The HR Dept North Derbyshire

10/06/2026

Currently, employees need to have two years of continuous service for ordinary unfair dismissal protection. A tribunal may make a basic award plus a capped compensatory award, and you still have to establish a fair reason (conduct, capability/performance, redundancy, statutory illegality/ breach of law, SOSR) and follow a reasonable procedure.

From January 2027, this is set to change. The qualifying period will reduce to just six months, and compensation awards will no longer be capped.

You might think you still have six months to prepare, but in reality, your business should be taking action by 1st July.

Our latest blog explains this in more detail, along with the steps you should take to prepare:

Cast a look over the Employment Rights Act, and when it comes to the biggest change – the expanded unfair dismissal rights for employees – you’d be…

09/06/2026

The importance of building an inclusive workplace…

Building an inclusive workplace is about how your people feel and are treated on a day-to-day basis, rather than just adjusting your policies and ticking boxes.

For SME employers, this can sometimes feel like a big topic. But in reality, inclusion is built through the small, consistent actions that shape your culture over time.

It starts with creating an environment where people feel comfortable being themselves, where their ideas are listened to, their differences are respected, and they know they’ll be treated fairly.

Inclusion also plays an important role in helping you meet your legal responsibilities as an employer. Having fair, accessible processes and treating people consistently can reduce the risk of discrimination and support better decision-making across your business.

But beyond compliance, there’s a real opportunity here. Inclusive workplaces tend to attract a wider range of talent, encourage fresh thinking, and create a culture where people genuinely want to stay and grow.

You don’t need a large HR team or a big budget, but reviewing how you recruit, how you communicate, how you support your people, and how your managers lead day to day can all make a meaningful difference.

You might not get everything perfect overnight, but adopting a proactive, committed approach over time will only benefit your business and people.

👉 Get in touch with The HR Dept to talk through how you can build a more inclusive workplace.

08/06/2026

Navigating protests and unrest in the workplace isn’t new, but today’s employers need to be clear and proactive to keep conversations respectful and workplaces running smoothly.

04/06/2026

Managing redundancies can be a complex process.

Getting it wrong could be costly for your business, so we’ve answered some frequently asked questions to help you get it right.

03/06/2026

From Roman “decimation” to modern-day protests, managing workplace unrest has come a long way… thankfully.

But while employers can’t (and shouldn’t) control what people think, you can set clear expectations for how those views are expressed at work.

Getting this right isn't always easy, but being proactive can help prevent issues from escalating.

Read our latest blog to learn more:

How have employers dealt with civil strife and dissent historically? Roman legions had a policy of decimation whereby one in every ten soldiers was…

01/06/2026

This week, we’re celebrating the incredible contributions volunteers make to communities across the UK. With more than one in four people volunteering each month, their impact plays a vital role in shaping our society.

While volunteers aren’t employees, there are still important HR considerations to keep in mind and that’s where we can help.

01/06/2026

Whilst many can’t wait for this year’s football World Cup to kick off, it can also bring a range of HR challenges for employers.

Read our latest infographics to explore what these challenges are – and how to handle them

29/05/2026

Introducing Daisy, our newest HR Assistant at The HR Dept!

Daisy joins us with a background in customer facing administration and a real focus on building strong client relationships.

She supports the team across a range of HR queries, helping to keep everything organised and running smoothly.

28/05/2026

Over 100 of our clients are using Breathe to support their HR admin.

Here is how Breathe benefit your business.

If you would like to learn more, book a call with us for a demo: https://calendly.com/vickie-shears/introduction-call-clone

27/05/2026

The football world cup commences on June 11th, giving employers more to think about. Will you be a world class manager this summer as you guide your team through the HR considerations of a football world cup?

With most games kicking off after 8pm (due to the time differences, and counting early hours games as part of the night before), the biggest challenge may come for businesses running night shifts with footy-mad employees. 11pm, 2am and 3am games will be routine.

Even if your business runs during daylight hours this will still present problems. Droopy eyes and hangovers are no less desirable after a football match than your office Christmas party.

That said, a football world cup is something that captures the imagination of the whole country. So there is much to be said for striking the balance between embracing it and upholding standards. Here are some tips for doing just that:

Pep Guardiola has just left Manchester City after ten years of unprecedented success. Thomas Tuchel is being paid to lead England to glory in the USA.…