The HR Dept Somerset

27/05/2026

The football world cup commences on June 11th, giving employers more to think about. Will you be a world class manager this summer as you guide your team through the HR considerations of a football world cup?

With most games kicking off after 8pm (due to the time differences, and counting early hours games as part of the night before), the biggest challenge may come for businesses running night shifts with footy-mad employees. 11pm, 2am and 3am games will be routine.

Even if your business runs during daylight hours this will still present problems. Droopy eyes and hangovers are no less desirable after a football match than your office Christmas party.

That said, a football world cup is something that captures the imagination of the whole country. So there is much to be said for striking the balance between embracing it and upholding standards. Here are some tips for doing just that: https://www.hrdept.co.uk/knowledge-hub/blog/will-you-be-a-championship-manager-during-the-2026-world-cup

06/05/2026

A survey conducted last year by a payroll provider found that two-thirds of workers admitted to decreased productivity, with 30% saying they lost between 30 to 60 minutes every day in the summer.

Top reasons are mainly weather-related with feelings of sweat and tiredness in the heat as well as dehydration and headaches cited. It’s worth noting, though, that this year we have the men’s FIFA world cup. When it comes round, every four years, it can be a significant distraction in itself, especially in the game heavy early weeks.

So if we know the summer slump is coming, what can we do about it? Here are some top do and don’t tips from HR to keep your team engaged and the work getting done: https://www.hrdept.co.uk/knowledge-hub/blog/here-comes-the-summer-slump

29/04/2026

So here we are, a third of the way through 2026 already! And this week we are thinking about reliable advice and the difference it can make to your fortunes.

Oh, how the Trojans must have wished they had a trusted adviser whispering in their ear to “beware Greeks bearing gifts”; or those steering the Titanic to “watch out for those icebergs”. The record label that turned down The Beatles must be pretty miffed with their advisers too.

Reliable advice matters in HR as well. As the dust settles on significant changes to employment law which have now been introduced, here are our five top reasons why you should always turn to reliable HR advice. And the different ways you can access it with us at The HR Dept:

So here we are, a third of the way through 2026 already! And this week we are thinking about reliable advice and the difference it can make to your…

22/04/2026

“Never waste a good crisis”, attributed supposedly to Winston Churchill, could be modified to “never waste an exit interview”, for an SME business like yours.

By no means will every exit be a crisis, however in most cases, you will be able to extract useful information that will help you improve an aspect of your business – whether that is team dynamics, operations, remuneration, training or maybe something unrelated to HR like customer service.

There are other potential benefits too. If you really don’t want them to leave, it may be a final opportunity to turn it around, although it may be too late by this stage. It is also a platform to ensure you go your separate ways in good standing

Our latest blog explains how to make the most of every exit interview in your business: https://www.hrdept.co.uk/knowledge-hub/blog/how-to-make-the-most-of-an-exit-interview

15/04/2026

Ever since satnav was introduced, there have been tales of cars, or particularly larger vehicles like lorries, being sent en masse via bizarre routes that end in traffic chaos.

Just last year Lullington, a tiny village in Somerset, was overwhelmed with enormous lorries blocking its single track lanes, damaging the bridge and getting wedged in. It was reported that Google Maps had suddenly started recommending the route in July 2025.

On paper, or rather a computer screen, a route may look to make perfect sense. But without understanding the context of the roads and vehicles, it is completely inappropriate.

This is a very visual analogy to what happens when you use AI to write employment contracts.

Our latest blog takes a closer look at the risks of using AI to draft your contracts. Read the full version on our website here: https://www.hrdept.co.uk/knowledge-hub/blog/why-you-shouldnt-use-ai-to-write-employment-contracts

08/04/2026

Unintended consequences, the bane of government policy. Like when they introduce a specific tax to raise revenue, and the introduction of the tax changes behaviour and revenue falls.

With the introduction of day one statutory sick pay (SSP), we are predicting some unintended consequences of extra sick leave being taken in scenarios where it shouldn’t be.

And the pressure it puts on SMEs in particular, both financial and through strained resources, could be very challenging unless it is managed well.

Here are a few scenarios that you may see: https://www.hrdept.co.uk/knowledge-hub/blog/dealing-with-the-unintended-consequences-of-ssp-changes

01/04/2026

Whatever your views on stress, it has a massive impact on business. One trillion dollars is the cost the World Health Organisation puts on the impact of stress and burnout globally each year.

April is stress awareness month, so what better time to shine the spotlight on your own business and check that it is not causing undue stress to employees (and, importantly, you too). And that you are set up to manage stress effectively: https://www.hrdept.co.uk/knowledge-hub/blog/stress-test-your-business-this-april

25/03/2026

It’s called spring cleaning for a reason. Spring is a time of fresh starts and regeneration as longer hours of daylight, warmer weather and beautiful blossoms create positive energy and feel-good vibes. The Victorians coined the phrase in English, but humankind has been spring cleaning for millennia. 🌸

It’s a particularly good time to apply the principle to your HR, too. While we’d recommend reviewing policies and paperwork periodically anyway, spring works well because April is a common month for new employment law to be introduced. And this year, as we have been reporting for months, is a bumper year for change.

So here’s a general look at the areas you could focus your HR spring clean on, with some added focus on matters that require special attention in 2026: https://www.hrdept.co.uk/knowledge-hub/blog/sweep-away-your-outdated-hr

20/03/2026

📣 Are You Ready for the April 2026 Legislation Changes?

The team at HR Dept Somerset is hard at work updating Employee Handbooks and Contracts to ensure our clients are fully compliant with the new legislation coming into effect in April 2026.

If you are a client on our retained service, updated Handbooks and Contracts will be sent to you ahead of the changes, so you’re fully prepared.

Not on our retained service? We can still review and update your documents to make sure they’re aligned with the upcoming legal requirements.

If you’d like support or want peace of mind that your documentation is up to date, we’re here to help.

📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Call: 01823 211188

Let’s make sure your business is ready for the changes ahead.

19/03/2026

Understanding of neurodiversity has become much more widely recognised over the past ten years. While traditionally, conditions such as dyslexia and autism may have predominantly carried stigma, now there is realisation that they just make people different, not necessarily disadvantaged; although they come with challenges.

We must avoid thinking that every neurodivergent person in a category shares certain traits. Everyone is an individual. Whether neurodivergent or neurotypical, everyone has strengths and weaknesses.

About one in every seven people is neurodivergent. But if the standard workplace and job roles have been developed over decades based on neurotypical norms, what are the simple steps you can take to ensure you don’t let a neurodivergent diamond slip through your fingers when hiring?

Here’s a checklist of five areas you can review to make sure your recruitment and retention initiatives suit neurodiverse workers too: https://www.hrdept.co.uk/knowledge-hub/blog/an-employers-neurodivergent-checklist-in-2026