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Plain Talking HR

Name: Plain Talking HR
Address: Luton, LU27XH, GB
Telephone: +441582488410
Price range: £

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Plain Talking HR

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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 relationships 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.

04/11/2026

⚠️ Employers: Big changes to zero-hours contracts are coming in 2027. Are you prepared?

Do you employ people on zero-hours or low hours contracts?

If your business employs people on zero-hours or low-hours contracts, changes to employment law could mean you need to rethink how you manage working hours and shifts.

Under the new guaranteed hours duty, employers will be required to monitor the hours qualifying workers actually work over a reference period and offer contracts that reflect their regular working patterns.

02/11/2026

We are all carrying pieces of people who once made us feel seen.

What a powerful thought.

Throughout our lives, we meet people who leave a lasting impression. Sometimes they don't even realise the impact they've had.

The teacher who believed in us when we doubted ourselves.

The manager who recognised potential we hadn't yet discovered.

The colleague who listened when we were having a difficult day.

The friend who reminded us of our worth when we'd forgotten it.

These moments may seem small at the time, but they can shape our confidence, our choices and the way we see ourselves for years to come.

And the same is true in the workplace.

As leaders, managers and colleagues, we have opportunities every day to make someone feel seen, heard and valued.

Not through grand gestures, but through genuine interest, encouragement, kindness and taking the time to listen.

People may forget the details of a meeting or a conversation, but they rarely forget how someone made them feel.

We all carry something from the people who have encouraged us, supported us and believed in us along the way.

And perhaps the most beautiful part is that we have the opportunity to become that person for someone else.

So, here's a thought for today.

Whose confidence could you build simply by letting them know that you see and appreciate them?

And who has made you feel truly seen in your life?

30/10/2026

Employers: Are you keeping the right holiday records?

You might be calculating holiday entitlement correctly and paying your employees exactly what they're owed, but did you know you could still be breaking the law?

Since 6 April 2026, employers have been required to keep detailed records of annual leave and holiday pay for six years.

These records must include:

✅ Annual leave taken by employees

✅ Holiday pay received

✅ Holiday carried forward into a new leave year

✅ Payments made for untaken holiday

The rules apply to all workers, including those on irregular hours, part-year workers and employees on fixed contracts.

Here's where employers could get caught out

If you're using a spreadsheet that gets overwritten every January, or approving holidays through emails without maintaining a proper record, you may not have the evidence needed to demonstrate compliance.

And it's not just an administrative oversight. Failure to maintain the required records is a criminal offence and could result in a fine.

The key message? It's no longer enough to get holiday calculations right. You must also be able to prove it.

Now is a good time to review your holiday recording systems and ensure your records are accurate, accessible and retained for the required period.

Could your business produce six years of holiday records if asked?

29/10/2026

Are skills gaps quietly costing your business more than you realise?

When we talk about the cost of running a business, we tend to focus on the obvious things: salaries, overheads, recruitment and rising expenses.

But what about the cost of the skills your business doesn't have?

Recent research highlighted by HR News raises an important issue for UK employers: skills gaps can have a significant financial impact on organisations.

And it's not just about the cost of recruiting someone new.

Skills gaps can lead to:

- Increased pressure on existing employees who are picking up the slack.
- Reduced productivity and missed opportunities.
- Mistakes, delays and dissatisfied customers.
- Higher staff turnover as employees become frustrated or overwhelmed.
- Managers spending valuable time firefighting rather than leading.

But here's the question I would encourage every business owner to ask: Do you actually know where the skills gaps are in your organisation?

Too often, businesses only recognise a problem when someone leaves, performance drops or workloads become unmanageable.

Good HR isn't just about managing problems when they arise. It's about understanding your people, recognising their potential and planning for what your business will need next.

That means having meaningful conversations about development, identifying training opportunities and making sure employees have the confidence, skills and support to do their jobs well.

And remember, recruiting isn't always the answer. Sometimes the talent you need is already sitting within your business, waiting for an opportunity to develop.

Investing in your people isn't simply an expense. It's an investment in the future of your business.

So, when did you last review the skills within your team, and are they the skills your business will need in 12 months' time?

At Plain Talking HR, I help businesses take a practical, people-focused approach to managing and developing their teams.

26/10/2026

You may have forgotten the conversation in which you told someone you believed in them. They may still draw strength from it years later.

In life and at work, we rarely know the full impact of our words and actions.

The manager who gives someone their first opportunity.
The colleague who notices they’re struggling and makes time to listen.
The friend who checks in again, even when they haven’t had a reply.

These moments can stay with people long after we’ve moved on.

So can a thoughtless comment, a concern brushed aside or an achievement left unacknowledged.

For those of us who lead and support others, it’s a reason to pause. How we handle an ordinary conversation may matter more than we realise.

We won’t always see what grows from the kindness, encouragement or patience we offer. But we can keep offering it.

What small moment of support has stayed with you in your life or career?

23/10/2026

There’s something very special about signing copies of your own book in a bookshop. 📚❤️

It was a pleasure to visit The Notting Hill Bookshop and sign copies of The Red Thread.

Seeing my book among so many stories was a lovely moment to pause and appreciate the journey from writing it to sharing it with readers.

A heartfelt thank you to General Manager Sanya for the warm welcome and support. It means so much.

To everyone who has bought, read or recommended The Red Thread - thank you for becoming part of its story.
Follow The Red Thread Book for updates

22/10/2026

Today is 'Leave a Review day' and a great reminder to leave reviews for the businesses you work with , the places you stay and the venues you eat at.
Postive reviews can really help a business and for me its nice to receive a review because as a small business there is no else to tell you but your clients you are doing a good job.
I am sharing a recent review from a client below and if you have used my services please do leave a review on Google or Facebook. Or a recommendation on LinkedIn.
I would really appreciate it.
And make sure you remind your clients to leave you a review!

21/10/2026

How well do you know your people figures and what should you be tracking?

As a business grows, a quick “everyone seems happy” won’t always tell you what’s happening within your team.

Tracking a few useful HR measures can help you spot patterns and ask better questions:

📌 Staff turnover - How many people are leaving, from which roles and why? Look at retention among new starters, too.

📌 Sickness absence - Monitor frequency and duration. Recurring patterns may signal a need for support or changes at work.

📌 Working hours and overtime - Are the same people regularly working late? You could have a capacity problem hiding behind their commitment.

📌 Holiday taken - Are employees using their entitlement and getting regular breaks?

📌 Employee feedback - What do surveys, check-ins and exit interviews tell you? Are concerns being addressed?

📌 Training and development- Who is accessing opportunities, and where are the skills gaps?

In a small team, one person leaving can make a percentage look dramatic, so look at the actual numbers and the context.

The figures should start a conversation. Handle personal information confidentially, and speak to people before drawing conclusions.

At Plain Talking HR, I help employers make sense of what’s happening in their teams and decide what to do next.

Which people measure has given you the most useful insight into your business?

19/10/2026

One of the highlights of sponsoring The Best Businesswomen Awards was presenting the Best Businesswoman in Business Services award to Ingrid Sanderson of Principal Business Travel who runs an incredible business. 🏆

Standing alongside a winner at that moment is a privilege. Behind the photographs and celebrations are years of work, difficult decisions and the determination it takes to build a business.

For me, as the founder of Plain Talking HR, sponsoring this category is an opportunity to recognise the expertise, care and commitment that business service providers bring to their clients. Their work helps other businesses function, grow and succeed.

It also reflects something I care deeply about: women receiving recognition for their contribution and achievements.

Congratulations, Ingrid. It was a pleasure to present your award and share such a special moment with you.

And well done to the Silver Winners Winners
Catherine Hyde- Clarity Counsel Limited
Dionne Popplestone- Dionne Popplestone Ltd
Donna Wilson - Focus Financials (Midlands) LTD
Helen Christopher- Beansprout Consultancy Ltd t/a Beansprout
Jem Turner - Ultimately Better Ltd
Louise Wheeler - L C Consultancy Limited
Jess Warr - The Virtual Colleagues

Thank you to Debbie Gilbert and the Best Business Women Awards team for bringing us together to celebrate so many accomplished women.

16/10/2026

Your payroll might have caught up with the sick pay changes. Has your management team?

It’s now six months since the Statutory Sick Pay reforms took effect on 6 April 2026.

For eligible employees, SSP starts from the first full qualifying day of sickness absence. The lower earnings threshold has also gone, bringing more lower-paid employees into eligibility.

If you updated payroll in April, now is a good time to check what happens in practice.

- Does your absence policy reflect the current rules?
- Do managers understand what they should tell employees?
- Are sickness records accurate from the start of an absence?
- Are return-to-work conversations supportive and consistent?

When someone is unwell, uncertainty about pay or pressure to return too quickly can make a difficult situation harder.

Clear communication helps employees understand their position and gives managers confidence to handle absence fairly.

At Plain Talking HR, we help businesses connect their policies with the everyday conversations that make them work.

When did you last check that your absence policy matches what actually happens in your business?

Address

Luton
LU27XH

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:45am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441582488410

Website

http://www.plaintalkinghr.com/

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