People Business

30/10/2026

🎃 Think your workplace has its fair share of HR horrors? 🐦‍⬛

From a Michael Jackson impression that ended in a £10,000 payout to an Easter egg incident that cost an employer £23,000, some real-life HR stories are stranger than fiction.

Last Halloween, we shared some of the most bizarre cases to reach employment tribunals. Well, we've been digging through the workplace crypt again, and we've found four more!

They're entertaining (unless you're the employer involved), but each comes with a serious lesson about what can go wrong when workplace issues aren't handled properly.

👻 Read HR Horror Stories for 2026. Four frighteningly real cases and what employers can learn from them.
https://www.peoplebusiness.co.uk/hr-horror-stories-2026/

28/10/2026

Looking after HR when you're not HR trained can be daunting.

It's a situation we often see in smaller businesses, where HR responsibilities fall to someone whose main role is quite different.

At Victoria Miro Gallery, Operations Director Robert Holzberger wanted to build his HR knowledge and confidence.

We developed a bespoke six-month HR Development and Mentoring programme, providing one-to-one training and guidance from our experienced consultants.

Robert now confidently handles many HR matters himself, with People Business on hand when needed.

It's a great example of how developing someone's HR skills can make a real difference, without recruiting a dedicated HR professional.

Read Robert's story: https://www.peoplebusiness.co.uk/portfolio-items/victoria-miro/

20/10/2026

Is your work Christmas party planning missing something important?

It may still feel a way off but the party season is edging closer, so before the invitations go out to your employees, it's worth checking that you've covered more than the venue, food and drinks.

New harassment laws taking effect on 30th October mean employers need to be even more proactive about preventing inappropriate behaviour, including harassment by clients and other guests.

Our latest blog, 'Ho ho ho or harassment?', shares practical steps to help you avoid costly HR issues, protect your employees and make sure everyone can enjoy the festivities.

From workplace banter and Secret Santa to alcohol, inclusion and managing complaints, there's plenty to think about! A few sensible precautions now could save you a difficult January.

Read our latest blog here: https://www.peoplebusiness.co.uk/christmas-party-harassment/

19/10/2026

For , we're sharing how WaterAid has been helping its employees and managers build a better understanding of menopause and menstrual health.

We worked with them to develop eLearning, practical guidance for managers and workplace adjustment plans to help employees get the support they need.

It's encouraging to see organisations like WaterAid making menopause awareness a priority and giving managers the confidence to have conversations that aren't always easy.

Read more about our work with WaterAid:
https://www.peoplebusiness.co.uk/portfolio-items/wateraid-2/

15/10/2026

Two colleagues aren't speaking. Tensions are rising. And now HR is being asked to sort it out. Sound familiar?

Workplace disagreements can be tricky to manage, particularly when relationships have already become strained. But they don't always need to end in a formal grievance.

Mediation can be a really effective way to help people talk through their differences, understand each other's perspectives and find a way forward.

Today is International Mediation Day, so we're sharing a short video explaining how workplace mediation works and when it might be worth considering.

If you're responsible for HR or managing a team, it's well worth a watch.
🎥 Watch our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_DD4eakuUg

Formal procedures don't always repair damaged relationships. Someti...

13/10/2026

Seven things HR can do now to avoid winter workplace headaches.

The weather's turning, the leaves are changing and the evenings are getting darker. Now's a good time to check whether your organisation is ready for winter.

From sickness absence and travel disruption to school closures and employee wellbeing, there are plenty of challenges HR teams can prepare for.

Our latest blog shares seven practical steps to help you get ahead of potential problems, support your people and minimise disruption to your business.

A little planning now could save a lot of difficult decisions later.
Read our blog: https://www.peoplebusiness.co.uk/winter-workplace-planning/

08/10/2026

It's one thing to say that work-life balance is important, but it's just not that straight-forward to harness.

Find out how People Business helped the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) at the University of Surrey to design a toolkit with a range of relevant resources and activities that focused on improving work-life balance of employees within the Faculty.

Read the case study: https://www.peoplebusiness.co.uk/portfolio-items/university-of-surrey/

05/10/2026

It’s , and a good opportunity to look at how work really feels for your people.

Our latest blog looks at why work-life balance matters for both employee wellbeing and business performance, and what employers can do to support it in practice.

A healthy work-life balance isn’t just about flexible working. Workload, management expectations, time to switch off and whether people feel able to take proper breaks all matter to
Read more in our blog: https://www.peoplebusiness.co.uk/work-life-balance-in-the-workplace/

30/09/2026

The qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims will reduce from two years to six months, while the cap on compensatory awards will be removed.

For employers, this puts even more emphasis on following a fair process, keeping good records and making sure managers know how to handle performance and dismissal issues properly.

Our latest blog explains the changes and what employers can do now to prepare: https://www.peoplebusiness.co.uk/unfair-dismissal-changes-2027/

23/09/2026

This week celebrate International Week of Happiness at Work, 21-25 September 2026