We deal with all sorts of quirky goings on in the wonderful world of work and HR – but bringing a clown to a formal meeting is a new one on us! You may have read that a man in New Zealand chose to bring an “emotional support” clown with him to a meeting with […]
Working with all kinds of people, we spot issues and trends as they rise and fall. One thing we’ve seen increase is conversations about people using cocaine. The clichéd views are that it’s everywhere, it’s becoming more and more acceptable and it’s just another option for people who want to have fun. In reality, it’s […]
If telling people off at work was easy, then anyone could do it. In reality, managers find it hard sometimes. You work closely with people and nobody enjoys sitting with someone who’s feeling angry or sad because you’ve just told them off or criticised them. But there are times when you have to decide if […]
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.
Summer holidays are almost upon us and everyone’s heading somewhere for a week or two. With mobiles, tablets and laptops, because that way you can check in with social media and work while you’re away. That’s normal, right? Who would have a complete break from work and technology on holiday these days and just completely […]
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 […]
Once upon a time, businesses communicated by posting letters, making phone calls and meetings. Now people are sending and receiving work messages through emails, messaging apps and texts. While considering the obvious pros and cons – from speed and ease of communication to the risks of being overwhelmed by pinging notifications on your phone from Slack, […]
As the economy picks up and your business is expanding, it may be worth considering employing new staff on a part-time basis. Maybe you need more help but cannot justify the costs of a full-time worker? If you are replacing staff, do you really need someone to work a 37-hour (or more) week? There is […]
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 […]
Friction in working relationships can be a part of your working life at times, although hopefully not in a bad way. People have different priorities and viewpoints. But sometimes you can find yourself in a situation where the dispute goes on and you cannot see a way out. It might be an issue about a […]
Hope you have a wonderful Easter! Enjoy the long weekend … then there’s another 4-day week.
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 […]
I’m spending hours every week reading applications and CVs at the moment. Time and time again I am coming across the same common mistakes that tick the ‘no’ box. So have a read through my list of bugbears and you never know it might help you get that all important interview and land your dream […]
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!
Companions for meetings – but no clownsSeptember 16, 2019 - 11:39 am
White powders and workplacesAugust 30, 2019 - 1:46 pm
Thinking about a disciplinary?August 30, 2019 - 1:45 pm
Looooong weekend!August 23, 2019 - 2:00 pm
Holidays: checking how work’s going or taking a complete break?July 18, 2019 - 11:10 am