HR:ER Hroes

The NHS has issued a record 10.4 million fit notes, with GPs admitting, "We don't want to risk confrontation. We just see the request in our inbox and okay it."

This surge has led to significant unproductively, resource strain, and increased costs for businesses. In this week's HR:ER podcast episode, we dissect:

What factors have contributed to the rise in 'sick note' culture?
How can HR differentiate between genuine health concerns and abuse of sick leave policies?
How should HR handle employees on long-term sick leave? Can they be terminated?

Who do you think is responsible for 'sick note' Britain? Email us at HRER@hroes.co.uk to become part of the conversation and send us your HR emergencies.

Subscribe to make your workplace disaster-free, and stay tuned as a GP will be joining the show to share their perspective!

Need advice on managing employees on long-term sick leave? Contact our employment lawyers today for a free consultation: https://hroes.co.uk/packages/business-hr-advice/


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Is HR providing a good onboarding programme? Only 12% of employees feel that their organisation provides a good one.

In our next HR:ER episode, our host and founder, Elissa Thursfield, shares her personal onboarding experience and how HR can avoid similar mistakes.

Onboarding sets the tone for an employee’s experience with the company, influencing whether they choose to stay long-term or leave. Effective onboarding can improve employee retention by 82%, saving businesses a lot of time and money in recruitment.

We cover:

- How can HR personalise onboarding for various roles, experience levels, and cultural backgrounds?

- How can HR measure the effectiveness of onboarding programmes?

- How can HR ensure onboarding procedures comply with relevant laws and regulations?

- What emergency measures can HR take to prevent bad onboarding incidents in the future?

SHAMELESS PLUG – the Hroes HR system onboards your staff compliantly and in less than 5 minutes, which would usually take HR hours. RTW checks and contracts of employment are completed in just a few clicks. Contact us to get started: https://hroes.co.uk/packages/software/hr-software-home/

Subscribe now and send us your questions to HRER@hroes.co.uk to make your workplace disaster-free.


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What happens when HRs skip compliance and DBS checks with a new employee? You accidentally hire a murderer.

This was only discovered when staff noticed the "strange vibe" of a new employee around the office. After a social media stalk, it turned out he faked his identity and previously spent time in prison for murdering a woman.

As part of his role, he had been visiting homes as a handyman and moreover, the office staff was also mostly female, who were at risk in his presence.

This is why it's crucial to do background checks (DBS, identity, work checks) before a new employee starts - as a quick ID check would have discovered he was a murderer.

We discuss this HR crisis story in more detail and emergency measures HRs can implement to ensure you don't hire a murderer in your workplace.

Are you missing work checks because you're bogged down with HR admin? The Hroes system has right-to-work and ID checks all in one place, so you can avoid any onboarding nightmares at your workplace.

Do you have your own workplace emergency? Email us at HRER@hroes.co.uk and we'll be happy to treat your emergency for you. Subscribe to the channel to make your workplace disaster-free!


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What do you do when an employee breaches the company dress code? According to research, 63% of the public say they would consider face and neck tattoos to be unprofessional.

In this episode of HR:ER, we share the unexpected challenges HR professionals face when an employee's personal choices collide with workplace policies. Our HR crisis story involves an employee in a customer-facing role who let loose on a stag do and returned with a 'middle finger' tattoo.

Join us as we dissect the complexities of managing such situations, such as addressing dress code, personal hygiene, tattoos and piercings. We share strategies for balancing individual expression with company culture, handling sensitive discussions with professionalism, and implementing HR policies to prevent future incidents.

Do you have your own workplace emergency? Contact us via our website and we'll be happy to treat your emergency for you. Subscribe to the channel to make your workplace disaster-free!


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Can employees pack up and work from anywhere?

With the rise of remote work spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in digital nomads opting to work from abroad. But is it really feasible? What are the legal, logistical, and team challenges that come with it?

This follows after an employee who relocated to Finland for the duration of the ski season without telling her employer who then noticed when she saw ski slopes in her Team's background rather than her 'usual' office setup.

Our hosts discuss the legal considerations for both employees and employers, including tax implications, visa requirements, and compliance with local labour laws. Additionally, we'll examine the practical challenges such as time zone differences, maintaining productivity and communication across distances.

Do you need help in managing remote work in your workplace? Contact our employment experts for a free consultation: https://hroes.co.uk/packages/business-hr-advice/

Subscribe to make your workplace disaster-free!


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Facing an employee who's pulling a 'sicky'?

It's a common HR dilemma, which we tackle in our latest HR:ER podcast! A lucky employee won 10k on a scratch card and booked a holiday without authorisation, quoting "I'll just pull a sicky" when their holiday request was rejected.

So what can HRs do? We share emergency measures HRs can implement to prevent 'sickies' happening in the workplace, including:

- What steps should HR take when an employee threatens to call in sick after being denied time off?

- What disciplinary actions or consequences should employers consider for employees who take unauthorised leave? Is it a breach of trust?

- As an HR professional, how do you prove employees are actually pulling a sicky?

- What preventative policies should HRs have in place to make sure this doesn’t happen in future?

Ready to tackle 'sickies' head-on in your workplace? Contact our law employment experts for advice today: https://hroes.co.uk/

We'd love to hear about your workplace emergencies! Email us at HRER@hroes.co.uk and we'd be happy to treat them for you. Subscribe to make your workplace disaster-free!


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