Diary of a HR Man

Restrictive covenants are essential tools for protecting business interests. They are agreements that place certain restrictions on employees even after they leave your company. These covenants play a pivotal role in safeguarding sensitive information, maintaining client relationships, and ensuring that businesses do not lose their competitive edge. But what happens if these covenants are not in place or neglected? The impact can be significant, leading to potential loss of clients, leakage of confidential information, and even the undermining of your business’s market position.In this episode, we'll explore:·       The basics of restrictive covenants·       How to effectively draft these covenants·       Solutions for situations where covenants are not initially in place.·       What realistic covenants look like in terms of timeframe and geographic scope.·       The enforceability of these covenants and whether it's worth the effort.·       Scenarios where covenants might be invalid, such as breaches of contract by the employer or redundancy situations.·       And the steps to take when an employee breaches these covenants.By the end of this episode, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of how restrictive covenants can benefit your business and the potential risks if they are neglected. 

In this episode we will be exploring the law and practices around employees with a disability which can be complex to manage and very costly if not done correctly. To discuss this in depth is Eileen Schofield who is an Employment Law solicitor.What is considered a disability?What if there is no medical evidence – is there a duty for formal diagnosis evidence or notWhat if employee does not disclose – what are employer and employee obligationsWhat if the employee discloses after i.e., due to performance/conduct issuesWhat is considered reasonable adjustments?How to dismiss effectively someone with a disabilityEileen was admitted to the roll of Solicitors in England and Wales in 2000, she now runs her own award winning Law Firm, a niche commercial and employment law firm which she set up in 2009. Alongside the national employment law practice Eileen has set up a HR Division, Schofield HR providing outsourced HR advise to SME’sEileen was the first solicitor in the UK to set up a transatlantic video link for a client to give evidence from the US.Eileen was appointed to the role of President of Birmingham Law Society in 2014/2015 and was elected as the first female Chair of the Board in its 200 year history.Eileen sits on the International Committee and Employment Law Committee of the Birmingham law Society. Eileen was a founding member of the Legal Tech committeeEileen is currently President of the Solihull Chamber of Commerce which is the largest regional division of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of CommerceEileen is a founding member and Chair of The West Midlands Irish Business Group in association with the Irish Government.Eileen is a Board Director for The Law Society of England and Wales and sits on the People & Remuneration Committee for the Law Society.

In this episode we look at the nuances that HR have in the charity sector in comparison to others.How to overcome recruitment and staff motivation challenges when budgets and benefits are constrainedThe use of volunteers and stretching on good will v free labourAnd what the future of the charity sector and HR holdsIdris Arshad has 15 years HR experience in different charity sectors ranging from being faith based, international development, housing, homelessness and hospices.He is Chartered MCIPD and has been HR business partnering for 7 years.

In this episode we look at the importance of HR policies and procedures and how they should fit in and align with the overall culture, value and principles of an organisation.We look at how HR policies and processes contribute to the overall success of a business?What emerging trends may shape the future of HR policies and processes?Some potential challenges businesses may face in adapting their HR policies to meet evolving workforce needs?Samina Amin is a passionate Brummie and a HR professional who adores spicing up policies and procedures... not just because they tell a story about an organisation and its HR team but also because she has seen some interesting policies in her time! She is currently the Chair of the CIPD in Birmingham which is the professional body for HR, Learning and Development.

We explore the difference between coaching and mentoring,  the types of coaching and mentoring and how to get the best out of it.How do you know you need a coach or a mentor?What is HR / L&D professionals role in coaching?And how can business owners/managers effectively coach/mentor their employees!Chris comes with a successful 17-year track record within the Pharmaceutical industry. He has worked for a number of high profile organisations such as Takeda and Pfizer where he had the privilege of embarking on a number of key senior leadership rolesChris is the Co-Owner and Co-Founder of OTD Ltd. He is also Co-Author of the book "Power Presenter" published in January 2015. Chris is also a NLP Master Trainer.He help’s people to buy into an amazing future for themselves and then provide them with the tools to make their future happen.

In this episode we look at how to implement High performing teams in your organisation.How do you set out the target/standards?HR’s role in this?How can leaders/managers effectively manage low performers?

In this Episode will delve in the key Employment Law practices SMEs should have/follow including an overview on- Contracts of employment- Employment status, zero hours v contracted hours- Cash in hand arrangements- Contractual v non-contractual policies- Misconceptions of under 2 year ruleAlice Kinder is a Senior Associate at Bexley Beaumont specialising in employment and equality law. Alice helps businesses and individuals to manage workplace issues from recruitment through to terminationAlice is also the President of the Birmingham Law Society, the membership organisation representing 9,000 legal professionals in Birmingh

In this episode we explore what is Diversity, Equality and Inclusion and why is it such a hot topic for businesses?Has it evolved or can more be done?What is HR’s role?What barriers do HR professionals find?How can HR truly influence and champion DE&I, especially to senior managers and leaders and how can success be measured?Ash is a versatile and accomplished DE&I Consultant with nearly 13 years’ experience in a breadth of functions including Diversity & Inclusion, Training & Development and HR. She helps organisations create an inclusive work environment through various training and strategic planning.

Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 – This extends the rights of employees to request flexible working from the provisions already in place. Employees will have a day one right to make a request (rather than after six months of employment) and be able to make two requests a year (instead of one). Employers will have the right to decline the request for a valid business reason but will have less time to give the response – two months instead of three. The need for employees to explain the effect of the proposed change or how that should be dealt with has also been removed. This will come into force on 6 April 2024.In this episode we explore these changes in further detail and the impact it will have in the workplace