The HR Dept, Bradford

03/09/2026

Bradford Business Fair 2026 - Thursday 15th October, 10.30-3.00pm, Mercure Bradford Bankfield Hotel. Our Director, Sarah Bradley will deliver a FREE to attend workshop on the upcoming changes to unfair dismissal rules. https://bradfordbizfair.co.uk/workshops/

12/08/2026

For most women, a pregnancy will be a wonderful and life-changing moment; don’t let it be a negative life-changing moment for your SME. At both a human and business level, care is required. You can play an important role in making it a success for everyone.

Some employers may cynically wish to discriminate; but it could also be possible to inadvertently do so with something clumsily said or done, or from simply not knowing the rules.

Pregnancy and maternity is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. From the moment an employee tells you that she is pregnant (or she hasn’t told you but you suspect it), you will need to be wary of discrimination risk.

In our latest blog, we explain what employers need to know about staying on the right side of the law and maintaining a positive relationship with pregnant employees:

For most women, a pregnancy will be a wonderful and life-changing moment; don’t let it be a negative life-changing moment for your SME. At both a human…

05/08/2026

Why Fixed-term contracts will be more risky in future

29/07/2026

With all the changes on the horizon, and those that have already landed, management training has never been more important. Are your managers ready?

27/07/2026

Covering essential areas of knowledge to help you manage your employees, check out this months People Matter

Unfair dismissals - Now is the time to act We blogged about it recently, but it is so important to SME businesses that we are flagging it again here.…

23/07/2026

Employees have a day-one right to put in a flexible working request and we often see an increase in requests after the school holidays. Are you prepared to manage a flexible working request in your business?

Flexible working requests can include employees asking for
☑️Reduced hours
☑️Compressed hours
☑️Flexi-time
☑️Hybrid working
☑️Job shares
☑️Term-time working
☑️Part-time working

Consultation with your employee is mandatory, you must arrange a meeting with them and offer them the right to be accompanied and you have a strict timeframe in which to respond to them.

Employers should review their flexible working polices and make it clear to employees how requests can be made, how they will be assessed and timelines for decisions.

There are many benefits for a business who supports flexible working request, it can improve employee retention, increase engagement and support productivity. It also widens the talent pol, making it easier to attract candidates.

Employers can refuse a request but it must fall in the one of the eight statutory grounds for refusal. There is also the option to use a trial period which can help both parties adjust and assess whether the new pattern is still working and delivering required quality of performance.

01/05/2026

How do I have a difficult conversation with my employee?

If you would like help navigating employee issues then join us on the 9th June for our half-day training event.

Suitable for line managers or others responsible for HR and people management.

The final session of our Leadership and Management Skills course focuses on change management, emotional intelligence and managing conflict.