Plain Talking HR

Plain Talking HR We are Simple, Straightforward HR Support We Are Plain Talking HR! The HR in our consultancy stands for human relationships.

Our background and experiences in Human Resources has led us to believe that the relationship between the employer and the employee is the defining element in any company. Where relationships are good, the company is successful. We have a philosophy that when problems occur, they should be “nipped in the bud”. If they are allowed to fester the consequence could be at the least a breakdown in relat

ionships and at the worst, an unpleasant and costly visit to an Employment Tribunal. Certain words like consistency, fairness, planning, and communication are used a lot by us, as we believe them to be the platform for good employment relationships. People are more than just “resources”, they are one of your major assets. Their loyalty, trust and especially their commitment will promote the success of your business. Employment law can be complex but it is there to protect both the employer and the employee. If you are mindful of its requirements, then the employment of people is a good experience, rather than a nightmare! At Plain Talking HR we are passionate about providing simple and straight forward HR support to small and medium sized businesses. We use our extensive knowledge and experience gained in a range of commercial industries such as Telecommunication, Manufacturing, Retail and Aviation to ease the burden of people management for those companies who cannot justify the cost of in house expertise. We equip you with pragmatic solutions for your people issues. Our advice will protect you from employment law potholes! Importantly, we provide practical support when issues develop within your workforce.

Life has a way of testing us.When I wrote my book I wanted it to carry powerful reminders throughout its pages.For me li...
08/06/2026

Life has a way of testing us.

When I wrote my book I wanted it to carry powerful reminders throughout its pages.

For me life is not just about surviving but it’s about living fully, loving deeply and continuing to move forward no matter what we’ve faced.

'Life is for living and there will always be setbacks.' We all experience moments of uncertainty and times when the road ahead feels unclear.

But there is also joy paired with connection. And there is always the time when we come through a difficult period and experience growth with wonderful new beginnings, which are always waiting for us.

Remember that sentence in times of trouble and keep going because your story is still unfolding.

Many employers are investing heavily in wellbeing, rewards and employee benefits.But the big question is are employees a...
04/06/2026

Many employers are investing heavily in wellbeing, rewards and employee benefits.

But the big question is are employees actually feeling the value of them?

New research from Benifex, a leading global employee benefits platform, reveals that nearly half of UK employees (47%) say it’s difficult to access and understand their full rewards and benefits package.

And while 72% say workplace wellbeing support has some positive impact, the reality is more modest:
• 31% feel better able to balance work and life
• 26% feel more productive
• 23% feel more engaged at work

This highlights a growing challenge for employers because the issue often isn’t the benefits themselves, it’s whether employees can find them, understand clearly what the benefits are and access them easily. Plus they need to know how they relate to their real lives

Employers who want to strengthen engagement and protect wellbeing investment need to focus on making benefits easy to find, gain feedback from employees and make sure the benefits are linked to wellbeing, retention, productivity and business performance

Because if employees don’t fully understand what’s available, even the best benefits package can become invisible!
Are you asking for feedback when you implement a benefit for your staff?

📢 'People don’t leave jobs, they leave managers.'It’s one of the most repeated phrases in HR but is it always true?With ...
03/06/2026

📢 'People don’t leave jobs, they leave managers.'

It’s one of the most repeated phrases in HR but is it always true?

With rising costs, heavier workloads and growing pressure on businesses, many employees are now leaving for:
• Better flexibility
• Higher salaries
• Career progression
• Improved wellbeing
• Healthier workplace cultures

Management matters enormously but can leaders realistically keep everyone happy in today’s working environment?

What do you think is the biggest reason employees leave businesses in 2026?

🎉 It’s Small Business Week and we’re celebrating by supporting fellow small businesses with a special offer from Plain T...
02/06/2026

🎉 It’s Small Business Week and we’re celebrating by supporting fellow small businesses with a special offer from Plain Talking HR!

From 1st – 7th June, we’re offering 15% off our HR Review.
All businesses must make sure that people policies, procedures, and documentation are up to date, compliant, and working for their business.

For many small businesses, HR can feel overwhelming and time-consuming, especially when you’re juggling the day-to-day demands of running a company. Our HR Review is designed to give you peace of mind, identify any potential risks, and help you create a stronger, more confident workplace for your team.

Whether you’re:
✔️ Growing your business
✔️ Managing employees for the first time
✔️ Updating contracts or policies
✔️ Handling workplace issues
✔️ Wanting to ensure compliance
✔️ Or simply needing expert HR support

We’re here to help.

If you’ve been thinking about getting professional HR advice, reviewing your current processes, or putting better systems in place, this is the perfect opportunity to get started.

At Plain Talking HR, we pride ourselves on offering straightforward, practical HR support without the jargon, helping businesses navigate people challenges with confidence.

Thank you for supporting small businesses like ours.

Get in touch to find out more about our HR Review or any aspect of HR support.

Sometimes the people who change our lives most are the ones we never expected to meet.I am sure you have all had a conve...
01/06/2026

Sometimes the people who change our lives most are the ones we never expected to meet.
I am sure you have all had a conversation or a chance encounter which has led to something special. Or it might have been a kind word at the right time. Sometimes a connect turns into a friendship that appears exactly when we need it most.

These are 'The Red Threads' which reminds us that life is full of invisible connections. The threads that link us to people, moments and opportunities long before we understand their purpose. Sometimes they don't remain forever, but they leave an imprint on us.

So today share in the comments somone who has been part of your “red thread” journey and make them smile!

🤖 AI in the workplace is something which is now proving to be a concern for many employers as well as the benefits being...
29/05/2026

🤖 AI in the workplace is something which is now proving to be a concern for many employers as well as the benefits being an opportunity.

What I am noticing is that more businesses are now using AI tools for recruitment, HR admin, performance management and even employee monitoring.

But employees are asking important questions:
• Is AI creating bias in recruitment?
• Are jobs at risk?
• How much workplace monitoring is too much?
• Should employers be transparent about AI use?

AI is moving faster than many workplace policies.

Do you think businesses are embracing AI responsibly or are we heading into dangerous territory without enough HR safeguards?

Work-life balance is a phrase which sounds like the ideal life but with hybrid working, constant notifications and emplo...
27/05/2026

Work-life balance is a phrase which sounds like the ideal life but with hybrid working, constant notifications and employees answering messages at all hours, many people feel like they’re permanently “switched on.”

So some of the businesses I am working with are introducing:
✔️ No-meeting Fridays
✔️ Right-to-disconnect policies
✔️ Mental health days
✔️ Flexible hours

But others worry flexibility is reducing productivity and accountability.

As an employer, where do you stand?
Is work-life balance improving or have the boundaries between work and home disappeared completely?

✨ Five years ago on 27th May, my book 'The Red Thread' was released into the world.A book born from love, loss, resilien...
25/05/2026

✨ Five years ago on 27th May, my book 'The Red Thread' was released into the world.

A book born from love, loss, resilience, family, faith and the invisible connections that shape our lives.

What started as me sharing my deeply personal stories became something far bigger. Conversations about courage, belonging, identity, gratitude and the threads that connect us across generations, cultures and continents. This led to me being invited to share my story about being a Ugandan refugee on podcasts and radio.

Over the last five years, so many readers have shared how parts of the book reflected their own journeys, their families, their struggles and their hope. That has been the greatest gift of all.

One thing I want everyone you to remember is this -

'The red thread of fate, it may stretch or tangle but will never break'.

Thank you to everyone who has supported 'The Red Thread' over the past five years.

If you have read the book - please leave a review and if you haven't and would like a copy please contact me.

Do you track staff satisfaction?Are your staff happy with the benefits they receive? Knowing this will help you gauge th...
22/05/2026

Do you track staff satisfaction?

Are your staff happy with the benefits they receive?
Knowing this will help you gauge the success of your benefits scheme.

A few simple questions to start:

Which benefits do they value the most?
What benefits they would they most like to see?
How easy is it to access their benefits?

You may be offering things they don't want or need!

A staff survey could give you some answers!
Need help? Just ask me.

Replacing an employee is about far more than recruitment fees and onboarding costs.The Society for Human Resource Manage...
20/05/2026

Replacing an employee is about far more than recruitment fees and onboarding costs.

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) estimates that replacing an employee can cost between six and nine months of their salary. For someone earning £40k, that could mean a minimum replacement cost of £20k! But the real cost often runs even deeper.
I work with businesses all the time who suffer when a staff member leaves . This is not only the loss of knowledge but disruption to customers and it can affect morale in your teams.

Which is why employee retention is so important.

Salary matters, of course. But increasingly, people stay where they feel valued, supported and connected to purpose. Benefits, flexibility, wellbeing, leadership and culture all form part of your employer value proposition.

So the question is not simply about why people are people leaving but why are people choosing to stay?
When did you last review your employer value proposition?
If you need help let me know.

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