HR & Co

Happy International Day of Happiness ☺️

🙋‍♀️ Did you know that happy employees are up to 20% more productive than unhappy employees?

If you need support with your employees, contact us today! ☺️💫

Exciting news 💫

I have been nominated for an amazing Woman Who Achieves Award! 💫

A big thank you to all my amazing clients, friends and network who have supported me on this amazing journey!

Wish me luck to be a finalists! 🤞💫

🎉 HR & Co. is celebrating its second year in business!

💫I still can’t believe how far I have come. Starting out with just one client and a dream, I took a leap of faith and left my full-time job to pursue my passion for creating a HR consultancy, that makes HR simple!

As a single mum with a mortgage to pay and a little girl to feed, some thought I was crazy 🤯 But with hard work and commitment HR & Co. has become a business that I am incredibly proud of ❤️

💫My vision was to be a true HR business partner, working closely with clients to understand their business and people, to help them get the best from their employees for business success ⭐️

🎢It hasn’t been easy at times, but those challenges have helped me grow so much as a person and as a business owner.

I am grateful to my amazing clients who have trusted me with their people, my mentors who have provided me with advice, support, and guidance, and everyone who has supported me on this l amazing journey 🥰

💫Year 3, I’m excited and ready for what’s ahead!

😭I’m seeing lots of negativity around International Women’s Day...

For sure, some of the marketing around International Women’s Day may be a cynical marketing ploy and a little cheese🧀, not to mention Hallmark (other card shops are available 😉) selling cards to celebrate 💸.

❤️For me, it’s a day close to my heart,
a day, I will always celebrate, a day I’ll reflect on my own personal struggles as a woman and celebrate my own and other womens amazing achievements.

💫Number one - its a day we can inspire little girl’s

👶 On the 8 March 2024, legislation changes to statutory paternity leave and pay regulations will come into effect in England, Scotland and Wales.

The main changes are as follows:

👶 Employees now have the option to choose between taking two non-consecutive weeks of paternity leave (birth) or a single period of either one week or two weeks.
👶 The time frame for taking paternity leave (birth) has been extended from 56 days after the birth of the child to 52 weeks after the birth. Similar changes have also been made for paternity leave after an adoption.
👶Employees are now required to give 28 days’ notice of taking leave after declaring their eligibility to take paternity leave. This notice should be given by 15 weeks before the expected week of childbirth. Previously, both notices were required by the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth.

❓Employers will need to update their paternity leave policy to reflect the changes.

➡️ Need HR advice, reach out today!

Wishing everyone a happy Christmas and amazing 2024!

Thank you to all of our amazing clients who we have worked with this year, I can’t wait to see what 2024 brings 💫

👏 We all love a good review, praise or a thank you!

❤️ Praising a job well done can be a great (and free) way to keep employees engaged and see how valued they are.

🤔 There’s probably someone in your team or an outsourced consultant (like me) that’s doing a great job right now, and you’ve not had a chance - or a thought to tell them.

💫 This is your reminder to praise someone today

World Mental Health Day is on Tuesday the 10th October 2023

A day to raise awareness and drive positive change for everyone’s mental health.

Here are some tips to promote wellbeing in the workplace:

🗣️Open Dialogue
Encourage open conversations about mental health. Create a safe space for employees to share their concerns and experiences without fear of judgment.

📚Training and Awareness
Provide mental health training to employees and managers. Awareness leads to understanding, and understanding leads to support.

😌Mental Health First Aiders
Train your team to be Mental Health First Aiders, so they can offer support and raise awareness of mental health.

⚖️Work-Life Balance
Encourage a healthy work-life balance. Encourage employees to take breaks, use their vacation time, and avoid excessive overtime.

🥰Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
Provide access to EAPs offering Counselling and support for employees facing personal or work-related challenges.

🏃‍♀️Promote Physical Health
Promote physical health initiatives like gym memberships, healthy snacks, or wellness programs, as physical and mental health are closely linked.

❤️Recognition and Appreciation
knowledge and celebrate employee achievements and milestones. Feeling valued and appreciated can boost morale and mental wellbeing.

🤝 A mentally healthy workplace benefits everyone

Let's commit to fostering an environment where wellbeing is a priority every day, not just on World Mental Health Day.

Together, we can make a positive difference. 💚

October is ADHD Awareness Month! 🧠

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, can bring amazing strengths and challenges to an individual's life.

Here are 6 simple ways to support your employee with ADHD at work.

Lets help everyone thrive at work 🙌

Are you putting off those difficult conversations with your team?

We get it, having difficult conversations are hard, let us help you navigate those difficult conversations when they arise.

🌟5 Things to Think About When Having Difficult Conversations in The Workplace 🌟

🤝Prepare and Plan
Before the conversation, take some time to prepare yourself. Consider what specific issue or problem you want to address and what outcome you hope to achieve.
Choose the Right Time and Place
Timing and location matter. Find a private, quiet, and neutral space where both parties can speak openly without interruptions. Avoid discussing sensitive matters in public or during high-stress times.

🤝Stay Calm
Approach the conversation in a calm and composed manner. Emotions can escalate conflicts, so try to keep yours in check.
Active Listening
Begin the conversation by actively listening to the other person. Let them share their perspective and concerns without interruption. Show empathy and understanding.

🤝Ask Open Questions
Encourage the other person to share their thoughts and feelings by asking open-ended questions. These questions typically begin with "what," "how," or "why" and promote a more in-depth conversation.
Difficult conversations are an opportunity for growth and improved relationships in the workplace. By approaching them with empathy, respect, and effective communication skills, you can navigate challenging situations more successfully.

Still not sure where to start?

HR & Co. offers outsourced HR support and can help you navigate those difficult conversations when they arise.

Contact us today to discuss your HR support needs. [email protected] 📩

Are you sick of bits of paper flying around (or going missing…) in the office when it comes to your ‘people system’?

But you, the business owner, just don’t have the time to set up the online system you need?

Breathe HR is a cloud-based people management system that means bits of paper going missing in the office can be a thing of the past.

Keep track of annual leave, new starters and leavers, statutory training requirements, and more, all in a cost-effective, easy-to-use system.

As a Breathe partner, I offer setup and maintenance options to business owners - freeing up your time to focus on the things that only you can do.

Get in touch for a free trial [email protected] 📨

"Can we have a quick chat?"

Hello anxiety 😥

If you want to support your employees, try this instead:

🙌Provide context: why do you want to chat?
👏🏻Give reassurance e.g. 'Don't worry, it’s about the project or how I can support you
😊Offer to answer questions in advance
🤔Share information beforehand, to give employees the chance to prepare.

Anything you would add?

💫Sometimes we don't shout about our own achievements, but I'm doing exactly that today, thanks to my amazing clients for the nomination 😚❤️

📣Legislation that will give employees better access to flexible working has now completed its way through parliament and awaits Royal Assent.

The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 enables employees to make two flexible working requests in any 12-month period, and requires employers to respond to requests within two months of receiving them.

🗣️Let’s talk
For advice on flexible working, contact me today
HR & Co.

Life is all about balance ⚖️
Being a small business owner I often forget to take a break, but this week I took a few days off at I also managed to catch up on some of emails and some exciting client calls ❤️

⭐️Celebrating success 🥂

Last week was a whirlwind of productivity and achievement, new clients and an amazing new project, that I am so excited about!

❤️ Remember, it's essential to celebrate our wins, big or small

"Success is not just about reaching the destination; it's about appreciating the journey and celebrating every milestone along the way”

Today, I was asked for the best career advice, my answer…….

💙Do what you love!

👍Pursue your passion and align it with your skills and values.

❤️Find a career that makes you happy!

⭐️A successful career is not just about financial rewards or job titles, It's about finding a path that you enjoy, makes your happy, allows you to make a positive impact, and aligns with your values.

➡️What would your top career advice be?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Happy clients are the best clients 😊

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“It’s been a tough few months….

I thought I would explain my little break from social media. The last few months haven’t been easy—some big challenges in my personal life and being super busy at HR & Co., supporting some amazing clients on exciting HR projects.

What have I learned about this challenging time?

❤️The importance of having a great support network.
Surrounding yourself with other business owners who support and inspire you is crucial. Being a business owner can be lonely, but having a great support network can make a world of difference!

❤️Self-care is a priority!
As a business owner, the struggle can be real, and your well-being has to come first. Take a holiday—you deserve and need it 😌”

Tag a fellow business owner who has been instrumental in your entrepreneurial journey and let them know how much you appreciate their support! 👥

🌟 Mental Health Awareness Week 🌟

❤️‍🩹Let's break the stigma and start talking about mental health

DM us for a free guide on supporting mental health at work 😊

🌷Hello May

❤️I love a new month, a fresh new page, new adventures and exciting goals

⭐️I had the busiest ever month in April with 3 amazing new client and a super exciting new project!

🤩May is already looking busy and I can’t wait to get the month in full swing!

💕I hope MAY is amazing for you! thanks for keeping me so busy!

Gemma 😊

📰 The headlines regarding Dominic Raab have brought workplace bullying into the spotlight.

As a business owner or manager, you should do all you can to try to prevent and stop bullying, harassment, discrimination and victimisation at work and ensure any complaints are handled following the correct process.

➡ If you want to find out how you can prevent bullying in your workplace, train your team or you need urgent support to investigate a bullying allegation, HR & Co. can help, contact us today!

📧 [email protected]
📞 077 04 515 167

🙋‍♀️ Business owners, do you know the number one reason why you should embrace flexible working?

👀 If you don’t your super star employee will find somewhere that does!

Flexible working isn't for every role or business, could it work for your business? have you already implemented it in the pandemic and will it stay? 💁‍♀️

👉 Here are some more benefits for embracing flexible working;

💫 Boost employee productivity

Not everyone works their best in the office and 9am to 5pm, for some it 6am or 7pm, some from home, some from the office.

Businesses can get the best from their employees by giving them this flexibility.
A recent study suggests 89% of workers said that flexible working motivates them to be more productive.

🤹‍♀️ Improve work-life balance

We are all juggling this thing called life and work.

Giving employees flexibility to choose starting times, helps with finding a better work / life balance and employees will be less distracted at work.

🏆 Attract the best talent

Sure salary, benefits, culture, environment, the work, the managers are important when looking for a new job, but now more than ever flexible working is a top reason why people are applying for a job!

A recent study found that 92% of millennials prefer flexible working.

🤒 Reduce staff absence

Staff who have a good work / life balance, tend to feel less stressed at work and take fewer sick days.

😃 Happier employees

Flexible working means happier employees, happier employees are more likely to stay in a role and are more productive.

🙋‍♀️ Did you know that 40% of all work-related sickness in the UK are due to stress? 

Let's face it, most of us at some point in our working life have been under stress at work, this could be down to long working hours, tight deadlines, heavy workload, workplace conflict, poor workplace culture........most of the time we can manage this stress before we get seriously ill and have to take time of work (or leave, but that's another post!)

This April is Stress Awareness Month, it's a great opportunity for employers to consider how they can support their employees’ wellbeing by identifying and reducing the cause of stress and supporting employees to manage stress.
 
Here are some simple tips businesses can do to support their employees, I would love to hear your suggestions to add to the list!  
 
🌟 Introduce Mental Health First Aiders in the workplace or outsource to someone like me! 💁‍♀️
🌟 Encourage open communication, promote regular communication with your employees  
🌟Train your employees and managers on stress awareness, so they can identify and prevent stress at work  
🌟 Implement or promote if you have one, an Employee Assistance Programme, providing employees with help and advice on a range of matters.
🌟 Ensure Managers are trained in to be superstar people managers! 
🌟Ensure employees have clear job descriptions and have regular 121 so they know what is expected of them and can raise any concerns early on.
🌟 Promote healthy lifestyle changes, exercise classes, health snacks or gym memberships   
🌟 Ensure employees have regular breaks, can take holidays and have manageable work loads  
🌟 Explore mediation at an early stage if you have employee conflict 
🌟 Consider team building activities to improve and develop team dynamics.
 
I hope these simple tips help, if you need any further help or advice on stress in the workplace, contact me today!
 
 

📣 we have a new website!

Let us know what you think ☺️⭐️

I hope everyone had the best bank holiday break? 🐣

I had the best mini break to Dubai, wow what a place ☀️🐪🇦🇪

Im refreshed and ready for a busy and exciting few weeks at HR & Co With some super exciting new project 💫

Where’s your favourite place to visit? ☀️💫

Thanks to the lovely Ben Geoghegan for inviting me to talk on his Podcast: A Better HR Business!

My first ever Podcast, please do have a listen! 😀

https://www.podbean.com/ep/pb-ibmk2-13bafae