That HR Girl

07/04/2026

A proper probation process does not need to be complicated but it does need to happen.

If you are using probation periods, make sure your managers are actually reviewing performance and not just hoping for the best.

Need better probation documents, review forms or manager support tools? Message me.

03/04/2026

3 things every pub manager should be doing with new starters 👇
1️⃣ Give them a proper welcome
Show them around, introduce the team and explain how things work.
2️⃣ Set expectations early
Be clear on punctuality, standards, attitude and service from day one.
3️⃣ Check in after the first few shifts
A quick check-in helps build confidence and catches issues early.

Too many hospitality businesses lose good people because the onboarding is rushed or unclear.

A better start usually leads to better standards and better retention.
Need help tightening up your onboarding and HR documents? Drop me a message.

30/03/2026

New handbook now live.
The updated Staff Handbook for hospitality businesses is now available on the website and includes 30 policies for just £300.

Written for the hospitality industry and updated to reflect the latest legal changes giving a saving of £300 compared with buying policies individually.

Perfect for pubs, bars, restaurants, clubs and hospitality operators who want compliant, practical documents without the stress of writing or updating them from scratch.

And if you’re a Backbar client, the updated handbook is already included in your app.

Available now in the Paper Cellar.

27/03/2026

One of the benefits of being a Backbar HR app client is that the relevant April 2026 employment law updates are being reflected in your app automatically.

That means less scrambling, less risk of using old wording, and less time spent trying to work out what needs changing.

If you are not yet on Backbar and want HR support built for hospitality operators, now is a good time to take a look.

25/03/2026

Statutory family pay update

From 5 April 2026, the weekly statutory rate for maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, parental bereavement and neonatal care pay increases to £194.32 or 90% of average weekly earnings if lower.

This is a good reminder to check your family leave policies, template letters and payroll settings.

If your handbook has not been updated recently, it is worth reviewing now rather than later.

23/03/2026

Sick pay rules are changing from 6 April 2026.

- SSP becomes payable from the first full day of sickness absence instead of day 4

-The lower earnings limit is removed

- SSP will be £123.25 per week or 80% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower

That means more employees may qualify, and many employers will need to review sickness wording in contracts, policies and internal processes.

For hospitality employers, where absence can have a big operational impact, this is not something to leave until the last minute.

20/03/2026

Have live-in staff or tied accommodation? This one matters.

From 1 April 2026, the accommodation offset increases to £11.10 per day. For pubs and hospitality businesses that provide accommodation, this is an important figure to understand when checking minimum wage compliance.

If you offer on-site accommodation and make deductions or offset arrangements, your paperwork and pay calculations need to stack up properly.
This is exactly the sort of detail that often gets missed until there is a problem.

18/03/2026

Hospitality Employee Handbook

A professionally written hospitality employee handbook containing 30 essential policies for pubs, bars and hospitality businesses, updated for current UK employment law....

Hospitality employee handbook with 30 essential policies for pubs, bars and hospitality businesses, updated for current UK employment law.

18/03/2026

From 1 April 2026, the new National Minimum Wage / National Living Wage rates are increasing.

For hospitality businesses with mixed-age teams, this is one of the biggest areas to double-check before payroll runs. Even small errors can become expensive quickly.

This is also the perfect time to review contracts, pay rates, salary letters and staffing budgets.

16/03/2026

April is nearly here and there are important employment law updates you should not ignore.

If you employ staff in pubs, bars, restaurants or late-night venues, now is the time to check your paperwork, payroll and policies.

From April 2026, employers need to be ready for:
- new minimum wage rates from 1 April
- increased statutory family pay rates from 5 April
- new SSP rules from 6 April

If your contracts, handbook or payroll setup have not been reviewed recently, now is the time.
View the website for updated template policies and contracts

01/03/2026

Holiday pay is one of the most common ‘accidental non-compliances’ I come across.

Rolled-up holiday pay can be used for certain workers, typically those with irregular hours or part-year patterns but it must be applied correctly and transparently.

The key risks I see are:
• using it for the wrong type of worker
• not showing it clearly on payslips
• assuming it applies to everyone

Getting this right protects both your staff and your business, if you’re unsure whether your setup is compliant, it’s worth checking now and not later.

25/02/2026

When disciplinary issues arise, it’s not just what you do, it’s how you do it.
A fair disciplinary process usually includes:
investigation → invite → meeting → outcome → right of appeal.

Skipping steps or rushing the process is where problems start.