Colden HR

Colden HR We put the 'Human' back in Human Resources!

🫶 At Colden HR, we’re increasingly speaking to businesses who want to proactively review their HR approach in light of o...
27/05/2026

🫶 At Colden HR, we’re increasingly speaking to businesses who want to proactively review their HR approach in light of ongoing employment law changes.​
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We recently received feedback from a client who approached us directly after reading our social posts about Day One Rights:​
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"We had been following Colden HR on social media for a while, and a friend also recommended them to us. After reading their posts about changes in employment law, particularly around Day One Rights, we knew we needed to take action and speak to Patricia.​
As a business with a loyal team, it was important to us that we remained compliant while continuing to support our people properly.​
Patricia provided clear, practical advice and helped us understand what the changes could mean for our business. It’s given us confidence that we’re in a strong position moving forward.”​
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At Colden HR, we support businesses to stay ahead of change, not react to it!​
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If you’d like to understand how employment law updates may impact your business, continue to follow us on social media and, when you’re ready, please contact Patricia Colden for a confidential conversation on 0121-284 0852.​
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🧩 Up-to-date policies + trained managers = a protected business​With employment law continuing to evolve, it’s more impo...
20/05/2026

🧩 Up-to-date policies + trained managers = a protected business​
With employment law continuing to evolve, it’s more important than ever that managers are trained, informed and confident in how they apply HR processes day to day.​
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In many cases, issues don’t arise because a policy is missing, but because it has been applied inconsistently or without full understanding.​
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Managers play a key role in:​
✔ Handling sensitive conversations​
✔ Following fair and consistent processes​
✔ Applying policies in line with legislation​
✔ Representing your business values in practice​
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A well-trained manager doesn’t just reduce risk, they create clarity, consistency and trust across your business.​
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If you would like support with manager training or reviewing how your HR processes are applied in practice, please contact Patricia Colden for a confidential conversation.​
đź“© [email protected]​
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A va**ng incident led to dismissal - but that’s not why the employer lost ​at tribunal!​A recent tribunal case involving...
14/05/2026

A va**ng incident led to dismissal - but that’s not why the employer lost ​at tribunal!​
A recent tribunal case involving a manufacturing business highlights the importance of fair and proportionate decision-making during disciplinary processes.​
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An employee was dismissed for gross misconduct following an incident involving va**ng on site which triggered a fire alarm and disrupted operations. While there were concerns around health & safety and trust, the Tribunal found that the dismissal was ultimately influenced by the employee’s failure to admit fault and apologise.​
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The key finding: not admitting wrong doing or failing to apologise is not, in itself, misconduct. The tribunal concluded that the dismissal fell outside the range of reasonable responses and awarded the employee over £20,000.​
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Key takeaways for employers:​
✔ Ensure disciplinary decisions are based on clear evidence of misconduct​
✔ Apply policies consistently and proportionately​
✔ Take into account mitigating factors, such as service and conduct history​
✔ Avoid allowing subjective factors (e.g. lack of apology) to drive outcomes​
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A fair process is just as important as the outcome and getting this wrong can be costly.​

If you would like support reviewing your disciplinary processes or ensuring your managers are confident in handling these situations, please contact Patricia Colden for a confidential conversation.​

📌 HR doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need to be right!​For many businesses, especially smaller teams, HR can...
06/05/2026

📌 HR doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need to be right!​
For many businesses, especially smaller teams, HR can feel like something to deal with “as and when needed.”​
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In reality, having the right foundations in place makes day-to-day management much easier and helps to avoid problems in the future.​
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✔ Clear contracts of employment​
✔ Up-to-date policies​
✔ Consistent processes​
✔ Training & confidence in handling people matters​
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Getting the basics right helps prevent issues, supports your team and allows you to focus on running your business.​
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At Colden HR, we specialise in practical, straightforward HR support that works in the real world.​
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If you would like to review your current HR arrangements, please contact Patricia Colden for a confidential conversation.​
đź“© [email protected]​
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‼️ You don’t need to have HR problems to need HR support!At Colden HR, we often work with businesses who are performing ...
29/04/2026

‼️ You don’t need to have HR problems to need HR support!
At Colden HR, we often work with businesses who are performing well, have loyal teams, but want reassurance that everything is in place from an HR and compliance perspective - especially with ongoing changes in employment law!
We recently received feedback from a new client who approached us as they do not have an in-house HR function and were looking for guidance and support:

"We don’t have a dedicated HR Manager, and with the pace of employment law changes, particularly following recent government updates, we wanted to ensure we were fully compliant. Our team is long-standing and loyal, so this wasn’t about fixing problems, but about doing things properly and protecting the business going forward.
Patricia has provided clear, practical advice and helped us put the right structure in place. It’s given us real confidence that we’re meeting our obligations and supporting our people in the right way.”

At Colden HR, we understand that HR support isn’t just about solving problems, it’s a core part of building a values-based business. It’s about providing clarity, reassurance and structure as your business grows and evolves.

If you or someone you know would benefit from expert HR guidance, please get in touch with Patricia Colden for a confidential conversation on 0121 284 0852.

⚠️ Having no policy is a riskBut a poorly applied policy can be just as damagingWith employment law evolving and tribuna...
23/04/2026

⚠️ Having no policy is a risk
But a poorly applied policy can be just as damaging

With employment law evolving and tribunal scrutiny increasing, we’re seeing more cases where the issue isn’t the absence of a policy, it’s how it’s applied in practice.

Inconsistent decisions, lack of understanding, or mishandled conversations can quickly escalate situations that could have been resolved early.

Managers need to be equipped to:
âś” Understand and apply policies correctly
âś” Follow the right HR processes
âś” Handle sensitive conversations with confidence
âś” Make fair, consistent decisions

A policy can only help to protect your business if it’s applied properly!

If you’d like to strengthen your managers’ capability or sense-check how your policies are being applied in practice, please contact Patricia Colden for a confidential conversation and training review of your leadership teams.

🧠 Neuroinclusion isn’t just a wellbeing topic, it’s a legal responsibility.Under the Equality Act 2010, employers must m...
15/04/2026

🧠 Neuroinclusion isn’t just a wellbeing topic, it’s a legal responsibility.
Under the Equality Act 2010, employers must make reasonable adjustments for employees with disabilities. Neurodivergent conditions can fall within this definition and recent tribunal cases show how closely this is being scrutinised.

Here are three tribunal cases worth noting:

Khorram v Capgemini (2025)
Recommended adjustments for an employee with ADHD were not implemented. The tribunal found this to be ongoing discrimination.
Takeaway: Adjustments must be actioned, recorded and reviewed.

Kitchen Porter v Wetherspoons
An autistic employee breached a staff discount policy, saving ÂŁ19.17. The employer treated this as gross misconduct. The tribunal awarded ÂŁ25,000, citing a disproportionate response.
Takeaway: Context matters not every breach is misconduct.

Burns v Gitpod (2024)
An employee with ADHD was dismissed following an incident at a work event. The tribunal found her condition likely influenced the behaviour.
Takeaway: Your duty of care extends beyond the workplace.

The bottom line: Clear processes, informed managers and a practical approach to neurodiversity are essential . . . not optional!

If you’d like to sense-check your current approach, review your policies or support your managers in handling these situations confidently, please contact Patricia Colden for a confidential conversation.

A Quick HR To-Do List for April 2026A new fiscal year often means new to-do’s . . . but don’t worry, we’ve got you cover...
08/04/2026

A Quick HR To-Do List for April 2026
A new fiscal year often means new to-do’s . . . but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

Here’s a simple HR checklist to help you start April on the right foot:
👉 Payroll updates: Make sure your payroll reflects any recent minimum wage increases.
👉 Employment law compliance: Ensure you’re up-to-date with changes that affect day-one rights for new and existing employees.
👉 Absence & holiday tracking: Check that requests are being recorded accurately.
👉 HR documents: Confirm policies and procedures are current and easy to access.
👉 Training & compliance planning: Schedule key deadlines for managers early.

A few small checks now can save you big headaches later in the year!

But if you’re time-poor, Patricia Colden is here to help [email protected]

🫶 At Colden HR, long-term partnerships mean everything to us, so it’s particularly special when clients stay with us and...
26/03/2026

🫶 At Colden HR, long-term partnerships mean everything to us, so it’s particularly special when clients stay with us and continue to trust our advice. We’ve recently received feedback from one such client who has worked with us for over five years.

"Colden HR have supported our business and have become a trusted extension of our leadership team. Their advice is commercially sound, clear and pragmatic. They understand our culture, respond quickly when issues arise, and always provide reassurance alongside practical solutions. We genuinely value their integrity, discretion and consistent support.”

At Colden HR, we aim to build relationships that last, supporting your people strategy as your business grows and evolves.

If you or someone you know are looking for a trusted HR partner who takes the time to understand your organisation and values, please get in touch with Patricia Colden for a confidential conversation on 0121-284 0852.

📢 National Minimum and Living Wage rates increase next month - is your business ready?The new National Living and Nation...
18/03/2026

📢 National Minimum and Living Wage rates increase next month - is your business ready?
The new National Living and National Minimum Wage rates come into effect soon, now is the time to ensure your payroll, budgets and compliance checks are fully up to date.

âś… National Living Wage (21+): ÂŁ12.71 per hour
✅ 18–20 Year Old Rate: £10.85 per hour
✅ 16–17 Year Old Rate: £8.00 per hour
âś… Apprentice Rate: ÂŁ8.00 per hour

Action for employers
âś” Review and update payroll systems
âś” Check pay rates across your workforce
âś” Adjust budgets and workforce planning where needed
âś” Ensure compliance to avoid risk

These statutory changes apply from 1 April, so it’s important to act now.
If you would like support reviewing pay rates or ensuring your processes are compliant, Colden HR is here to help.

đź“© [email protected]

Address

2a Holyfield Road
Sutton Coldfield
B757SG

Opening Hours

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+441212840852

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