Welcome to the HR Blast!
The "go-to" library for HR, Employment Law & Business Updates.
Our fortnightly "HR Blasts" brings you a two-minute update on:
- Current HR, employment and business related topics based on the real issues that come through to our HR help desk.
- Pointers that can be passed on to line managers in order to minimise common mistakes.
- A pragmatic and commercial approach using plain English and straight-talking (no jargon!)
- Regular features including blog posts and exclusive special reader offers on our services and products.
We guarantee to avoid unnecessary scare mongering and over-complication of HR matters!
"Jaluch provide a clear and straightforward interpretation of the law! These are the only articles that make sense of it all for me!"
Sandra Smith, Discovery Education
View our privacy policy. By entering your details above, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.
Mind the Gender Pay Gap
One issue that we often still hear about in the media is the Gender Pay Gap … but what does this really mean? How can it impact your business? And what can you do about it? Let's take a look at how you can "mind the gap" in your organisation.
Gender P...
6 Steps to Change a Toxic Work Culture
It’s been a difficult time for many these past few years and for several reasons this has resulted in some work cultures being lost to ‘toxicity’. Perhaps the leaders have been less present due to distractions and remote working, perhaps the business has b...
Managing and Supporting Younger Workers
Use these rules of the road to help younger employees succeed in the workplace
It’s a tough work environment for many at present, but never more so than for many young people who were just beginning their career journeys. Those who have left education t...
Mental Health First Aiders in the Workplace - The Pros and Cons
Welcome to this HR Blast from Jaluch. Mental health and mental wellbeing are hot topics in today’s world, both within and outside the workplace, with many organisations considering appointing mental health first aiders. If this is on your agenda, here a...
"No Jab, No Job" - Human Rights Issue or Discrimination on grounds of Philosophical Belief?
Although the UK Government has not legislated mandatory vaccinations in the workplace ( apart from in care homes ) some organisations are still considering introducing a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, and/or a ‘no jab, no job’ contractual req...
Is it time to step away from unconscious bias training?
This past year some organisations have been bringing unconscious bias training up the priority list, whilst others have been dropping it like a stone. What do you believe is the right approach?
In our view, this shift in focus has been driven by two...
Mandatory Care Home Vaccinations... And The Impact On Other Sectors
The deadline for all care home workers to be vaccinated is fast approaching and whilst, obviously, this inactivate is going to impact the care home sector the most... if your business provides services into care homes this is also going to affect you....
End of Furlough – Are your staff willing or unwilling to return?
In June about 2 million people were still on furlough, with some 28% of employers still furloughing staff. This month we are already seeing lots of staff returning to the office, resuming duties and getting back to 'normal'. Business it would appear...
New right to work checks in the UK – are you clear about the rules?
Welcome to this HR Blast from Jaluch. Pandemic or not, legislation continues to evolve and a key piece of knowledge for employers, recruiters and managers is around Right to Work.
Essentially, employers must carry out checks to make sure that the people...
Rethinking how to manage coughs and colds in the workplace
As the UK population looks towards the complete lifting of restrictions, it seems sensible to begin thinking about how we are going to manage minor illnesses in the workplace before the first winter hits us, after a year and a half of regular lockdowns...
Taking the first steps into management
It’s a tough job stepping away from your familiar role into that of team lead, team supervisor or even team manager. Perhaps you have even gone from the status of ‘employee’ to ‘employer’ as a result of setting up your own business and now find yourself ...
Managing Mental Health in the Workplace
It’s a roller coaster time emotionally for many in today’s workforce, so let’s take a few minutes to explore mental health in the workplace. The key questions we are being asked are:
Should we have a mental health policy?
What is the differ...
Managing post-lockdown dismissals fairly
As we are starting to emerge from lock-down, employers are inevitably having to manage issues which may have been placed on the back-burner until now.
This month already, nearly 2000 people have read the five fair reasons for dismissals article on...
Building the Credibility of HR
… 'but I thought HR was about Tea and Tissues'?
For more than three decades far too many of us in HR have been battling the low regard in which so many hold HR. We have never really shared our thoughts about how to raise the credibility of the function, s...
Employment Law Update
As Spring blooms and we head (fingers crossed) out of lockdown here’s a handy update with upcoming dates for changes and updates to key employment practices.
Changes to National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates
6 April 2021
The hourly r...
How to Manage Underperforming Homeworkers
Across the past year, one theme that has emerged is how powerless managers feel when it comes to managing someone remotely who they believe is underperforming. In this article, we will look at how to quickly recognise the employees that are underperforming...
Return to the Workplace: How and When Businesses Can Get Back to ‘Normal’
Do Businesses need to wait until 21 June 2021 to get back to ‘Normal’?
With vaccinations rolling out across the UK population and the announcement of the government’s 4-step roadmap which outlines an end of social distancing measures by June 21, t...
Employment Status Guide: Employed, Self Employed or Worker?
Given the recent press over Uber, we thought it would be apt to explore the distinctions between the status of different staff - this is critical to understanding the rights they have and your responsibilities towards them as an employer.
Who do you...
Avoiding Employment Litigation in 2021
A tough old year last year is fast becoming a tough new year this year, with plenty going on, lots of stresses and strains and a truckload of workplace conflict too. When people are unhappy or feeling out of sorts, we always see more workplace conflict....
App ideas for HR departments
We have chosen a variety of HR and training themed apps and learning tools to help HR departments boost employees’ personal development and productivity, covering a range of topics from project planning and online training to some more light-hearted g...
Wellbeing troubleshooting and strategies for HR
As a result of the continuing lockdowns, economic uncertainties, home working challenges etc. at Jaluch we feel employers and HR teams are on a wellbeing precipice. And a precipice is a dangerous place to be!
Many people survived previous lockdowns...
HR perspective: six ‘clangers’ to avoid in 2021
Businesses and HR departments have been reacting to the unexpected throughout 2020 – and whilst 2021 isn’t showing signs of that stopping, there is an opportunity to plan for some of the known challenges in the coming year to ensure you steer clear of ...
The 2021 workplace: Reflecting on the Past and Looking to the Future
AULD LANG SYNE – Reflecting on the Past and Looking to The Future!
What a year we have had! And as we head towards the new year, the phrase ‘Auld Lang Syne’ springs to mind, which roughly translates as ‘for old times sake’. The song is all about...
The new immigration rules for 2021 that UK employers need to know about
The immigration rules are changing on the 31st December 2020, which will impact your EU workforce as a consequence of the UK leaving the European Union and the ‘transitional period’ ending. Continue reading to find out what employers need to look at ...
The current issues managers are facing and how to deal with them
In this Blast, we wanted to share a few ideas on how to deal with the things that seem to be currently causing the most worry and concern for managers.
The current issues managers are facing:
Historic and Current Grievances
Without prejudice...
Pay Review or Pay Cut?
Welcome to this HR Blast on all things related to Pay and Benefits. We will look at:
Should remote workers be paid more or should their pay be cut
What benefits need rethinking in the light of increased remote working
New jobs, new organisational...
Beware the Profit Vampires
In business, you have to be aware of the profit vampires. If you aren't looking out for them, these 'vampires' will prey on your business and have the potential to wreck everything.
The good news is that you don’t have to remain oblivious to their m...
UK Employment Law Update - October 2020
With so much change happening all around us, we wanted to provide a quick round-up of developments in UK employment law which business owners, managers and HR departments need to be aware of. Including:
Pay cuts
New jobs support scheme
...
It’s the Final Straw - Disciplining Long Serving Staff
Disciplining your staff is never an easy task, but when it's a well established or long serving employee it can make employers and managers feel even more uncomfortable. We have previously looked at how you can manage under performing staff with very...
Five TUPE Myths
Welcome to this HR Blast that aims to ‘blast’ away some of the myths around TUPE. As an employer with staff about to transfer in, perhaps you have more options than you thought? At Jaluch we have seen a considerable upswing in the numbers of mergers and...
5 tell-tale signs professional etiquette has left the building
Today I wanted to talk about online meetings. It strikes me that it's been six months since everyone went home and meetings went online but still very few organisations have been explicit about online meeting etiquette.
3 top tips for HR to avoid fines and penalties
As always, we are here to support and advise and, in this case, warn you about keeping your organisation safe.
Does your HR team (or those with responsibility for HR) really understand the various penalties for non-compliance? We worry that sometimes...
Professional Management of Remote Workers
Are the right things on your agenda?
In March businesses and their managers were thrust into remote working with no planning, no procedures and not much experience - for the most part. We can all live for a while with crisis management but our time...
During these exceptional times, how happy and engaged is your workforce?
Perhaps you are wondering whether this is utterly irrelevant given that you are just trying to stay afloat, pivot your business, educate or appease your children, care for relatives and/or worry about those who you are having to let go?
But neglect...
Diversity, Racism, Unconscious Bias ... Where Do We Go From Here?
2020 has been a year of surprises – and challenges – for everyone. No one could have predicted that just when businesses were working out how to get back on their feet, amid ongoing large scale redundancies and business reorganisations, we would be ...
3 Common Mistakes When Moving From Face-to-Face to Online Training
Welcome to this HR Blast. Not surprisingly given that 50% of our revenue at Jaluch comes from delivering training, we have had a lot of enquiries about virtual training. If you’re considering moving from face-to-face to virtual learning, there are some p...
