UPDATE: Honestly, there’s no point reading this. It’s been completely changed and now it’s been abandoned for November. Check here for the latest news about furloughs: https://www.quickhr.biz/furlough-extends-and-lockdown-is-back/ So, no more furloughs and the replacement sounds a bit complicated. Something about thirds and two-thirds, I think. Honestly, thinking through the details made juggling spaghetti sound […]
I went ‘out out’ to the opticians …. a very interesting experience under the current circumstances! We discussed my awesome skills in fixing glasses with Superglue but also, more importantly, signs of digital eye strain. As a result of the switch to home-working for many people, there has been a big increase in consultations about […]
It sounds like a simple idea: don’t fire people and the Government will provide up to 80% of their pay each month instead. Inevitably it’s becoming a little more complicated. The next key date is 10th June and after that new entrants cannot join, because the scheme closes for new applications on 30th June and any […]
With so many people now working from home, how are you getting on? As a massive experiment, it’s blown up all the previous obstacles and concerns about home-working: the worries that people won’t work or things will fall apart. If work can be done remotely, any glitches are just a matter of making adjustments: equipment, […]
Government support is available if you put people on unpaid leave (otherwise called furloughs or temporary layoffs) but don’t terminate their employment. Employers can apply for up to 80% of pay, up to £2,500 per month (annual equivalent is £30,000). So they will still be employed, the Government will help with their pay BUT they […]
Wow. Okay, everyone’s talking about working from home, worrying about Coronavirus and stockpiling toilet rolls. We’re living in interesting times. Don’t panic. But before you get overtaken by events – and the worst case scenarios could mean lots of missing people from your workplace – stop now and come up with a plan, so you […]
What happens if firms cannot hire enough people to make goods, look after people and wait on customers? We might find out soon. The Government has outlined plans for a points-based immigration system after the UK leaves the EU. The immediate reactions involve the difficulties ahead with getting “low-skilled” workers to qualify, which might affect […]
Apart from her HR talents, Melissa carves amazing Halloween pumpkins. This year’s model is Pacman!
Everybody works with someone who is taking medication of some sort. You just might not know about it. One worry about Brexit is any disruption to the way medications get into the UK and are available to people. More than 60% of medications come into the UK from or through the EU. It’s something we’ve […]
It’s a long weekend: you get 3 days off and then a shorter 4-day week, if you work Monday to Friday. Have a wonderful bank holiday! Have fun and relax.
I’m abseiling down the i360 tower on Thursday 4th July to raise cash for the brilliant Clock Tower Sanctuary, a charity helping homeless young people. I’m a little bit nervous about this, so please click on the link and hand over any pennies you can…. raising cash for them will help me feel much better […]
In April changes to pension contributions and pay levels come into effect. Pension contributions Minimum pension contributions are increasing to a minimum of 8% of an employee’s salary. The minimum split for contributions is: Employer 3% Employee 5% For more information click on this link. Pay levels If you pay anyone at the compulsory Living […]
All kinds of people came to the latest Big Debate: should local firms push themselves to get customers further away? Maybe outside the UK? Not surprisingly, the consensus was yes – with great tips for how to win work and build global companies. The event was hosted by Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce (BHCC)and you […]
We have 5 great bags to give away – just share your thoughts and experiences about working with people. The canvas bags are big and incredibly resilient. I’ve been stuffing my bag with groceries and heavy objects for ages, with no signs of wear and tear. For a chance to win, share your views about […]
My colleague Brian recently wrote a blog about the difficulties of hiring locally and thinking about relocating staff to work for you, with some handy tips and food for thought. But, as I sit in my kitchen, working remotely, I question why you’d need to relocate people at all? I am more productive working remotely. I’m […]
Some job searches are tougher than others. Advertise for a part-time admin role and you’ll get 20 CVs in a day or so. Start searching for a developer with specialised skills or for a senior role with precise definitions of industry, product and maybe people management experience – you’ll probably have a mental image of […]
Why pay women less than men? Apart from that general question, why should gender make a big difference to your pay if you’re playing football? Lewes FC is the first football club in the world to treat and pay its women’s and men’s teams equally. As the club says: “Same playing budget. Same stadium. Same training facilities. Same coaching budget. […]
We hope you have a very merry Christmas and a fantastic 2019!
