Athena-HR

04/09/2026

It’s Friday… but try not to look at the end of the week with a TGIF attitude.

Instead, look back at what the week gave you.

💭 What went well?
💭 Who in your team deserves a little recognition?
💭 What did you learn?
💭 What small win deserves celebrating?

When we spend all week counting down to Friday, it’s easy to overlook the good stuff happening along the way. As managers and leaders, we have an opportunity to shift that mindset within our teams too - recognising the small wins, celebrating progress and helping to keep morale high throughout the week, not just when Friday rolls around.

That ‘Friday feeling’ is a myth...Why not create a workplace where there are things worth enjoying all week long.💭🙌🏻

01/09/2026

☀️ The final push of the summer holidays…

Managers, you’re nearly there!

You’ve juggled annual leave, reduced teams, childcare, shifting priorities and probably a few “can this wait until September?” moments.

As we head into the final week, give yourself some credit. You’ve adapted, prioritised and kept things moving.

Hello September, fresh routines and that back-to-business feeling.

Managers - what are you most looking forward to getting back to this quarter?

We will go first...our Workshops are kicking off on Monday 14th and the first topic is 'New Manager Essentials' - a manager's guide to people, performance and leadership. Register your interest here: [email protected] 📩

31/08/2026

Bank Holiday Monday… but not for everyone!

While many are enjoying an extra day off, hospitality teams are often gearing up for one of their busiest days. 🍽️☕🍻

For hospitality managers, today is about keeping spirits high, checking in with your team and remembering that a little appreciation goes a long way during a busy shift.

Lead from the front, look after your people and celebrate the small wins.

We are so honoured to work with a lot of York's local and thriving hospitality businesses. Have a great day everyone!

28/08/2026

How many of you can actually say you took time off this summer? Yes, you may have been by the pool, feet up with a spritz in hand…But how many times did you check your emails “just one last time”? 👀
Or reply to that message from a colleague who really couldn’t wait until you were back?

New research suggests 41% of Gen Z employees work every day while on annual leave (published on Aug 7th https://tinyurl.com/GenZAnnualLeave)– which raises a bigger question about our workplace culture:

Do your employees genuinely feel able to switch off?

Sometimes it isn't a manager asking someone to check their emails. It can be the expectation employees feel, the fear of coming back to an overflowing inbox, or simply a workplace culture where everyone is always available.

Be honest – when you're on annual leave, are you completely switched off? Or as a manager, have you expected a staff member to be available if needed?

Let's normalise this conversation! 💭

New research reveals 41% of Gen Z work every day of their annual leave, as holiday guilt reshapes how UK employees switch off completely

26/08/2026

Grievances don’t have to feel daunting. 💭

Handled well, they’re an opportunity to listen, understand, resolve concerns and build stronger working relationships.

Our Grievance Workshop is designed to take the uncertainty out of the process, helping managers feel more confident when concerns are raised and understand how to approach them fairly and professionally.

✨ Could you turn a difficult conversation into a positive outcome?

Join us and build the confidence to do just that.

📩 Get in touch to book your place and email [email protected]

24/08/2026

Looking for managers who have just stepped into a leadership role...

If this is you...there is no doubt stepping into management for the first time can be exciting… but suddenly being responsible for people brings a whole new set of challenges.

How do you go from colleague to manager? How do you set expectations? What happens when something goes wrong? And what do you actually need to know from an HR perspective? 👀

Our upcoming New Manager Essentials workshop will cover some of the key skills, knowledge and confidence every new manager needs to find their feet and lead effectively.

Where? Blake House , 18 Blake St, York
When? 9:30-12:30
Interested? Email [email protected]📩

23/08/2026

Got the Sunday blues? Already thinking about Monday morning? 💭

When you’re a manager or in a leadership role, Monday can sometimes feel like more than just the start of another working week.

There are decisions to make, conversations to have, problems to solve and a team looking to you for direction. It’s easy to feel like you need to have all the answers before you’ve even stepped foot into the building.

But good leadership isn’t about having everything figured out.

✨ Take one thing at a time.
✨ Prioritise what genuinely needs your attention.
✨ Have the conversation you’ve been putting off.
✨ Ask for support when you need it.
✨ Remember that you’re allowed to still be learning too.

You don’t need to walk into Monday with every problem solved.

Sometimes, you just need to walk in with a clear head, a good plan and the confidence to lead the next step.

New week. Fresh start. You’ve got this. 💪

All of these feelings are covered in our up and coming HR workshops for managers, starting in September. Email [email protected] for more info!📩

20/08/2026

As a leader, you cast a bigger shadow than you might realise.

The way you communicate, respond under pressure, recognise good work and handle difficult moments can all influence the people around you.

And sometimes, the smallest actions make the biggest difference.

💭 So, a question for the managers and leaders in our network…

What is one piece of leadership advice that has stayed with you throughout your career?

It could be something a previous manager taught you, a lesson you learnt the hard way, or simply something you always try to remember when leading others.

👇 Share yours in the comments - you never know which new or aspiring manager might need to hear it today.

18/08/2026

“I know I need to address this, but I don't know how to start the conversation.”

That might be a common feeling when in a management or leadership role when it comes to your workforce.

We will be covering these topics in our first day of workshops on Monday 14th September, 1:30-4:30 at Blake House in York City Centre.

If you are interested in grabbing a spot, email [email protected] 📩

14/08/2026

Rounding off our upcoming workshop series, we’re covering two areas that almost every employer and manager will encounter at some point:

🔍Sickness & Absence Management
Learn how to manage absence fairly and consistently, handle difficult or recurring situations, support employees appropriately and understand the processes employers should have in place.

🔍Recruitment & Selection
From attracting the right candidates to making confident, fair hiring decisions, we’ll cover the key steps to building an effective recruitment and selection process.

Whether you’re a business owner, manager or responsible for people within your organisation, our workshops are all about giving you practical HR knowledge you can actually use in the workplace.

Book your session & drop us an email on [email protected]
Indie York