The HR Dept Bristol, Bath & North Somerset

18/09/2026

Yet another busy week for the advisory team, helping local businesses with all manner of HR matters including:

policies
handbooks
investigations
letters
appeals
contract amendments
job descriptions
job adverts
eLearning
disciplinaries
redundancies
short term absences
greivances
and more...

Find out how we can support the HR function in your business. Call us on 0117 970 2955.

18/09/2026

Today is International Equal Pay Day!

Established by the United Nations, this day recognises the importance of both past and ongoing efforts to achieve equal pay in the workplace.

At The HR Dept, we proudly advocate for fairness and equality in every workplace.

17/09/2026

There is a well-worn saying that people get promoted to their level of incompetence. This often plays out as a good technician rising the ladder until they do little to no technical work, instead spending their time managing a team – which it turns out they are not equipped to do.

One survey looking at ROI gaps, found that about a third of employees said their managers infrequently reviewed their progression whilst nearly 40% said they were not regularly set targets.

People management is surely one of the most direct ways in which you can drive productivity within your business. From enforcing basic disciplines like attendance, punctuality and meeting deadlines, to developing skills sets, maintaining team harmony and nipping problems in the bud.

We explore this further, along with Holiday pay, epilepsy awareness, The Fair work agency and more.
To read these articles in full, and find out the latest from the world of HR, check out our newsletter here: https://www.hrdept.co.uk/knowledge-hub/newsletters/people-matter-september-2026

16/09/2026

Alongside a tough economy and global uncertainty, employment law changes have dominated the SME landscape for more than a year.

This October, the next tranche of major changes are introduced. In our latest blog we look at what is in store, plus what you need to do to prepare: https://www.hrdept.co.uk/knowledge-hub/blog/employment-rights-act-round-two

15/09/2026

Join us for a relaxed networking walk from Stoke Park Estate to S***f Mills. Meet local professionals, enjoy a gentle 3k stroll, plus a coffee stop half way.

Register your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2001048136844?aff=oddtdtcreator

14/09/2026

As AI becomes more common in workplace decisions and processes, it's important that employers can recognise and respond to AI-related grievances effectively. Having clear policies, transparent processes and appropriate training in place can help build trust, reduce risk and ensure concerns are handled fairly. Read our latest blog to learn more: https://www.hrdept.co.uk/knowledge-hub/blog/tips-for-dealing-with-ai-grievances

11/09/2026

Our advisors were busy again this week, supporting businesses with a wide range of HR matters, including:

pre employment screening
grievances
handbooks
audits
staff surveys
domestic abuse policy
gross misconduct
eLearning
training
probation
HR information systems
contract reviews
job adverts
appeals
employee assistance programme
TUPE
maternity leave queries
document reviews
lay offs
without prejudice conversations
and more...

Find out how we can support the HR function in your business. Call us on 0117 970 2955 or visit www.hrdept.co.uk

10/09/2026

The HR Dept has responded to the Government consultation on zero hours and similar contracts, outlining the significant implications for small and medium sized businesses.

Whilst we do support the overall goal of improving job security and predictability for employees, we believe the proposed changes will be unnecessarily complex, time consuming and costly for SMEs.

We have instead proposed an alternative mechanism, with ten key recommendations for the government.

Read more here: https://www.hrdept.co.uk/knowledge-hub/employment-law-updates/hr-dept-responds-to-government-consultation-on-zero-hour-and-similar-contracts

The HR Dept has responded on to the recent Government consultation on changes to zero-hour and similar contracts, on behalf of SMEs across the country. As…

09/09/2026

When a coastline is threatened by huge waves, the answer to prevent yourself being inundated is to put up defences – you cannot stop the waves from coming, but you can dissipate their energy.

It is a tactic that can be applied to dealing with AI grievances too. Because across the country there are reports of a tidal wave of AI-drafted grievances inundating businesses.

You have to manage them whether they are erroneous or not – because sticking your head in the sand and letting them wash over you could well lead to a penalty at a tribunal for procedural errors regardless of the justification for the grievance. In our latest blog, we explain how to spot an AI grievance and why it is essential that you know how to manage them: https://www.hrdept.co.uk/knowledge-hub/blog/tips-for-dealing-with-ai-grievances

04/09/2026

This week our advisors have been busy supporting businesses with a wide variety of HR matters including:

director service agreements
investigations
grievances
redundancies
HR admin
fixed term contracts
staff surveys
appeals
Employment Rights Act updates
training
and more...

Find out how we can support the HR function in your business call us on 0117 970 2955 or visit our website www.hrdept.co.uk