Blogs
How should I manage employees during late World Cup fixtures?
The 2026 World Cup presents a unique challenge for UK employers, with fixtures taking place at night and into the early hours. From requests for flexibility to handling last-minute holiday requests, this blog explores how employers can strike the right balance between morale and productivity.
Why HR admin and record keeping matters more than ever
HR admin and record keeping are essential for compliance and smooth business operations. In this blog, we explore why accurate records matter and how employers can manage HR more effectively.
The Fair Work Agency: What employers need to know
Learn what the new Fair Work Agency means for UK employers. Understand enforcement powers and the practical you can take to stay compliant.
Right to Work requirements now include workers & contractors – what action do you need to take?
New requirements for immigration checks (Right To Work) for businesses. Well…this snuck in quietly while we were all focussing on the Employment Rights Act! New immigration legislation changes how businesses manage Right To Work (RTW) checks in the UK. The Border...
Managing staff sickness absence in the workplace
Staff sickness absence can disrupt productivity and increase costs for employers. In this blog, we explore how businesses can manage sickness absence effectively and the policies that help reduce disruption.
Parental and Family Rights Changes in 2026
New parental and family rights introduced in 2026 mean employees can access more leave from day one of employment. In this blog, we explain what has changed, what it means for employers, and how to stay compliant.
vivoHR named finalist in the British HR Awards 2026
vivoHR has been named a finalist in the British HR Awards 2026, recognising our commitment to helping organisations build thriving, people-focused workplaces. With a record number of entries this year, we’re incredibly proud to be shortlisted alongside so many outstanding organisations shaping the future of work.
Employment record keeping is no longer a folder in a filing cabinet
The Fair Work Agency (FWA) comes to life 7 April 2026. A government body that will have the power to enforce employment rights including statutory pay and leave. How you manage your employment record keeping is going to be your greatest protection against any concerns...
Dealing with Chronically Late Employees – Breaking the cycle of lateness without alienating staff.
There is always one. The mysteriously delayed train. The Monday traffic that appears out of nowhere. Five minutes late might not sound like much, but repeated lateness can quickly frustrate teams. Here’s how employers can address it without becoming the office time police.
Statutory Sick Pay Is Changing: What the Employment Rights Act Means for Employers (And Why It’s Not All Doom and Gloom)
Statutory Sick Pay is set for significant reform under the Employment Rights Act. From April 2026, eligibility will expand, waiting days will disappear and SSP will be paid from day one. Here’s what employers need to know and prepare for.
Statutory and Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA25) Update
2026 is going to be a BIG year of changes for employment law, along with the usual annual April updates the Employment Rights Act (ERA25) is bringing in a lot of new rules and requirements to get our heads around so here’s what we know at the moment all in one place....
The Pitfalls of Having Staff Working Overseas
Remote working has flung open the doors to flexibility, including staff requests for working overseas. Letting staff work overseas when they have decided to relocate, while they go travelling around the world or when on an extended ‘holiday’ will open a whole can of...
The Employment Rights Bill has been passed
The Employment Rights Bill has passed. Take a breath – we’ve got this. After months (and months… and then some more months) of back-and-forth between the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) has finally made it through Parliament....
Santa’s Workshop Needs More Than Christmas Magic – HR at Christmas
From an HR perspective, Santa’s workshop would be a proper headache. So we thought we’d have a bit of festive fun and imagine what Santa’s HR at Christmas challenges might look like – and what any sensible employer (magical or otherwise) should be thinking about at...
Sick Days, Sniffles and Staying Home: A Sensible Employer’s Guide to Managing Sickness Absence
Let’s talk about something that makes every employer wince – the sound of a colleague heroically struggling through a meeting whilst clearly ‘dying’ from the lurgy. Yes, that’s them, coughing into a sleeve, tissues piling up, insisting with a croaky voice that they’re...
Are you meeting your legal duty to prevent sexual harassment at work?
UK employers now have a legal duty to proactively prevent sexual harassment at work. This blog explains what the new law requires and the steps you must take to comply.
Expelliarmus! What Would HR Do? (Harry Potter Magic Edition)
Let’s be honest, Hogwarts would have given any HR professional heart palpitations. Between dodgy hiring decisions, questionable health and safety practices, and dismissals that definitely wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny, the wizarding world’s most famous school was...
Don’t Let The End Of The Holiday Year Become A Holiday Headache
As the end of the calendar year drawers closer, many businesses are also approaching the end of the holiday year. If you’ve been keeping a close eye on annual leave throughout the year, you should have some idea of how much time off your employees have taken, and...
Back-to-School Season: How Autumn Affects Your Workplace Strategy
The school bells are ringing, the uniforms are ironed, the sports kit has been located and parents everywhere are breathing a collective sigh of relief as their little darlings (or little horrors?) are safely back in the classroom. But as children are settling back...
Munch Bunch Mayhem – Navigating the Minefield of Food at Work and Office Eating Etiquette
Let’s be honest – office kitchens can be absolute war zones. From mysterious cheese lurking in the fridge since who-knows-when to the colleague who microwaves fish curry at 9am, food at work and eating in the workplace can test even the most patient team members. As...
Why No One is Reading Your Employee Handbook … and How to Fix It
Are your policies even being read? Often company documents and employee handbooks get forgotten about, ignored or don’t even get read in the first place … but they really should be! They are full of essential information for your team, especially policies which, if...
Cultivating a Green Office Culture: HR’s Toolkit for a Sustainable Workplace
We’d all like to have a more sustainable workplace but, as business owners, it can feel overwhelming looking at the big picture. Sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start. In this blog we will discuss some simple ways to begin building a more sustainable...
The Apprenticeship Advantage: Get Ahead of the Competition
Are you thinking of taking on an apprentice? Small-to-medium-sized businesses, not just large firms, can access and benefit from this (often overlooked) resource of an apprenticeship. Sometimes, businesses are put off from hiring an apprentice because they are:...
BRB: The Art of Crafting the Perfect Out-of-Office Reply
An automated email out-of-office reply when you are away from your email is essential to manage your inbox and you customer expectations.
A week in the life of a fractional HR director
Ever wondered what it’s really like to work with a Fractional HR Director? Take a peek into one of Rebecca Allen’s weeks to see how we help businesses navigate people challenges and lead with confidence
The Great Race Against the Office Clock: Dealing with Lateness in the Workplace
Let’s talk about lateness – before you miss your next meeting!! One-off Incidents vs. Habitual Lateness First things first, what do we mean by lateness? One-offs We can all find ourselves in situations which are out of our control such as medical emergencies, traffic...
What would HR do? The HR Files: Real Workplace Lessons from Fictional Worlds
What’s your favourite workplace sitcom? Or do you prefer a drama? How about a blockbuster epic? Do you ever find yourself asking 'what would HR do?' No? Really? Just us then. We all love to get away from the stress of real life by diving into a brilliant TV show or...
What Does AI In The Workplace Mean for You and Your Business
Does it feel like everyone is talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and about using AI in the workplace? Some industries have already adopted AI technology, others are slower to accept it. Some business owners are excited about embracing it, others are ignoring...
The Secret Weapon of Successful Companies: Solid HR Policies
Let’s be real … HR policies and procedures don’t exactly scream “superpower”. They sound like dusty binders, HR jargon and red tape. But here’s the truth: when they’re done right, they’re not just helpful, they are game-changing. Clear, fair and...
The Employee Lifecycle: From First Day to Farewell
The Employee Lifecycle is much more than just hiring and hoping for the best – it’s a strategic process that, done right, creates a workplace where people actually want to stay (and thrive)! From recruitment to onboarding, development and even the not-so-fun parts...
April 2025 Employment Updates
April is always a month of change for employment law and employment updates. We know that over the next 18 months there will be a lot to keep up with but what is happening right now? Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 From 6 April 2025 there will be a new...
A Workspace That Works: Balancing Individuality and Respect in Office Spaces
Your workspace is more than just desks and chairs – it’s a reflection of your company culture. The way your workspace is designed and maintained can influence employee morale, productivity and how your business is perceived by visitors. A well-thought-out workspace...
Streamline Your Recruitment Process
Recruiting the right talent isn’t just about placing ads and conducting interviews – it’s a process that starts with creating a clear job advert and extends all the way to onboarding. A streamlined recruitment process not only helps fill positions faster but also...
Creating Joy at Work: Fun Holidays From Doughnuts to Diwali
As you know if you follow our social media, here at vivoHR we’re all for celebrating ‘fun holidays’ (May the 4th be with you … and the like) and they can be a fantastic way to bring a team together and add some joy to the workplace. However, beyond the light-hearted...
Stop Burnout Before It Starts: Preventing Excessive Stress for a Happier and More Productive Team
Burnout is more than just stress — it’s a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive pressure. Short-term stress can sometimes be a motivator but, long-term, unrelenting stress can lead individuals to feel overwhelmed,...
How SMART Goals Create Real Change in the Workplace
SMART goals can be extremely helpful in fostering that sense of ‘the bigger picture’ and connecting an individual’s purpose with the shared vision. Have you heard about the time John F. Kennedy visited NASA and spoke to a man who was carrying a broom down the hallway?...
Looking ahead in 2025 – How to Drive Success in your Workplace
Did you know that January is named after the Roman god ‘Janus’, the god of beginnings and endings? He is also the god of doors, depicted with two faces, one looking backwards and the other looking forwards. As we step into 2025, the start of the new year is the...
Funny excuses for not going to work – Absences and how to manage them
It’s cold and dark, you wake up in the morning, look at the clock, and realize it’s one of those days when you just can’t make it to work. We’re not talking about the genuine reasons here, we’re sharing some of the more inventive reasons for work absences and how to...
How to Manage the Christmas Workplace Naughty List
If we say, “Christmas Workplace Naughty List,” most managers (and everyone who works in HR!) will have some vivid recollections that spring to mind. At vivoHR, we’ve dealt with a LOT of festive faux pas! Here are just a few memorable examples: A Director...
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas …
Christmas is nearly here!!! Are you excited? We are at vivoHR! But … we also know that running a business during the holiday season can be stressful and really suck the joy out of the festivities. Bah humbug! So, we thought we would be good Christmas elves and share...
What do you need to do to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace?
The news recently has publicly highlighted a case of sexual harassment in the workplace with the horrifying revelations of Mohamed Al Fayed’s sexual harassment and abuse of employees. As the investigation continues, many women have waived their right to anonymity to...
Supporting Men’s Mental Health in the Workplace
… I’m embarrassed. … I don’t want to seem weak. … I just need to ‘man up’. … My team will lose faith in me. According to recent statistics, 46% of men would be embarrassed or ashamed to tell their employer if they needed time off because of their mental health....
Social Media
vivoHR named finalist in the British HR Awards 2026
vivoHR has been named a finalist in the British HR Awards 2026, recognising our commitment to helping organisations build thriving, people-focused workplaces. With a record number of entries this year, we’re incredibly proud to be shortlisted alongside so many outstanding organisations shaping the future of work.
Dealing with Chronically Late Employees – Breaking the cycle of lateness without alienating staff.
There is always one. The mysteriously delayed train. The Monday traffic that appears out of nowhere. Five minutes late might not sound like much, but repeated lateness can quickly frustrate teams. Here’s how employers can address it without becoming the office time police.
Statutory and Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA25) Update
2026 is going to be a BIG year of changes for employment law, along with the usual annual April updates the Employment Rights Act (ERA25) is bringing in a lot of new rules and requirements to get our heads around so here’s what we know at the moment all in one place....
Santa’s Workshop Needs More Than Christmas Magic – HR at Christmas
From an HR perspective, Santa’s workshop would be a proper headache. So we thought we’d have a bit of festive fun and imagine what Santa’s HR at Christmas challenges might look like – and what any sensible employer (magical or otherwise) should be thinking about at...
Expelliarmus! What Would HR Do? (Harry Potter Magic Edition)
Let’s be honest, Hogwarts would have given any HR professional heart palpitations. Between dodgy hiring decisions, questionable health and safety practices, and dismissals that definitely wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny, the wizarding world’s most famous school was...
Back-to-School Season: How Autumn Affects Your Workplace Strategy
The school bells are ringing, the uniforms are ironed, the sports kit has been located and parents everywhere are breathing a collective sigh of relief as their little darlings (or little horrors?) are safely back in the classroom. But as children are settling back...
Cultivating a Green Office Culture: HR’s Toolkit for a Sustainable Workplace
We’d all like to have a more sustainable workplace but, as business owners, it can feel overwhelming looking at the big picture. Sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start. In this blog we will discuss some simple ways to begin building a more sustainable...
A week in the life of a fractional HR director
Ever wondered what it’s really like to work with a Fractional HR Director? Take a peek into one of Rebecca Allen’s weeks to see how we help businesses navigate people challenges and lead with confidence
What would HR do? The HR Files: Real Workplace Lessons from Fictional Worlds
What’s your favourite workplace sitcom? Or do you prefer a drama? How about a blockbuster epic? Do you ever find yourself asking 'what would HR do?' No? Really? Just us then. We all love to get away from the stress of real life by diving into a brilliant TV show or...
What Does AI In The Workplace Mean for You and Your Business
Does it feel like everyone is talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and about using AI in the workplace? Some industries have already adopted AI technology, others are slower to accept it. Some business owners are excited about embracing it, others are ignoring...
The Secret Weapon of Successful Companies: Solid HR Policies
Let’s be real … HR policies and procedures don’t exactly scream “superpower”. They sound like dusty binders, HR jargon and red tape. But here’s the truth: when they’re done right, they’re not just helpful, they are game-changing. Clear, fair and...
A Workspace That Works: Balancing Individuality and Respect in Office Spaces
Your workspace is more than just desks and chairs – it’s a reflection of your company culture. The way your workspace is designed and maintained can influence employee morale, productivity and how your business is perceived by visitors. A well-thought-out workspace...
Streamline Your Recruitment Process
Recruiting the right talent isn’t just about placing ads and conducting interviews – it’s a process that starts with creating a clear job advert and extends all the way to onboarding. A streamlined recruitment process not only helps fill positions faster but also...
Stop Burnout Before It Starts: Preventing Excessive Stress for a Happier and More Productive Team
Burnout is more than just stress — it’s a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive pressure. Short-term stress can sometimes be a motivator but, long-term, unrelenting stress can lead individuals to feel overwhelmed,...
Looking ahead in 2025 – How to Drive Success in your Workplace
Did you know that January is named after the Roman god ‘Janus’, the god of beginnings and endings? He is also the god of doors, depicted with two faces, one looking backwards and the other looking forwards. As we step into 2025, the start of the new year is the...
How to Manage the Christmas Workplace Naughty List
If we say, “Christmas Workplace Naughty List,” most managers (and everyone who works in HR!) will have some vivid recollections that spring to mind. At vivoHR, we’ve dealt with a LOT of festive faux pas! Here are just a few memorable examples: A Director...
Supporting Men’s Mental Health in the Workplace
… I’m embarrassed. … I don’t want to seem weak. … I just need to ‘man up’. … My team will lose faith in me. According to recent statistics, 46% of men would be embarrassed or ashamed to tell their employer if they needed time off because of their mental health....
Employee Retention – How to Build a Workplace that Retains Talent
In any business employee retention is crucial. Some staff turnover is expected – people retire, move away, personal circumstances change, or they may be looking to progress into a role that you just don’t have available. That’s okay! Turnover can even be helpful when...
Navigating Recruitment and Background Checks
Recruitment and background checks go hand in hand for many employers although background checks can be conducted at any time if necessary. Background checks are used to confirm someone’s validity, honesty and ability to do the job. Different industries, businesses and...
Why Inclusion is the Key to Happy Employees and a Thriving Business
The words inclusion and inclusivity are used a lot in relation to the workplace, and often seem to be rather interchangeable, or linked with other words such as diversity and equality. Let’s break down what these words really mean and why inclusion – or inclusivity –...
How to keep your staff happy during the summer of sport
So begins a summer of sport! The Euros are upon us! Football fans will be over the moon, non-fans less than impressed with what seems like hundreds of matches on TV over the next few weeks. And even if you aren’t a football fan there’s plenty more choice during the...
How Good Employee Benefits Drive Loyalty
Strategic employee benefits can significantly impact team satisfaction, engagement, loyalty and retention ... and have a positive effect on the standard of their work and effort. In today’s competitive job market, employers need to differentiate themselves...
Company Culture and Values v Policies
Are your company culture and values at odds with your policies? Do your employees even know what your company culture and values are? Value-driven policies are the best way to build a culture where both your people and the business thrive. Let’s start with a few key...
A Balancing Act – Mastering the Art of Remote and Hybrid Working
Over these last few years, remote and hybrid working has become the new normal. But it’s not as simple as it might sound. For employers, there are lots of considerations. At vivoHR we know how hard it is to keep all the plates spinning when taking care of your staff...
Back to the Future: Returning to the Office After Working from Home
When the pandemic began, most UK employees had to start working from home. But, since the world has gradually been returning to normal. In many organisations, a returning to the office movement has been taking place. Whilst many have enjoyed the working from home...
How Do You Know If An HR Consultant Is Right For You?
Think back to when you decided to start your own business, we’re guessing HR wasn’t one of the areas that you gave much thought to. Unless that is of course you were an HR Consultant starting an HR business! Your businesses is constantly evolving, growing, moving in...
Sickness Rates Soaring- Is Your Business Ready For It?
Have you noticed that a lot more of your staff seem to be off sick recently? It might be the odd day here and there for coughs and colds, or maybe you’re seeing more people off for longer chunks of time than you usually do. If so, you’re not the only one. Yes,...
Declaring custodial convictions
The legally required period for declaring custodial convictions by individuals to their employer has changed. New legislation (Section 193 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022) came into force on 28 October 2023 which means that criminal convictions...
Is a 4-day working week coming ever closer?
61 companies recently trialled a 4-day working week and, in a report, published this week the results seem to speak for themselves. 92%, that’s 56 business who took part in the trial have decided to continue with a 4-day working week with some making it a permanent...
Do you have part-year workers or term-time only workers – important news!
The Supreme Court has ruled that a part-year worker should not receive pro-rata holiday based on the number of weeks they work in a year and instead should receive the full statutory 5.6 weeks annual leave in any given year based on their working patterns the same as...
Rail, road and air problems will cause staff shortages due to travel chaos this summer.
Delayed or cancelled flights, the biggest rail strike in decades and the cost of fuel is a headache that we could all do without but are likely to affect most of us over the coming months so what will you be doing to manage the uncertainty of staff shortages due to...
Will you be working from home again
I’m sure you all saw that the government has announced we are going to ‘Plan B’ in Covid measures in a bid to slow the spread of the new Omicron variant, which includes working from home again, so forgive us if we are repeating stuff you know but we of course wanted...
Employee Travel Plans in 2021
We’re sure you were glued to the news last week waiting to know what will and won’t be allowed for our summer holidays this year so we’ve pulled together just a couple of useful resources for you with things you should be aware of when it comes to your employee travel...
Out of Office messages are getting a makeover
Have you noticed a change in the out of office messages you receive? Gone are robotic justifications of why you cannot reply immediately to an email, with an offering of a number of alternative contact numbers and email addresses so that actually you ARE constantly...
Getting right to work checks right
Right to work checks will have to be in person again as of 17 May 2021. Of the many things that have changed the way we work in thelast year some are starting to return to the pre Covid way of doing things andright to work checks are one such task. In the remote world...
Do small businesses really need HR support?
One thing the events of 2020 have shown us is that the answer to ‘do small businesses really need HR support?’ is ‘Yes, they absolutely do!’ Probably not in house and not full time but definitely a presence, maybe in the shape of, hmmmm, I don’t know, someone like us,...
Are you missing your daily commute?
One of the good things to come out of lockdown for those of us that do still a daily commute to work is that it seems to be a lot quieter out there, which helps reduce the time we spend on the road. But what about those of us who are now working remotely? Without the...
New Covid Job Support Scheme from 1 November
We are sure you will have seen the news today about the new Covid Job Support Scheme that will come into effect on 1 November. There is as yet no Govt Guidance on the Gov.uk covid webpages but we have received a copy of the factsheet and it sets out the details we...
Are you over communicating?
Over communicating, you can have too much of a good thing! Can you remember a time before endless video calls? Ahhhhhh the heady days of February 2020! Family quizzes, pub quizzes, kitchen parties and virtual music festivals in the garden were the things that got me...
Test and Trace in the workplace, guidance for employers
As more employees start to return to the workplace we thought the following track and trace guidance may be useful: This link gives you guidance on Test & Trace in theworkplace: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-workplace-guidance There is guidance at...
Horrible bosses or lacking in leadership skills?
We all have stories about our own experiences with horrible bosses, but what is it that makes them bad leaders? Horrible bosses aren’t horrible people, most of the time, they just lack certain skills themselves. BambooHR asked 1,000 UK-based employees what traits...
Is redundancy the only way?
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has helped many businesses since March but we now know that it will be coming to an end in October and unfortunately that means that we are starting to talk about redundancy more often as business are starting to think about what...
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Investing in People: How vivoHR and Fortune Law are Building a Culture of Growth and Excellence
Investing in People: How vivoHR and Fortune Law are Building a Culture of Growth and Excellence At vivoHR, we believe that great businesses are built by great people- and that sustainable growth comes from investing in those people at every stage. That’s exactly why...
KBO Fire & Security
vivoHR and KBO Fire and Security Ltd have a relationship which has lasted for over a decade. What started as the need to have a little help with one issue over the years has grown into a trusted long-term partnership. vivoHR are part of the furniture, KBO’s go-to for...
Santa’s Workshop Needs More Than Christmas Magic – HR at Christmas
From an HR perspective, Santa’s workshop would be a proper headache. So we thought we’d have a bit of festive fun and imagine what Santa’s HR at Christmas challenges might look like – and what any sensible employer (magical or otherwise) should be thinking about at...
Munch Bunch Mayhem – Navigating the Minefield of Food at Work and Office Eating Etiquette
Let’s be honest – office kitchens can be absolute war zones. From mysterious cheese lurking in the fridge since who-knows-when to the colleague who microwaves fish curry at 9am, food at work and eating in the workplace can test even the most patient team members. As...
Conducting a fair employee investigation
An employee investigation is the first step you take when addressing concerns that have been raised. They may be raised by a colleague in a grievance situation, or the business where there could be a potential disciplinary. Employee investigations must be carried out...
Workplace Conflict Management Skills
As we start to get used to life after lockdown and our restrictions being lifted including being encouraged to return to the workplace, we are seeing an increase in workplace conflict. It’s understandable given what we’ve been through that tensions are fraught and...
Conflict Resolution
Disagreements happen between people all the time in everyday life but recently we have noticed an upturn in the amount of businesses that are dealing with workplace conflicts between employees and having to hone their conflict resolution skills. It’s understandable...
Grievance and complaints managment made easy
Have you ever had an employee raise a grievance or complaint? It can be very overwhelming for managers who don't know how deal with these types of situations. The ideal situation and the way to get the very best from your employees is of course to have a happy,...
Munch Bunch Mayhem – Navigating the Minefield of Food at Work and Office Eating Etiquette
Let’s be honest – office kitchens can be absolute war zones. From mysterious cheese lurking in the fridge since who-knows-when to the colleague who microwaves fish curry at 9am, food at work and eating in the workplace can test even the most patient team members. As...
Why No One is Reading Your Employee Handbook … and How to Fix It
Are your policies even being read? Often company documents and employee handbooks get forgotten about, ignored or don’t even get read in the first place … but they really should be! They are full of essential information for your team, especially policies which, if...
Cultivating a Green Office Culture: HR’s Toolkit for a Sustainable Workplace
We’d all like to have a more sustainable workplace but, as business owners, it can feel overwhelming looking at the big picture. Sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start. In this blog we will discuss some simple ways to begin building a more sustainable...
A Workspace That Works: Balancing Individuality and Respect in Office Spaces
Your workspace is more than just desks and chairs – it’s a reflection of your company culture. The way your workspace is designed and maintained can influence employee morale, productivity and how your business is perceived by visitors. A well-thought-out workspace...
Creating Joy at Work: Fun Holidays From Doughnuts to Diwali
As you know if you follow our social media, here at vivoHR we’re all for celebrating ‘fun holidays’ (May the 4th be with you … and the like) and they can be a fantastic way to bring a team together and add some joy to the workplace. However, beyond the light-hearted...
Supporting Men’s Mental Health in the Workplace
… I’m embarrassed. … I don’t want to seem weak. … I just need to ‘man up’. … My team will lose faith in me. According to recent statistics, 46% of men would be embarrassed or ashamed to tell their employer if they needed time off because of their mental health....
Employee Retention – How to Build a Workplace that Retains Talent
In any business employee retention is crucial. Some staff turnover is expected – people retire, move away, personal circumstances change, or they may be looking to progress into a role that you just don’t have available. That’s okay! Turnover can even be helpful when...
How to Spot and Address a Toxic Workplace Culture – and Prevent it Polluting your Workplace
Toxic workplace cultures have been experienced by 75% of UK employees a recent study has found. That’s a disappointingly high number of people who have struggled at work. So how do we change it? In this blog, we’ll explore how to identify the warning signs of a toxic...
Empowering Neurodiverse Teams
You have probably heard the terms neurodiversity and neurodiverse being used more frequently over recent years. But do you really know what they mean and why understanding them is important for your business? In this blog we run through the basics of understanding...
How to keep your staff happy during the summer of sport
So begins a summer of sport! The Euros are upon us! Football fans will be over the moon, non-fans less than impressed with what seems like hundreds of matches on TV over the next few weeks. And even if you aren’t a football fan there’s plenty more choice during the...
Engagement and Job Satisfaction
Putting the focus on retaining your team with engagement and job satisfaction. Gallup’s 2023 State of the Global Workplace Report found that the majority of the world’s employees are “quiet quitting”, meaning that they are slowly disengaging from...
Company Culture and Values v Policies
Are your company culture and values at odds with your policies? Do your employees even know what your company culture and values are? Value-driven policies are the best way to build a culture where both your people and the business thrive. Let’s start with a few key...
Ramadan 2022
You may not be aware that, Ramadan this year began on 2nd April and ends on 1st May. Those who honor of the holy month, lasting 30 days, will be fasting and taking part in religious practices. Muslims who take part in Ramadan will fast from sunrise to sunset every...
Creating a Positive Organisation
Creating a Positive Organisation These articles by Professor Robert Quinn are well worth read. The concept of taking the function of HR away from "sticking bandages on old wounds" into working with the Senior Leadership Team to create positive, innovative and...
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The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
What do you need to do to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace?
The news recently has publicly highlighted a case of sexual harassment in the workplace with the horrifying revelations of Mohamed Al Fayed’s sexual harassment and abuse of employees. As the investigation continues, many women have waived their right to anonymity to...
Supporting Men’s Mental Health in the Workplace
… I’m embarrassed. … I don’t want to seem weak. … I just need to ‘man up’. … My team will lose faith in me. According to recent statistics, 46% of men would be embarrassed or ashamed to tell their employer if they needed time off because of their mental health....
How to Address Workplace Bullying and Harassment
Workplace bullying or harassment is extremely serious and needs to be treated so by employers, who have a duty of care to provide a safe and stress-free workplace. No one wants their staff to be treated badly at work. So how do you stop this happening? Let’s start...
Why Inclusion is the Key to Happy Employees and a Thriving Business
The words inclusion and inclusivity are used a lot in relation to the workplace, and often seem to be rather interchangeable, or linked with other words such as diversity and equality. Let’s break down what these words really mean and why inclusion – or inclusivity –...
Empowering Neurodiverse Teams
You have probably heard the terms neurodiversity and neurodiverse being used more frequently over recent years. But do you really know what they mean and why understanding them is important for your business? In this blog we run through the basics of understanding...
Workplace harassment in the hospitality sector
Workplace harrassment can happen in any role but workplace harassment in the hospitality sector is 86% more likely than in any other industry. A new report from NAVEX Global divulge some worrying statistics. It states that 1 in 2 female HR directors think that their...
Receptionist sent home from work for not wearing high heels!
Receptionist sent home from work for not wearing high heels! Really?! What decade are we living in?! It is perfectly reasonable and lawful to set a dress code on your place of work, and in fact it is reasonable (and not discriminatory) to have different requirements...
Equal Pay for Equal Work
Equal Pay for equal work! You may have seen on the news this weekend that Asda are facing mass legal action by women who work in their stores. Over 1000 women so far have lodged claims with apparently a further potential 19,000 enquiries being dealt with by the legal...
Four Important Religion & Belief Cases that Impact on Employment
This week sees the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) give a verdict on four religious belief cases; one of which was the now widely known case of Ms Eweida being forbidden to visibly wear a crucifix at work by British Airways. The four cases were considered...
The Pitfalls of Having Staff Working Overseas
Remote working has flung open the doors to flexibility, including staff requests for working overseas. Letting staff work overseas when they have decided to relocate, while they go travelling around the world or when on an extended ‘holiday’ will open a whole can of...
Santa’s Workshop Needs More Than Christmas Magic – HR at Christmas
From an HR perspective, Santa’s workshop would be a proper headache. So we thought we’d have a bit of festive fun and imagine what Santa’s HR at Christmas challenges might look like – and what any sensible employer (magical or otherwise) should be thinking about at...
Sick Days, Sniffles and Staying Home: A Sensible Employer’s Guide to Managing Sickness Absence
Let’s talk about something that makes every employer wince – the sound of a colleague heroically struggling through a meeting whilst clearly ‘dying’ from the lurgy. Yes, that’s them, coughing into a sleeve, tissues piling up, insisting with a croaky voice that they’re...
Back-to-School Season: How Autumn Affects Your Workplace Strategy
The school bells are ringing, the uniforms are ironed, the sports kit has been located and parents everywhere are breathing a collective sigh of relief as their little darlings (or little horrors?) are safely back in the classroom. But as children are settling back...
Munch Bunch Mayhem – Navigating the Minefield of Food at Work and Office Eating Etiquette
Let’s be honest – office kitchens can be absolute war zones. From mysterious cheese lurking in the fridge since who-knows-when to the colleague who microwaves fish curry at 9am, food at work and eating in the workplace can test even the most patient team members. As...
Why No One is Reading Your Employee Handbook … and How to Fix It
Are your policies even being read? Often company documents and employee handbooks get forgotten about, ignored or don’t even get read in the first place … but they really should be! They are full of essential information for your team, especially policies which, if...
Cultivating a Green Office Culture: HR’s Toolkit for a Sustainable Workplace
We’d all like to have a more sustainable workplace but, as business owners, it can feel overwhelming looking at the big picture. Sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start. In this blog we will discuss some simple ways to begin building a more sustainable...
The Employee Lifecycle: From First Day to Farewell
The Employee Lifecycle is much more than just hiring and hoping for the best – it’s a strategic process that, done right, creates a workplace where people actually want to stay (and thrive)! From recruitment to onboarding, development and even the not-so-fun parts...
A Workspace That Works: Balancing Individuality and Respect in Office Spaces
Your workspace is more than just desks and chairs – it’s a reflection of your company culture. The way your workspace is designed and maintained can influence employee morale, productivity and how your business is perceived by visitors. A well-thought-out workspace...
Streamline Your Recruitment Process
Recruiting the right talent isn’t just about placing ads and conducting interviews – it’s a process that starts with creating a clear job advert and extends all the way to onboarding. A streamlined recruitment process not only helps fill positions faster but also...
Creating Joy at Work: Fun Holidays From Doughnuts to Diwali
As you know if you follow our social media, here at vivoHR we’re all for celebrating ‘fun holidays’ (May the 4th be with you … and the like) and they can be a fantastic way to bring a team together and add some joy to the workplace. However, beyond the light-hearted...
Stop Burnout Before It Starts: Preventing Excessive Stress for a Happier and More Productive Team
Burnout is more than just stress — it’s a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive pressure. Short-term stress can sometimes be a motivator but, long-term, unrelenting stress can lead individuals to feel overwhelmed,...
How SMART Goals Create Real Change in the Workplace
SMART goals can be extremely helpful in fostering that sense of ‘the bigger picture’ and connecting an individual’s purpose with the shared vision. Have you heard about the time John F. Kennedy visited NASA and spoke to a man who was carrying a broom down the hallway?...
Employee Retention – How to Build a Workplace that Retains Talent
In any business employee retention is crucial. Some staff turnover is expected – people retire, move away, personal circumstances change, or they may be looking to progress into a role that you just don’t have available. That’s okay! Turnover can even be helpful when...
How to Address Workplace Bullying and Harassment
Workplace bullying or harassment is extremely serious and needs to be treated so by employers, who have a duty of care to provide a safe and stress-free workplace. No one wants their staff to be treated badly at work. So how do you stop this happening? Let’s start...
Induction and onboarding
A good induction and onboarding process will be key to integrating new starters with your business and setting them up to succeed. The aim of both is to lay the foundation of a strong relationship between the employee and the organisation, but the two things do serve...
How to keep your staff happy during the summer of sport
So begins a summer of sport! The Euros are upon us! Football fans will be over the moon, non-fans less than impressed with what seems like hundreds of matches on TV over the next few weeks. And even if you aren’t a football fan there’s plenty more choice during the...
How Good Employee Benefits Drive Loyalty
Strategic employee benefits can significantly impact team satisfaction, engagement, loyalty and retention ... and have a positive effect on the standard of their work and effort. In today’s competitive job market, employers need to differentiate themselves...
Engagement and Job Satisfaction
Putting the focus on retaining your team with engagement and job satisfaction. Gallup’s 2023 State of the Global Workplace Report found that the majority of the world’s employees are “quiet quitting”, meaning that they are slowly disengaging from...
Why Having A Redundancy Process Is So Important
Redundancy can be one of the most stressful workplace situations for everyone involved. For employees, it presents a world of uncertainty about their future and next career move. For the employer, it often feels like a failure, means following a strict legal...
The Mental Health Minefield
No business can survive without its employees. Whether you’re a sole trader and the only employee is you, or you run a big corporation with hundreds of employees, they are the lifeblood of your business. They are the people who keep your business running, your...
Ramadan 2022
You may not be aware that, Ramadan this year began on 2nd April and ends on 1st May. Those who honor of the holy month, lasting 30 days, will be fasting and taking part in religious practices. Muslims who take part in Ramadan will fast from sunrise to sunset every...
Can an employee be fairly dismissed for not wearing a face covering at work?
In the first case of its type the answer was yes. The Employment Tribunal has ruled it was fair to dismiss an employee who refused to wear a face covering at work. Over the course of the last 12 months, workplaces have introduced many new safety measures to ensure...
Are you over communicating?
Over communicating, you can have too much of a good thing! Can you remember a time before endless video calls? Ahhhhhh the heady days of February 2020! Family quizzes, pub quizzes, kitchen parties and virtual music festivals in the garden were the things that got me...
Horrible bosses or lacking in leadership skills?
We all have stories about our own experiences with horrible bosses, but what is it that makes them bad leaders? Horrible bosses aren’t horrible people, most of the time, they just lack certain skills themselves. BambooHR asked 1,000 UK-based employees what traits...
Is redundancy the only way?
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has helped many businesses since March but we now know that it will be coming to an end in October and unfortunately that means that we are starting to talk about redundancy more often as business are starting to think about what...
Grievance and complaints managment made easy
Have you ever had an employee raise a grievance or complaint? It can be very overwhelming for managers who don't know how deal with these types of situations. The ideal situation and the way to get the very best from your employees is of course to have a happy,...
Receptionist sent home from work for not wearing high heels!
Receptionist sent home from work for not wearing high heels! Really?! What decade are we living in?! It is perfectly reasonable and lawful to set a dress code on your place of work, and in fact it is reasonable (and not discriminatory) to have different requirements...
Four Important Religion & Belief Cases that Impact on Employment
This week sees the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) give a verdict on four religious belief cases; one of which was the now widely known case of Ms Eweida being forbidden to visibly wear a crucifix at work by British Airways. The four cases were considered...
The Pitfalls of Having Staff Working Overseas
Remote working has flung open the doors to flexibility, including staff requests for working overseas. Letting staff work overseas when they have decided to relocate, while they go travelling around the world or when on an extended ‘holiday’ will open a whole can of...
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Managing staff sickness absence in the workplace
Staff sickness absence can disrupt productivity and increase costs for employers. In this blog, we explore how businesses can manage sickness absence effectively and the policies that help reduce disruption.
Sick Days, Sniffles and Staying Home: A Sensible Employer’s Guide to Managing Sickness Absence
Let’s talk about something that makes every employer wince – the sound of a colleague heroically struggling through a meeting whilst clearly ‘dying’ from the lurgy. Yes, that’s them, coughing into a sleeve, tissues piling up, insisting with a croaky voice that they’re...
Cultivating a Green Office Culture: HR’s Toolkit for a Sustainable Workplace
We’d all like to have a more sustainable workplace but, as business owners, it can feel overwhelming looking at the big picture. Sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start. In this blog we will discuss some simple ways to begin building a more sustainable...
The Mental Health Minefield
No business can survive without its employees. Whether you’re a sole trader and the only employee is you, or you run a big corporation with hundreds of employees, they are the lifeblood of your business. They are the people who keep your business running, your...
SSP Rebate Scheme reintroduced today
The SSPRS is a little bit of good news as some Gov help for small businesses is reintroduced as of today – more info here Public_fact_sheet_SSPRS_Dec_2021.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk) and here Covid: Firms able to claim money back to cover sick pay - BBC News and...
Sickness Self Certification – Temporary Changes to Rules Effective Immediately
On 17 December the rules regarding sickness self-certification were temporarily changed in a bid to ease the pressure on GPs whilst the vaccine booster programme is in warp speed mode. Details can be found here Taking sick leave - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) For all...
Will you be working from home again
I’m sure you all saw that the government has announced we are going to ‘Plan B’ in Covid measures in a bid to slow the spread of the new Omicron variant, which includes working from home again, so forgive us if we are repeating stuff you know but we of course wanted...
When stress can be good for you
We’ve talked a lot about managing your mental load, especially since March last year. It’s easy to always see the negative to side to ‘being stressed’ but for this post we wanted to talk to you about positive stress………no honestly, stress can be good for you. Good...
Remove the stigma of mental ill health this World Mental Health Day, 10 October 2020
Remove the stigma of mental ill health in the workplace, be aware of how it may affect people in your business & what can you do to support your employees. When you hear the words “mental health” what do you think of? In 2014 the WHO defined mental health as “a...
Test and Trace in the workplace, guidance for employers
As more employees start to return to the workplace we thought the following track and trace guidance may be useful: This link gives you guidance on Test & Trace in theworkplace: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-workplace-guidance There is guidance at...
Mental Health in the workplace
Mental health problems affect 1 in 6 workers so identifying poor mental health in the workplace is something we all need to be getting right. Take a look around your team, can you easily see who may be suffering with stress, anxiety or another condition? No, I didn’t...
When being away from work isn’t a holiday!
The summer holiday season is nearly here. Looking outside today and seeing the waterfall cascading down my window, I can't wait to spend some time in the sun but a recent survey carried out by Glassdoor has some worrying statistics when it comes to us and our annual...
It’s National Sickie Day!!
It's National Sickie Day!! Apparently the first Monday in February sees the highest numbers of employees deciding it is high time for a duvet day! According to ACAS "Freezing temperatures, widespread 'flu outbreaks and a stalling economy look set to compound the...
Overtime and Holiday Pay
Do your staff do overtime? Recent tribunal rulings suggest that in the near future it will be required for holiday pay to be calculated based on actual hours worked not just on contracted or "basic" hours. This would then most likely be calculated on average hours...
Health at Work
This Spring was due to see the launch of the new Government Health and Work Assessment and Advisory Service (HWAAS) although it appears that this will now commence in "late 2014" according to the gov.uk website.# This service aims to provide an occupational health...
Why HR admin and record keeping matters more than ever
HR admin and record keeping are essential for compliance and smooth business operations. In this blog, we explore why accurate records matter and how employers can manage HR more effectively.
Managing staff sickness absence in the workplace
Staff sickness absence can disrupt productivity and increase costs for employers. In this blog, we explore how businesses can manage sickness absence effectively and the policies that help reduce disruption.
Parental and Family Rights Changes in 2026
New parental and family rights introduced in 2026 mean employees can access more leave from day one of employment. In this blog, we explain what has changed, what it means for employers, and how to stay compliant.
Employment record keeping is no longer a folder in a filing cabinet
The Fair Work Agency (FWA) comes to life 7 April 2026. A government body that will have the power to enforce employment rights including statutory pay and leave. How you manage your employment record keeping is going to be your greatest protection against any concerns...
Dealing with Chronically Late Employees – Breaking the cycle of lateness without alienating staff.
There is always one. The mysteriously delayed train. The Monday traffic that appears out of nowhere. Five minutes late might not sound like much, but repeated lateness can quickly frustrate teams. Here’s how employers can address it without becoming the office time police.
Statutory Sick Pay Is Changing: What the Employment Rights Act Means for Employers (And Why It’s Not All Doom and Gloom)
Statutory Sick Pay is set for significant reform under the Employment Rights Act. From April 2026, eligibility will expand, waiting days will disappear and SSP will be paid from day one. Here’s what employers need to know and prepare for.
Santa’s Workshop Needs More Than Christmas Magic – HR at Christmas
From an HR perspective, Santa’s workshop would be a proper headache. So we thought we’d have a bit of festive fun and imagine what Santa’s HR at Christmas challenges might look like – and what any sensible employer (magical or otherwise) should be thinking about at...
Sick Days, Sniffles and Staying Home: A Sensible Employer’s Guide to Managing Sickness Absence
Let’s talk about something that makes every employer wince – the sound of a colleague heroically struggling through a meeting whilst clearly ‘dying’ from the lurgy. Yes, that’s them, coughing into a sleeve, tissues piling up, insisting with a croaky voice that they’re...
Don’t Let The End Of The Holiday Year Become A Holiday Headache
As the end of the calendar year drawers closer, many businesses are also approaching the end of the holiday year. If you’ve been keeping a close eye on annual leave throughout the year, you should have some idea of how much time off your employees have taken, and...
BRB: The Art of Crafting the Perfect Out-of-Office Reply
An automated email out-of-office reply when you are away from your email is essential to manage your inbox and you customer expectations.
The Great Race Against the Office Clock: Dealing with Lateness in the Workplace
Let’s talk about lateness – before you miss your next meeting!! One-off Incidents vs. Habitual Lateness First things first, what do we mean by lateness? One-offs We can all find ourselves in situations which are out of our control such as medical emergencies, traffic...
Creating Joy at Work: Fun Holidays From Doughnuts to Diwali
As you know if you follow our social media, here at vivoHR we’re all for celebrating ‘fun holidays’ (May the 4th be with you … and the like) and they can be a fantastic way to bring a team together and add some joy to the workplace. However, beyond the light-hearted...
Funny excuses for not going to work – Absences and how to manage them
It’s cold and dark, you wake up in the morning, look at the clock, and realize it’s one of those days when you just can’t make it to work. We’re not talking about the genuine reasons here, we’re sharing some of the more inventive reasons for work absences and how to...
Part Time Holiday Allowances
Are you working out your part time holiday allowances correctly? One of the most precious things to an employee (after job security and satisfaction of course) is holiday, it can also be one of the most headache inducing elements of employing people especially...
Sickness Rates Soaring- Is Your Business Ready For It?
Have you noticed that a lot more of your staff seem to be off sick recently? It might be the odd day here and there for coughs and colds, or maybe you’re seeing more people off for longer chunks of time than you usually do. If so, you’re not the only one. Yes,...
Blue Monday 17 January 2022
Blue Monday falls in the third Monday in January – next week! Our banks accounts are empty, we’ve already broken our new year resolutions, if we even started them and it’s dark. No wonder it’s the classed as the most gloomy day of the year and has been given the name...
Part Time Holiday Entitlements
One of the most precious things to an employee (after job security and satisfaction of course) is holiday, it can also be one of the most headache inducing elements of employing people especially when you have part-time employees! Are you working out your part...
We’re all going on a summer holiday
It’s only 3 weeks until the school summer holiday starts. The weather this weekend was glorious and festival season is now well underway. We think it’s safe to say summer has arrived and so has holiday season. We love what we do but we also really look forward to...
Holiday, use it or lose it
As the calendar year comes to a close, so does the holiday year for many businesses. If you have been on top of monitoring your employees annual leave, you will know how much unused holiday your employee's have, if any. What if you have employees who have not taken...
When being away from work isn’t a holiday!
The summer holiday season is nearly here. Looking outside today and seeing the waterfall cascading down my window, I can't wait to spend some time in the sun but a recent survey carried out by Glassdoor has some worrying statistics when it comes to us and our annual...
Bank Holidays with Part Time Employees Can Prove Tricky for Employers
are you aware that if you have part time employees then their annual leave entitlement of bank holidays should be pro-rated?
It’s National Sickie Day!!
It's National Sickie Day!! Apparently the first Monday in February sees the highest numbers of employees deciding it is high time for a duvet day! According to ACAS "Freezing temperatures, widespread 'flu outbreaks and a stalling economy look set to compound the...
non smokers should get more holiday
Non smokers should get more paid holiday! Well that's the verdict of one Japanese employer anyway - 6 more days to be precise. After an employee complained about the amount of work he did while his nicotine loving colleagues took multiple breaks per day his company...
Breaking News! Holiday Pay and Overtime
Landmark news regarding holiday pay and overtime. Holiday pay should include overtime. The Employment Appeals Tribunal today ruled that holiday pay calculations must include regular non-guaranteed overtime. If overtime is such that an employee can consider payment for...
Overtime and Holiday Pay
Do your staff do overtime? Recent tribunal rulings suggest that in the near future it will be required for holiday pay to be calculated based on actual hours worked not just on contracted or "basic" hours. This would then most likely be calculated on average hours...
Will your Staff Get To Work in the Snow?
Are you ready for the snow? By which we don't mean have you got your sledge out from the shed & found your woolly gloves?! Is your BUSINESS ready for snow - it is predicted for next week in many regions so have you got a plan in place if people can't get to work...
Managing Genuine Sickness Absence
Yesterday we discussed the issue of dealing with non-genuine sickness absence but how do you manage actual sickness absence as a business? All of the same principles of recording and monitoring are useful to help you understand the sickness levels in your business....
Right to Work requirements now include workers & contractors – what action do you need to take?
New requirements for immigration checks (Right To Work) for businesses. Well…this snuck in quietly while we were all focussing on the Employment Rights Act! New immigration legislation changes how businesses manage Right To Work (RTW) checks in the UK. The Border...
Statutory and Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA25) Update
2026 is going to be a BIG year of changes for employment law, along with the usual annual April updates the Employment Rights Act (ERA25) is bringing in a lot of new rules and requirements to get our heads around so here’s what we know at the moment all in one place....
The Pitfalls of Having Staff Working Overseas
Remote working has flung open the doors to flexibility, including staff requests for working overseas. Letting staff work overseas when they have decided to relocate, while they go travelling around the world or when on an extended ‘holiday’ will open a whole can of...
The Employment Rights Bill has been passed
The Employment Rights Bill has passed. Take a breath – we’ve got this. After months (and months… and then some more months) of back-and-forth between the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) has finally made it through Parliament....
Are you meeting your legal duty to prevent sexual harassment at work?
UK employers now have a legal duty to proactively prevent sexual harassment at work. This blog explains what the new law requires and the steps you must take to comply.
Don’t Let The End Of The Holiday Year Become A Holiday Headache
As the end of the calendar year drawers closer, many businesses are also approaching the end of the holiday year. If you’ve been keeping a close eye on annual leave throughout the year, you should have some idea of how much time off your employees have taken, and...
The Secret Weapon of Successful Companies: Solid HR Policies
Let’s be real … HR policies and procedures don’t exactly scream “superpower”. They sound like dusty binders, HR jargon and red tape. But here’s the truth: when they’re done right, they’re not just helpful, they are game-changing. Clear, fair and...
April 2025 Employment Updates
April is always a month of change for employment law and employment updates. We know that over the next 18 months there will be a lot to keep up with but what is happening right now? Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 From 6 April 2025 there will be a new...
What do you need to do to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace?
The news recently has publicly highlighted a case of sexual harassment in the workplace with the horrifying revelations of Mohamed Al Fayed’s sexual harassment and abuse of employees. As the investigation continues, many women have waived their right to anonymity to...
Supporting Men’s Mental Health in the Workplace
… I’m embarrassed. … I don’t want to seem weak. … I just need to ‘man up’. … My team will lose faith in me. According to recent statistics, 46% of men would be embarrassed or ashamed to tell their employer if they needed time off because of their mental health....
Employment Rights Bill 2024
Why read all 158 pages of the Employment Rights Bill 2024 when we've done it for you? Very superficially it has to be confessed & for now skipping over much of the very lengthy sections about trade unions, public sector rights and the new labour market enforcement...
How to Address Workplace Bullying and Harassment
Workplace bullying or harassment is extremely serious and needs to be treated so by employers, who have a duty of care to provide a safe and stress-free workplace. No one wants their staff to be treated badly at work. So how do you stop this happening? Let’s start...
2024 Employment Law Updates
Employment Law Updates usually take place each April, this year however bucks the trend with changes starting from January and carrying on throughout the year. Here's our rundown of employment law updates for the year. What's been, what we know is coming and what to...
Why Having A Redundancy Process Is So Important
Redundancy can be one of the most stressful workplace situations for everyone involved. For employees, it presents a world of uncertainty about their future and next career move. For the employer, it often feels like a failure, means following a strict legal...
New Flexible Working Request Rights
https://vivohr.co.uk/With thanks to Daniel Barnett for the update copied below that was in my mail box - there's a lot of talk about these new flexible working request rights so it is useful to clarify exactly what they will entail. From vivoHR & Training UK Ltd...
2023/2024 Statutory Pay Increases
We now know what the 2023/24 statutory pay rates will be in April 2023, and some of them are increasing significantly. If you are an employer who pays national minimum wage your salary budget is going to go up more than usual and is something you should start to think...
Flexible Working Changes Are Coming
On 5 December the outcome of the government consultation for flexible working changes that allow a request to become a day one right was published.The government will support the bill as it passes through parliament and intend new flexible working changes to:· allow...
Do you have part-year workers or term-time only workers – important news!
The Supreme Court has ruled that a part-year worker should not receive pro-rata holiday based on the number of weeks they work in a year and instead should receive the full statutory 5.6 weeks annual leave in any given year based on their working patterns the same as...
Conducting a fair employee investigation
An employee investigation is the first step you take when addressing concerns that have been raised. They may be raised by a colleague in a grievance situation, or the business where there could be a potential disciplinary. Employee investigations must be carried out...
28th January 2022 – Data Privacy Day
Data Privacy Day is an international event that occurs every year on 28th January. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness and promote data privacy and data protection best practices and of course we all want to make sure that our personal information is looked...
SSP Rebate Scheme reintroduced today
The SSPRS is a little bit of good news as some Gov help for small businesses is reintroduced as of today – more info here Public_fact_sheet_SSPRS_Dec_2021.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk) and here Covid: Firms able to claim money back to cover sick pay - BBC News and...
Sickness Self Certification – Temporary Changes to Rules Effective Immediately
On 17 December the rules regarding sickness self-certification were temporarily changed in a bid to ease the pressure on GPs whilst the vaccine booster programme is in warp speed mode. Details can be found here Taking sick leave - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) For all...
Getting right to work checks right
Right to work checks will have to be in person again as of 17 May 2021. Of the many things that have changed the way we work in thelast year some are starting to return to the pre Covid way of doing things andright to work checks are one such task. In the remote world...
Can an employee be fairly dismissed for not wearing a face covering at work?
In the first case of its type the answer was yes. The Employment Tribunal has ruled it was fair to dismiss an employee who refused to wear a face covering at work. Over the course of the last 12 months, workplaces have introduced many new safety measures to ensure...
Kickstart Scheme
You may have already heard about the Government Kickstart Scheme which has been created by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). It is a scheme which provides funding to employers to create job placements. When it was first set up you needed a minimum of 30 job...
Post Brexit Immigration Rules
New Immigration Rules In our new post-Brexit world UK employers need to think differently immigration and about how they recruit and employ EU citizens (not including Irish citizens) as free movement between the UK and EU has ended The points-based immigration system...
New Covid Job Support Scheme from 1 November
We are sure you will have seen the news today about the new Covid Job Support Scheme that will come into effect on 1 November. There is as yet no Govt Guidance on the Gov.uk covid webpages but we have received a copy of the factsheet and it sets out the details we...
Is redundancy the only way?
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has helped many businesses since March but we now know that it will be coming to an end in October and unfortunately that means that we are starting to talk about redundancy more often as business are starting to think about what...
Commission in holiday pay
Holiday season means holiday pay. Working out holiday pay for many employees is fairly straight forward but there can be some spanners in the works especially when dealing with commission in holiday pay (or other variable payments such as shift allowances and on call...
So here it is….the FLEXIBLE FURLOUGH SCHEME in detail
Released about 9pm Friday – the Flexible Furlough Scheme guidance is finally here in all its glory …and there is no point pretending otherwise – it’s complicated! Actually the principle of flexibly furloughing is pretty straightforward - the claims are where it...
Latest furlough guidance
Sit comfortably & get ready to wade your way through the latest furlough guidance which we’ve aimed to make sense of and summarise, in addition highlighting any areas that may still be unclear. Extended Furlough Period We have confirmation that the furlough period...
Record keeping during Furlough
It is important that you establish good record keeping during furlough of your decisions and actions during the Coronavirus situation – we suggest documenting this now while it is fresh in your mind in case you ever need it later on. One key essential point is...
Latest version of the CJRS
True to form the Govt / HMRC announced the latest version of the CJRS (furlough) on the evening before the weekend – Thursday 9 April this time! In truth it updates just these key points and two of the big points will affect very few of you I think- point one being...
Coronavirus advice and resources for employers
I’m sure you are all keeping up to date with the news but we thought we’d share a few Coronavirus advice and resources sites with you that may be helpful. This site is really clear about who should isolate from work and when and for how long – importantly it also says...
Bullying in the workplace
We are firm believers that everyone deserves to work in an environment where they are respected and treated with dignity. Research shows to the contrary though with 60% of people saying they have either witnessed or experienced bullying in the workplace. Bullying in...
Grievance and complaints managment made easy
Have you ever had an employee raise a grievance or complaint? It can be very overwhelming for managers who don't know how deal with these types of situations. The ideal situation and the way to get the very best from your employees is of course to have a happy,...
Parental and carer rights, because employees are people too
Parental and carer rights at first appear to be a rather complex set of procedures so here are our simplified version of what you need to know. Employees don’t come shrink wrapped in a cellophane box from a sterile environment, they have a life outside of work that...
Workplace harassment in the hospitality sector
Workplace harrassment can happen in any role but workplace harassment in the hospitality sector is 86% more likely than in any other industry. A new report from NAVEX Global divulge some worrying statistics. It states that 1 in 2 female HR directors think that their...
Your legal obligations as an employer
We think that many of you will be pleasantly surprised to know that initally your legal obligations to your employees are not as complex or burdensome as you might think. You must provide a written Employment Contract (sometimes referred to as a Statement of Key Terms...
What is a probationary period anyway?
In this part of our guide to successfully employing people we focus on those all important first few months of employment – the induction and the probationary period. Your recruitment has been a huge success, you have the perfect new team member so now lets focus on...
GDPR One Year On
GDPR has just had its first anniversary and while your mailbox is no longer full of companies asking that you still be friends and it all seems to have gone quiet don’t think that it’s gone away, or that after Brexit the rules won’t apply. GDPR may change after we...
Could you be discriminating against your vegan employees?
Veganism has more than quadrupled in Britain since 2014 and there are now over 600,000 people that follow a vegan diet. With 8 in 10 of us knowing friends or family that are vegan, the trend is showing no signs of slowing down and there is a high chance that you may...
The Fair Work Agency: What employers need to know
Learn what the new Fair Work Agency means for UK employers. Understand enforcement powers and the practical you can take to stay compliant.
Right to Work requirements now include workers & contractors – what action do you need to take?
New requirements for immigration checks (Right To Work) for businesses. Well…this snuck in quietly while we were all focussing on the Employment Rights Act! New immigration legislation changes how businesses manage Right To Work (RTW) checks in the UK. The Border...
Statutory and Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA25) Update
2026 is going to be a BIG year of changes for employment law, along with the usual annual April updates the Employment Rights Act (ERA25) is bringing in a lot of new rules and requirements to get our heads around so here’s what we know at the moment all in one place....
The Employment Rights Bill has been passed
The Employment Rights Bill has passed. Take a breath – we’ve got this. After months (and months… and then some more months) of back-and-forth between the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) has finally made it through Parliament....
Are you meeting your legal duty to prevent sexual harassment at work?
UK employers now have a legal duty to proactively prevent sexual harassment at work. This blog explains what the new law requires and the steps you must take to comply.
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Dealing with Chronically Late Employees – Breaking the cycle of lateness without alienating staff.
There is always one. The mysteriously delayed train. The Monday traffic that appears out of nowhere. Five minutes late might not sound like much, but repeated lateness can quickly frustrate teams. Here’s how employers can address it without becoming the office time police.
How SMART Goals Create Real Change in the Workplace
SMART goals can be extremely helpful in fostering that sense of ‘the bigger picture’ and connecting an individual’s purpose with the shared vision. Have you heard about the time John F. Kennedy visited NASA and spoke to a man who was carrying a broom down the hallway?...
A Practical Guide to Performance Management and Performance Goals for UK Employers
This blog is all about delivering quality performance management. We cover: what performance management is why good performance management is important setting performance goals how to address poor performance What is Performance Management and Why is it Important?...
What Makes A Good Performance Review?
Performance reviews can be an incredibly powerful tool for your business. They can help you to understand employee mindset, increase motivation, boost engagement, strengthen interpersonal relationships and even improve your chances of meeting your goals as a company....
3 Ways You Can Boost Employee Performance In 2024
As the end of another year draws closer, many businesses are looking back on 2023 and taking stock. Figuring out what went well, what they could improve, and what areas really need their attention. And employee performance is one of the big areas many companies will...
Holiday pay for part year worker changes are coming (again!!)…but we hope making life simpler (and fairer) this time
Before a ruling by the Supreme Court in the Harper Trust case in July 2022 it was widely accepted, even included in ACAS guidelines that a calculation of 12.07% (5.6 of the 46.4 weeks worked per year) would give employers a pro-rata amount of holiday and holiday pay...
Conducting a fair employee investigation
An employee investigation is the first step you take when addressing concerns that have been raised. They may be raised by a colleague in a grievance situation, or the business where there could be a potential disciplinary. Employee investigations must be carried out...
Conflict Resolution
Disagreements happen between people all the time in everyday life but recently we have noticed an upturn in the amount of businesses that are dealing with workplace conflicts between employees and having to hone their conflict resolution skills. It’s understandable...
Staff performance, or rather dealing with the lack of it
When it comes to Managing poor performance, specifically disciplinary procedures is an area we know that many employers shy away from. It’s not an easy thing to deal with, there is a concern that it makes everyone else feel uncomfortable particularly if it is small...
Training your employees – why bother?
Training your employees – why bother? After all, it costs lots of money, it takes people out of work for too long, they might leave afterwards, and there’s no guarantee that it will improve performance is there? We believe passionately in the value of developing your...
Make managing your staff easy with a few essential processes
You probably have systems and processes in place for the work that your business does even if they are mostly still in your head rather than written down. Likewise, when it comes to employing people, a few simple processes will help to keep you legally compliant in...
Managing Genuine Sickness Absence
Yesterday we discussed the issue of dealing with non-genuine sickness absence but how do you manage actual sickness absence as a business? All of the same principles of recording and monitoring are useful to help you understand the sickness levels in your business....
How should I manage employees during late World Cup fixtures?
The 2026 World Cup presents a unique challenge for UK employers, with fixtures taking place at night and into the early hours. From requests for flexibility to handling last-minute holiday requests, this blog explores how employers can strike the right balance between morale and productivity.
Santa’s Workshop Needs More Than Christmas Magic – HR at Christmas
From an HR perspective, Santa’s workshop would be a proper headache. So we thought we’d have a bit of festive fun and imagine what Santa’s HR at Christmas challenges might look like – and what any sensible employer (magical or otherwise) should be thinking about at...
Expelliarmus! What Would HR Do? (Harry Potter Magic Edition)
Let’s be honest, Hogwarts would have given any HR professional heart palpitations. Between dodgy hiring decisions, questionable health and safety practices, and dismissals that definitely wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny, the wizarding world’s most famous school was...
How to Manage the Christmas Workplace Naughty List
If we say, “Christmas Workplace Naughty List,” most managers (and everyone who works in HR!) will have some vivid recollections that spring to mind. At vivoHR, we’ve dealt with a LOT of festive faux pas! Here are just a few memorable examples: A Director...
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas …
Christmas is nearly here!!! Are you excited? We are at vivoHR! But … we also know that running a business during the holiday season can be stressful and really suck the joy out of the festivities. Bah humbug! So, we thought we would be good Christmas elves and share...
Productivity Tips To Weather The Winter Blues
Have you ever noticed that you feel more sluggish and less motivated during the winter months? Everything feels like more of a slog, and you just don’t feel the same ‘get up and go’ as you usually do. You’re not alone. As the clocks turn back and daylight becomes...
4 Festive Issues You Might Run Into This Christmas
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way! Yes it’s December, which means everyone is getting geared up for Christmas and all that comes with it. Christmas jumpers, nice big roast lunches, time off with the family and a chance to let your hair down at the...
Sickness Rates Soaring- Is Your Business Ready For It?
Have you noticed that a lot more of your staff seem to be off sick recently? It might be the odd day here and there for coughs and colds, or maybe you’re seeing more people off for longer chunks of time than you usually do. If so, you’re not the only one. Yes,...
HR Horror Stories
Halloween is right around the corner! Have you got the decorations up and the sweets ready for trick-or-treaters? At vivoHR we love this time of year, and we always make sure to dress up for the occasion. As Halloween is coming up, we thought you might like an...
Rail, road and air problems will cause staff shortages due to travel chaos this summer.
Delayed or cancelled flights, the biggest rail strike in decades and the cost of fuel is a headache that we could all do without but are likely to affect most of us over the coming months so what will you be doing to manage the uncertainty of staff shortages due to...
Easter at work
Easter, a 2000-year-old Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a major Christian Festival. It's celebrated all over the world but how do you celebrate Easter at work? Easter marks the arrival of Spring... Finally! Nowadays, for many,...
Ramadan 2022
You may not be aware that, Ramadan this year began on 2nd April and ends on 1st May. Those who honor of the holy month, lasting 30 days, will be fasting and taking part in religious practices. Muslims who take part in Ramadan will fast from sunrise to sunset every...
#breakthebias this International Women’s Day
#breakthebias At vivoHR in our team we are professional, educated, knowledgeable women and we’ve worked really bloody hard to get where we are. Sam has grown the business from a spare room venture to a professional full-service consultancy, Rachel and Sarah-Louise...
28th January 2022 – Data Privacy Day
Data Privacy Day is an international event that occurs every year on 28th January. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness and promote data privacy and data protection best practices and of course we all want to make sure that our personal information is looked...
The 12 days of cHRistmas
On the 1st day of cHRistmas my employees said to me “Are we even allowed to put up a Christmas Tree?” We cannot think of any reason you should not put up a Christmas tree at work if you want to. Why keep your decorations for...
We’re all going on a summer holiday
It’s only 3 weeks until the school summer holiday starts. The weather this weekend was glorious and festival season is now well underway. We think it’s safe to say summer has arrived and so has holiday season. We love what we do but we also really look forward to...
Employee Appreciation Day
The first Friday of every March is National Employee Appreciation Day so at vivoHR today that has meant chips for lunch for everyone! It is widely recognised that happy employees are productive employees; they are less likely to go off sick, to raise grievances or to...
Summer is all fun, fun, fun until work gets in the way!
Summer has arrived in style this week, despite not being able to sleep the Vitamin D is feeling pleasantly restocked! The high temperatures aren't set to last but summer is here and we (hopefully) have a few months of warm days and long nights ahead of us, but we also...
Festive Workplace hint and tips
It wouldn't be a festive Christmas without the inevitable doom mongering HR post about the risks and pitfalls of staff enjoying themselves just a little too much at your festive gathering...so here it is! All joking aside, there are some points in this article from...
Will your Staff Get To Work in the Snow?
Are you ready for the snow? By which we don't mean have you got your sledge out from the shed & found your woolly gloves?! Is your BUSINESS ready for snow - it is predicted for next week in many regions so have you got a plan in place if people can't get to work...
When is a gift not a gift?…or how to spot a bribe!
The Bribery Act has been in force for some time now yet much confusion still abounds about what is and isn’t acceptable when it comes to corporate gifts. The intention of the Act is to prevent Bribery from occurring in functions of a business, trade or profession, or...
Managing staff sickness absence in the workplace
Staff sickness absence can disrupt productivity and increase costs for employers. In this blog, we explore how businesses can manage sickness absence effectively and the policies that help reduce disruption.
Employment record keeping is no longer a folder in a filing cabinet
The Fair Work Agency (FWA) comes to life 7 April 2026. A government body that will have the power to enforce employment rights including statutory pay and leave. How you manage your employment record keeping is going to be your greatest protection against any concerns...
Statutory Sick Pay Is Changing: What the Employment Rights Act Means for Employers (And Why It’s Not All Doom and Gloom)
Statutory Sick Pay is set for significant reform under the Employment Rights Act. From April 2026, eligibility will expand, waiting days will disappear and SSP will be paid from day one. Here’s what employers need to know and prepare for.
Santa’s Workshop Needs More Than Christmas Magic – HR at Christmas
From an HR perspective, Santa’s workshop would be a proper headache. So we thought we’d have a bit of festive fun and imagine what Santa’s HR at Christmas challenges might look like – and what any sensible employer (magical or otherwise) should be thinking about at...
Sick Days, Sniffles and Staying Home: A Sensible Employer’s Guide to Managing Sickness Absence
Let’s talk about something that makes every employer wince – the sound of a colleague heroically struggling through a meeting whilst clearly ‘dying’ from the lurgy. Yes, that’s them, coughing into a sleeve, tissues piling up, insisting with a croaky voice that they’re...
Employment record keeping is no longer a folder in a filing cabinet
The Fair Work Agency (FWA) comes to life 7 April 2026. A government body that will have the power to enforce employment rights including statutory pay and leave. How you manage your employment record keeping is going to be your greatest protection against any concerns...
Sick Days, Sniffles and Staying Home: A Sensible Employer’s Guide to Managing Sickness Absence
Let’s talk about something that makes every employer wince – the sound of a colleague heroically struggling through a meeting whilst clearly ‘dying’ from the lurgy. Yes, that’s them, coughing into a sleeve, tissues piling up, insisting with a croaky voice that they’re...
The Great Race Against the Office Clock: Dealing with Lateness in the Workplace
Let’s talk about lateness – before you miss your next meeting!! One-off Incidents vs. Habitual Lateness First things first, what do we mean by lateness? One-offs We can all find ourselves in situations which are out of our control such as medical emergencies, traffic...