signed off with “work-related stress” does not automatically mean they are disabled under the Equality Act 2010 — or that a disciplinary, grievance or redundancy process must grind to a halt. There is an important distinction between a recognised mental health condition, such as depression or an anxiety … Read more
When does ‘making the time up’ go from fair to fanciful? I think I know the answer, following some communication with a club this week. The club in question had an employee who’d been off sick five days a month, every single month since December last year. In terms of the employee’s contract, she’s only … Read more
Employment law is changing fast, with some of the new Act already in force, and more on the way in October and January 2027. (If this is the first you’re hearing about this, we need to have a conversation ASAP!) One area long overdue for change is harassment, and the duty and responsibility employers have … Read more
We’ve noticed that some companies aren’t using training cost repayment agreements as often as they should.
If you don’t use this, you will be out of pocket if an employee leaves (voluntarily or involuntarily) after receiving training that YOU have paid for.
A training cost repayment agreement (TCRA) is separate from the contract. In fact, if it’s in the contract, it is unenforceable.
You might have noticed it’s been a little hot recently (for some of us!).
And although we’ve come down off the peak, there are more heatwaves on the horizon, so I’m hoping the nation will be a little better prepared next time!
On a personal level, I’ve been trying to prepare for the summer temperatures for almost a year.
I came across an ingenious ‘window film’ product, designed to keep UV rays at bay, and as sunlight streams in through my French doors, I knew we’d benefit.
And we would have done so if it had actually been installed.
If you’ve ever hired or fired anyone, you’ll be aware of a key employment law milestone:
Two years’ service – the magic line after which employees gain protection against unfair dismissal.
Before a new recruit has had two years of continuous employment, you generally have far more flexibility to let them go (although caution is still advised).
Or at least you have had.
Because from January 1st next year, the magic line moves from two years to just six months’ service.
From 6 April 2026, the Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) rules changed. SSP is now payable from day one of absence There are no waiting days All staff will be paid SSP no matter which type of contract they are on and no matter how much they earn per week. They do not need to earn … Read more
I LOVE travelling. Not a day goes by that I’m not checking out a new holiday destination, or considering what I could do or see next.
And contrary to what you might think, I love to do it alone.
Being able to decide what I want to do and when, without having to take anyone else’s opinions, mood or preference into account, is rather empowering!
However, being a lone traveller does come with a few pitfalls, especially when it comes to mealtimes – here are a couple of recent highlights:
I’ve just come back from a lovely Eastern Mediterranean cruise.
I’ve been on a few cruises now, and it’s fast becoming one of my favourite types of holidays – your hotel moves with you!
But as easy as a cruise is, not every element is friction-free, especially when it comes to booking the spa.
Having a pedicure and a massage is a key part of my relaxation strategy, but usually, getting an appointment is anything but relaxing.
Running a small business in the UK means wearing many hats, and one that can quickly become problematic is that of HR manager. Whether you have three employees or thirty, the legal obligations placed on you as an employer are the same, and failing to comply with them can have severe consequences. That is where … Read more
What makes you want to stay in a hotel?
Is it the promise of a beautiful room with a super comfortable bed?
Or is it the facilities – an infinity pool, spa, gym or garden?
Or perhaps it’s the food and drink.
I had a call with someone the other day.
He’s a brand-new business owner and wants to start offering a service which is complementary to ours.
I’d never met him before, but his message popped up on LinkedIn, and in the spirit of helping someone get started, I thought I’d take the call.
It was a perfectly pleasant chat, but what was striking was how quickly he moved onto the topic of me sending him business, bearing in mind that I’d:
From 6 April this year, the Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) rules are changing.
The main changes are:
All financial details should be handled by your payroll software, which should automatically pay staff the correct amount.
I had a call with someone the other day.
He’s a brand-new business owner and wants to start offering a service which is complementary to ours.
I’d never met him before, but his message popped up on LinkedIn, and in the spirit of helping someone get started, I thought I’d take the call.
It was a perfectly pleasant chat, but what was striking was how quickly he moved onto the topic of me sending him business, bearing in mind that I’d:
Usually, something lighting up like a Christmas tree would be seen as a net positive.
Festive, aesthetically pleasing, emotive, so on and so forth.
Not when it’s your car dashboard.
After enduring the twinkling lights for longer than is likely advisable, I decided enough was enough, and dropped my car off at the local garage for some diagnostic tests, and – hopefully – to get everything reset.
Choosing the right HR consulting firms for small businesses can be the difference between being caught out by employment law issues and having the confidence to manage people effectively. At GAP HR, we work exclusively with small, often owner–managed organisations, helping them stay compliant, resolve disputes early, and build clear, lawful processes that reduce the … Read more
HR support for small businesses is not an optional extra. It is the practical protection that keeps recruitment, contracts, conduct issues, and difficult conversations from turning into expensive legal disputes. Since 2003, we have focused on HR and employment law issues for small, owner- managed businesses. Our sole aim is to help employers stay legally … Read more
Running a small business in the UK frequently involves wearing a lot of hats. You are the decision-maker, the salesperson, the problem-solver and, more often than not, the person who has to deal with all manner of staff issues. HR for small business UK is not something most business owners think about until something goes … Read more
We’re recruiting again.
The demand for genuine HR expertise has grown considerably over the last year and shows no sign of slowing down, so our recruitment must keep up.
But, if you’ve been reading my emails for a while now, you’ll know that we don’t just hire any old Thomasina, Dick or Harriet.
Three things are about to intertwine, and I’m fearing the worst: The recent update to the sexual harassment laws, which puts the onus on you as the employer to take ALL reasonable steps to prevent it; The addition of sexual harassment claims to whistleblowing legislation; The new law that makes employers liable for third-party harassment … Read more
An Employee Assistance Programme (also known as an EAP) can feel like yet another cost for a small business – until you are dealing with a struggling employee and realise how valuable it is to have expert support on hand. Used well, an EAP can boost wellbeing, cut absence, and boost performance. Call us now … Read more
Human resource services are sometimes viewed as a luxury by small, owner-managed businesses. That is, until an employee issue explodes, and suddenly you are facing expensive, time-consuming, and potentially reputation-destroying Tribunal proceedings. GAP HR was founded to prevent situations like these from happening by providing ongoing, commercially focused HR advice at highly competitive rates. Call … Read more
Let’s be honest—no one loves talking about absence procedures. But if you’ve ever been left guessing whether someone’s off sick, overslept, or has simply been abducted by aliens, you’ll know why a proper reporting process is essential.
Consistency is key. Every employee, every time.
You can’t expect some employees to follow the absence procedure and let others slide. You can’t discipline certain people for ignoring it while turning a blind eye to the rest. And you definitely can’t enforce the rules only on Mondays or when you’re in the mood.
The text came in from my daughter Frances, and I immediately did a doubletake:
““hey mum, my screen is shattered so im borrowing my friends old phone for now…”
Yes, that is word-for-word, and no Frances’ grammar is not that poor, despite the language of the “youff”!
It’s a spam message, which I spotted a mile off, and not just because I know that Frances knows her “SPAG”.
An exit interview is a carefully planned and structured conversation between a departing employee and key personnel at their employer, usually a line manager or HR manager. Exit interviews play a vital role in understanding why the employee is leaving and identifying areas in which the employer could improve. To get the most out of … Read more
If you are searching for ‘HR support for small business’, the expert HR consultants at GAP HR are on hand to help. We offer specialist, affordable guidance that helps our clients navigate the complexities of employment law and HR practice and avoid making costly mistakes. Call us now on 01491 598 600 or Click Here … Read more
Modern businesses recognise the importance of the roles of HR as strategic, commercial functions. Far from being merely a back-office department focused on payroll processing, filing paperwork, and handling the occasional disciplinary action, HR roles are wide, varied, and crucial to a business’s success. At GAP HR, our consultants specialise in all the roles of … Read more
Chances are you’ve heard that it’s ‘tough out there’ for job seekers.
It’s undoubtedly true, which makes it even more important for candidates to ensure that they’re doing the very best they possibly can.
And in our attempt to hire an Executive Assistant, I’ve seen plenty of them not just failing to do their best, but actively shooting themselves in the foot.
Running a small organisation is tough enough — you’re juggling budgets, staff, customers, volunteers, and the occasional crisis about who drank the last bit of milk. The last thing you need is a disciplinary going pear-shaped because of a technicality.
But that’s exactly what happens. Employers often think they’re handling things “about right”, only to discover (usually at tribunal) that they weren’t. The good news? Most of these slip-ups are avoidable with a bit of process and common sense.
Last week, I set off on a dog walk — fresh air, soggy shoes, and those delightful “free deluge showers” courtesy of Mother Nature. Halfway down a muddy path, my phone rang—unknown number. Normally, I’d ignore it, but because I get random calls all the time from people needing help with their staff, I answered.
How bad could it be?
Pretty bad for my bank balance, it turned out!
Now that the days are turning colder and darker, my morning coffee feels more essential than ever — and in our office, that means the Nespresso machine. We’ve got two coffee machines (and a kettle), but the Nespresso is our pride and joy. Sleek, stylish, and a little indulgent — it’s not just coffee, it’s a ritual.
We joined the Nespresso coffee club when they offered us a free machine in exchange for a newsletter subscription. A no-brainer!
But of course, a machine needs pods. So last weekend I went onto the Nespresso website — and was instantly hooked.
All of my clients know that if they come up with a staff issue we’ve never seen before, they get chocolates.
It is with deepest regret (and some disbelief) that I have to announce: the 2025 award has already been won.
A client, a manufacturing company, rang with what they thought was a simple query:
“Can we issue a warning without doing a disciplinary meeting?”
“Why don’t you want to do the meeting?”
“He has mental health issues, and we don’t want to push him over the edge.”
You need to know exactly who has access to your email.
Not a spy.
Not a cybercriminal.
Someone much closer to home – your own team.
At GAP HR, we understand how time-consuming and complex it can be for SMEs to navigate the intricacies of employment legislation and HR practice. That’s where human resource outsourcing comes in. We partner with small, owner-managed businesses across the UK, providing the advice, support, and guidance they need to effectively manage their workforce, comply with … Read more
At GAP HR, we specialise in providing HR advisory services to small businesses like yours around the UK. We have over 20 years of experience in the field, and we are the go-to specialists for those operating in the leisure, entertainment, and hospitality sectors, as well as many others. Call us now on 01491 598 … Read more
By now, you’ve probably heard about that unfortunate CEO who got caught on the big screen at a Coldplay concert getting very cosy with someone who wasn’t his spouse. Embarrassing? Absolutely. But honestly, that’s tame compared to some of the workplace antics we’ve seen in the wild. Here’s what we’ve seen in real life (no … Read more
A golf club contacted me this week after admitting a new member with visible face tattoos.
They had clearly seen the tattoos at the time of joining and had no issue—until another member complained. Not about the content of the tattoos, just the fact that they were on his face.
The club wanted to know whether they were now stuck with this decision, or if revoking his membership would amount to discrimination. Specifically, they asked: Are tattoos a protected characteristic?
Running a small business comes with a set of unique challenges, one of which is staying up to date with your obligations under employment law. At GAP HR, we offer specialist human resource consulting services to small, owner-managed businesses throughout the UK. Our expert HR consultants will work closely with you to ensure you comply … Read more
Human Resource consulting can play a crucial role in your business’s HR function. Specialist human consulting firms like GAP HR offer the strategic guidance, operational support, and crisis management you need to ensure your organisation complies with its legal obligations and manages its workforce effectively. Call us now on 01491 598 600 or Click Here … Read more
I may be betraying my age, but when it comes to clothes shopping, there’s one retailer that sits right at the top of the tree: Marks and Spencer.
(Or at least it did…)
I bought a load of clothes from a store recently and brought them home to try them on in comfort and privacy.
They were all lovely, but most of them were a bit too big.
No problem, I thought, I can just scan the barcode of the item and order the next size down.
