HR Dept Coventry

03/09/2026

If you work with HR Dept Coventry, you work directly with me. With straightforward, practical HR support from someone who genuinely cares about getting it right for your business. I can wear many hats!

02/09/2026

Supporting employees who may be struggling with addiction is essential for creating a safe, healthy and supportive workplace.

Having clear drugs and alcohol policies in place, alongside appropriate training, can help protect both your employees and your business. Read our latest blog to learn more:

At the time of the Roman Empire, salt was so coveted by soldiers that they were partly paid with it. In fact “sal” (salt in Latin), is the root of the…

27/08/2026

🏒 IT’S ICE HOCKEY SEASON! 🏒

And for us, it’s extra special because this marks our 3rd year as proud sponsors of the Coventry Blaze! 🔥

It’s brilliant to see our new advert board up at the rink, our name on the shirt and, most importantly, to be back supporting the team for another season.

We’re also very excited to be sponsoring Sam Ruffin again this year, and my daughter is still his number one fan 🌟

Sponsoring the Blaze has become something we genuinely look forward to every year. It’s a fantastic club, a brilliant atmosphere and a great way for us to support local sport and the community.

Here’s to another season… Come on you Blaze! 🔥🏒

27/08/2026

Sexual harassment has never been acceptable in the workplace. But all too often it occurs, despite the Equality Act and other legislation before it.

As you probably know, the Government implemented new rules in 2024 which put a proactive duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment under the Worker Protection Act. And now just two years later (from October), the duties of prevention on you the employer go further.

In our latest blog, we explain employers' growing legal duty to prevent workplace sexual harassment and how effective training can support compliance :

By civilised standards, sexual harassment has never been acceptable in the workplace. But all too often it occurs, despite the Equality Act and other…

25/08/2026

What are UK small businesses actually offering staff right now? According to CIPD's newest Reward Survey (Feb 2026), the most common benefits among SMEs aren't big-ticket extras, they're simple, low-cost things.

The top 5? Free drinks/snacks, social events, flexible working, paying the Living Wage, and 25+ days' annual leave. But here's the interesting part: while only 40% of SMEs currently offer flexible working, 76% say it's the benefit that best supports what they're trying to achieve. A real gap between what's valued and what's actually offered.

Where does your business's benefits package sit against this?

19/08/2026

Even when you get it right, recruitment is expensive. From the time you or your managers invest in it, to advertising and recruiter costs. And then there is the induction and training process while they get up to speed.

But get it wrong, and not only have you paid for all of the above, but you also have to absorb the cost of their shortcomings in whatever form they take, plus going through the whole process again.

In our latest blog, we explain some common mistakes that companies make, plus a better way of doing it: https://www.hrdept.co.uk/knowledge-hub/blog/do-you-make-these-mistakes-in-recruitment?

From universities not probing outlandish claims to governments dismissing security vetting, public life is full of high-profile errors in the recruitment…

12/08/2026

Discrimination can happen at any stage of pregnancy. Understanding your responsibilities is key to supporting employees fairly and staying compliant with employment law:

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

If your business uses fixed-term contracts, now is the time to understand how the new unfair dismissal rights could impact you and what steps you can take to reduce risk:

“ That’s another fine fix, you’ve gotten me into! ” might sound like something uttered in a Laurel and Hardy film. But in this case we are talking about…

05/08/2026

Hiring the wrong person costs more than most business owners realise – in time, money, and team morale. If recruitment has felt harder than it used to then this free 45-minute Recruitment Masterclass with HR expert Charlotte Sherratt is perfect for you.
📅 Wednesday, 12 August, 10:00–10:45am

You'll walk away with practical, usable strategies to:
✅ Attract the right candidates, not just more of them
✅ Reduce the risk (and cost) of a bad hire
✅ Build a fair, inclusive, and fully compliant hiring process
✅ Strengthen your employer brand in a competitive market

Free to attend, but spaces are limited so please register now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hr-how-to-recruitment-masterclass-tickets-1995445977635?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

29/07/2026

Long-term sickness absence can be challenging for both employers and employees, making it essential to have the right processes and support in place.

In our latest blog, we explore how employers can effectively manage long-term sickness absence, maintain communication with employees, and navigate their legal responsibilities while supporting a successful return to work where possible:

The Odyssey is the big summer blockbuster at the movies. But did you know that Odysseus once “pulled a sickie” in an attempt to get out of the Trojan war?…