Zest Expert HR Solutions

National Inclusion Week kicks off on 23rd September – why should you get involved?

Founded by Inclusive Employers, it’s a week dedicated to all things inclusive at work, and 2024’s theme is: Impact Matters.

When it comes to integrating inclusion in your business, impact REALLY does matter.

Get it right, and you’ll drive innovation, increase engagement and strengthen your employer brand.

But superficial efforts or outdated policies lead to disengagement, low motivation and legal headaches.

That’s why measuring the impact of your inclusion efforts is crucial. Understanding your employees' perspectives on inclusion ensures alignment and helps you break down unseen barriers.

It’s about driving real change, fostering a genuinely inclusive culture and ensuring everyone feels valued and respected.

I’ve written a comprehensive guide outlining 10 proven strategies to measure the impact of inclusion in your business, along with how an HR Consultant can elevate your efforts.

Ready to transform your workplace? Dive into our free guide today.
www.zesthr.co.uk

“🚀 Master the Art of Managing Upwards! 🚀
Our Managing Upwards course is designed to help you build a productive relationship with your leader, so you can co-create value together!

In this course, you’ll learn how to:
✅ Develop a plan to manage your boss
✅ Stand up for and stand up to your leader when needed
✅ Use the "Know Me, Focus Me, Value Me" model for better communication and alignment

Take control of your career by learning how to lead from any position. Ready to get started? Join us on this course on 19th September. Provided to you on our learning platform in partnership with SEEDL. Sign up on our platform link in comments”

Is your business guilty of ‘wellbeing washing’? 🚨

It’s when employers claim to care about employee wellbeing but only offer superficial gestures, like one-off yoga sessions, instead of meaningful, lasting support.

Employees—seeking genuine changes like job satisfaction and work-life balance—see right through it!

The fallout? Eroded trust, low morale and a hit to your reputation and bottom line. 📉

In our latest blog, we dive into this phenomenon and offer strategies not only to avoid it, but to truly boost your employees' wellbeing. 🌟

Read it here 👇
https://www.zesthr.co.uk/what-is-wellbeing-washing-and-how-can-you-avoid-it/

We love hearing the positive feedback we receive for our training courses. Here’s what some users have shared:

‘The trainer was absolutely amazing and the course was really interesting. I definitely learned new materials that would help me in everyday worklife and lifestyle.’
‘Really excellent delivery, with a nice mix of personal stories and relevant models shared.’
‘I have learnt a lot about customers, how they need to be treated and how to keep them happy.’

Want to experience it for yourself? check out the platform in the link in the comments. Provided to you on our learning platform in partnership with SEEDL.

Want to build stronger, lasting relationships with your customers?

The course Putting yourself in the Customer’s Shoes on Thursday 12th September is here to help.

In this session you’ll learn how to see things from the customer’s perspective, solve their problems with thoughtful communication and strengthen brand loyalty through excellent service. Provided to you on our learning platform in partnership with SEEDL. Sign up on our platform link in comments

ZEST HR have teamed up with Seedl, the world’s first live and on-demand learning subscription company to offer you an extensive educational library, along with a personalised learning management system to support your business record-keeping needs.

Unlock the hidden power of PowerPoint! Join our course PowerPoint Hints & Tips on Tuesday 10th September and discover some of the rarer gems of the software including the re-use slide feature, converting boring bullet lists into SmartArt, formatting charts and more! No experience needed – perfect for beginners who want to wow their audience. Provided to you on our learning platform in partnership with SEEDL. Sign up on our platform link in comments

As business owners, we juggle A LOT…

Strategies, budgets, people issues and ever-evolving employment laws.

With the general election behind us and a new Labour government potentially bringing big changes, your HR policies might be outdated and in need of an overhaul.

Employment law is a moving target. What’s set in stone today might shift with the new leadership, and upcoming laws expected might change again.

So, why gamble with outdated policies when an HR Consultant can help keep you up to date and out of trouble?

Here's why consulting with an HR expert is a smart move:
🚢 Navigate Changes with Ease
An HR consultant helps you interpret and implement new laws swiftly, ensuring your policies reflect the latest requirements.

💸 Avoid Costly Mistakes
Outdated policies can lead to compliance issues, fines or disputes. Regular reviews with an expert minimises the risks.

👀 Focus on What You Do Best
Let the experts handle the complexities of employment law - so you can focus on growing your business.

Don’t wait for legislation to catch you off guard.

Let’s ensure your business is safe, compliant and ready for whatever comes next!

Reach out for a quick chat and get your policies reviewed today.


www.zesthr.co.uk

Is flexible working REALLY working for your business?

In our opinion, flexible working is a game-changer.

But it’s difficult to transition to…

Changing your mindset from focusing on time and location to output and results can be daunting at first - and this takes time.

It’s not just remote work or adjustable hours; it’s about truly embedding flexibility into your core business strategy.

So, after putting the work in, how do you measure how well your flexibility game is working?

Here’s three KPIs to gauge success:

📈Employee productivity - Evaluate project completion rates, how well tasks are executed and overall performance during appraisals.

🙂Employee engagement - Use pulse surveys, engagement scores and retention rates to glean insights into the level of flexible working your business offers.

📊Business performance - Track financial indicators like revenue and profit margins to gauge the impact of flexible working on overall business performance.

These metrics will give you real insights into how flexibility is shaping your business. You’ll drive tangible results and create a culture that thrives on flexibility.

Ready to dive in and make data-driven decisions? Let’s chat about it!


www.zesthr.co.uk

ZEST HR have teamed up with Seedl, the world’s first live and on-demand learning subscription company to offer you an extensive educational library, along with a personalised learning management system to support your business record-keeping needs.

Unlock the power of self-awareness with the course Understanding Your Belief Systems. Join Laura on Thursday 5th September where we’ll be looking at the core beliefs that guide our behaviour. Understand how your belief systems influence your personal and professional life, challenge limiting beliefs and adopt new empowering ones. Provided to you on our learning platform in partnership with SEEDL.

Sign up on our platform link in comments.

ZEST HR have teamed up with Seedl, the world’s first live and on-demand learning subscription company to offer you an extensive educational library, along with a personalised learning management system to support your business record-keeping needs.

Ready to take the step from Teammate to leader? The course Transitioning to a Leader will equip you with the skills to manage not just others—but yourself too! You will learn about the common challenges, how to make the transition smoother and much more. Join us on Wednesday 4th September. Provided to you on our learning platform in partnership with SEEDL. Sign up on our platform link in comments

How do we ensure we’re genuinely inclusive? Here’s what I’ve found crucial…

Inclusion isn’t a trendy buzzword.

In my view, it’s the beating heart of innovation and engagement in any business.

The core component of a positive organisational culture.

But here’s the catch: when inclusion becomes performative and our actions don’t align with our words, it’s glaringly obvious to our teams.

So, here’s what you need to do to ensure you’re genuinely inclusive:

🗣️ Employee voice: Use your pulse surveys as more than just data points. They’re a window into how your team experiences inclusion, and it’s vital to recognise that it feels different for everyone.

🕵🏾 Qualitative insights: Focus groups and interviews can reveal the nuanced challenges some of your employees face, like those navigating menopause. That way you can tailor your support effectively.

📖 Lived experiences: Comparing experiences of marginalised groups with the majority in your business can highlight gaps and guide targeted inclusion strategies.

🛜 Employee-led groups: ERGs and internal networks offer priceless feedback on our inclusion efforts and can drive impactful change.

📦 People issues: Keep an eye on your ER caseload for trends in bullying and discrimination. Proactive, timely action can make a significant difference.

In your experience, how do you measure and enhance inclusion? I’d love to hear your thoughts and strategies 🧠

For more insights about inclusion, or to chat about any HR matters impacting your business, don’t hesitate to get in touch for a confidential chat.



www.zesthr.co.uk

We have teamed up with Seedl, the world’s first live and on-demand learning subscription company to offer you an extensive educational library, along with a personalised learning management system to support your business record-keeping needs.

📚📖📚📖📚📖📚📖📚📖📚📖📚📖📚📖📚📖
Short on Time? Our webinars are designed to fit into your busy schedule! Choose from quick, impactful 20-minute micro sessions or dive deeper with our 60-minute interactive webinars. Gain valuable insights, sharpen your skills, and boost your productivity no matter your schedule. Provided to you on our learning platform in partnership with SEEDL, sign up on our platform link in comments.

Is your team equipped to handle client complaints effectively? Join our Customer Complaint Resolution Course with Simon on Thursday 22nd August. This live and interactive course covers how to handle client complaints and why resolving complaints effectively is crucial to your business success. Provided to you on our learning platform in partnership with SEEDL, sign up on our platform link in the comments

Just a reminder… as an HR professional, I am here for you. That’s YOU, the business owner!

Sometimes that message gets lost, because I - and everyone else in my industry - spend so much time talking about keeping your employees happy and motivated. Making sure you’re doing everything by the book. Talking about employee rights and discrimination and training and development.

But do you know WHY I place such a focus on these things?

To get YOU the best results for your business 📈

I don’t want to see you being dragged through a tribunal because an employee has made a massive mistake, but you forgot to follow the right procedure to get rid of them.

And I certainly don't want to see you stuck working with a bunch of poor performers because you didn't set the correct probationary periods. 😕

It's in YOUR best interest to develop a team of happy, loyal, motivated people, because ultimately, it helps your business grow and you reach your goals a lot faster.

I understand that sometimes you might need to control a situation and make it work in your favour, for the good of the business.

For example, you might need to get rid of a really terrible employee before they make a mistake that could cost you dearly

Sometimes, you might need to reduce your costs without losing your best people.

I can help make it happen in a way that saves you unnecessary stress, and that won't leave you liable to repercussions.

If you are facing a tricky situation right now, let's have a conversation to see how I can help you manage it in a way that's best for the business.



www.zesthr.co.uk

Ready to transform the way your team works?

Flexible working empowers your employees to choose where, how and when they work, taking the reins when it comes to their work-life balance.

But it’s more than just less hours, coffee shop hangs or being tied to a home desk all day.

To truly embrace a dynamic flexible working culture, your business needs to revamp its work habits, adopt a fresh mindset and provide options that fit modern-day life seamlessly.

Crucially, this requires a culture built on trust and autonomy - where results and output matter more than hours, location or clock-watching.

This promotes a healthier work-life balance, skyrockets productivity and boosts job satisfaction. It’s a win-win!

I’ve created a comprehensive new guide that unveils 10 flexible working options to explore, strategies for creating a top-level framework with success-measuring KPIs, and the pivotal role an HR Consultant can play in your success.

Ready to transform your workplace?

Dive into our free guide today 👇
https://www.zesthr.co.uk/free-resources/

Stop beating yourself up!

In an ideal world, our business would run seamlessly.

No complaints, no grievances, just a bunch of happy and motivated employees.

But that's not reality…even the most successful businesses have people problems.

Having people issues doesn’t make you a bad employer, it makes you a normal one!

That’s because:
🙂 A diverse workforce brings together a blend of personalities, opinions, values and work styles. This fuels creativity but can also lead to misunderstandings.

🙂 Factors like stress, workload and organisational changes can contribute to issues. And, let’s be honest, sometimes problem employees are unavoidable.

🙂 People issues can also be a sign of growth. Expansion, restructuring or new management can often result in a temporary surge in HR challenges.

However, unresolved issues can damage your reputation and bottom line, especially if they escalate to legal disputes. Persistent problems can erode morale and create a toxic work environment.

What distinguishes a good employer from a bad one is HOW they handle people issues.

Got people issues on your mind?

We’re here to help you sort them out in the right way.

Get in touch for a confidential chat at www.zesthr.co.uk