The Brightmine Podcast (UK)

Key employment law changes to look out for in 2024

Harnessing the power of mindfulness for the workplace

Mindfulness can be a great tool for building employee engagement and team cohesiveness. XpertHR's in-house mindfulness teacher, Christopher Bryant, explains how to make it work for you. Related resources How a mindfulness group can help HR promote engagement and teamwork

Gender pay gap reporting - a global view

Gender pay gap reporting is now well established in the UK. But what approaches are being taken elsewhere in the world, and what difference might the new EU Pay Transparency Directive make? Elle Barreto and Ro Carracedo Lopez, international editors at XpertHR, answer these questions and more. Related resources Demystifying the EU Pay Transparency Directive for UK employers EU employment law developments Gender pay gap reporting How to measure and report a gender pay gap...

Pay awards – what’s in store for 2024?

What financial challenges does the coming year have in store for organisations as they plan their reward strategy? Paula Flores and Hannah Mason, data insight analysts at XpertHR, make their predictions based on the findings from our autumn pay forecasts and priorities survey. Resources XpertHR surveys Reward planning 2024: priorities and key challenges Forecasts for pay awards in 2023/2024 Benchmarking - HR Metrics...

Empowering HR - tactics and tools for building confidence

In this edition of the podcast we are joined by Fay Wallis to discuss growth mindsets, the power of small steps and other strategies to build your confidence as you develop your career. About Fay Wallis Fay specialises in career and executive coaching for HR professionals. She is the creator of The HR Planner, a resource for setting and achieving your work and career goals for the year. She is also the host of HR Coffee Time, a podcast that focuses on career development in HR. Her website is bri...

Flexible working – current law and future reform

There’s been a lot of discussion around flexible working reforms in the media and elsewhere recently, sometimes generating confusion as well as providing insight. So what are employers’ current obligations, what changes have been agreed by Parliament and when are they due to be implemented? In this edition of the podcast, we are joined by XpertHR senior legal editor Laura Merrylees to answer these questions.

Discrimination law: key developments since the Equality Act 2010

We explore the key changes in discrimination law that have occurred since the Equality Act 2010 came into force and offer an overview of important case law. Resources related to this podcast Employment law guide: Equality and human rights Employment law cases

Making AI a success - the pivotal role of HR

In this edition of the podcast we are joined by Kate Redshaw to discuss the future role of AI in the workplace, and the pivotal role that HR professionals can play in terms of how their organisations can best unlock its potential.

Advancing gender equality in the workplace - eight key policy areas

Zeba Sayed and Stephen Simpson discuss the importance of having workplace policies that advance gender equality, diversity and inclusion, and highlight some of the innovative policies that progressive employers are now adopting. If you have questions or ideas for future editions of the show, you can email us at podcast@xperthr.co.uk . We would love to hear from you!

Unfair dismissal claims - recent tribunal cases

It is critical for employers to follow a fair procedure before dismissing an employee. Here, Fiona Cuming, senior employment law editor at XpertHR, discusses a series of recent employment tribunal decisions where unfair dismissal claims proved successful because of procedural mistakes made by the employer during the disciplinary process.

Sickness absence - trends and tips

Workplace sickness absence is a complicated area for employers. In this edition of the podcast, Paula Flores, an HR Data Insights Analyst at XpertHR, leads us on a tour of the findings of our annual survey of absence rates and costs. What are the trends and what measures can employers adopt? Resources referenced in this podcast How to manage an employee with a poor sickness absence record How to set absence triggers and targets Short-term sickness absence policy Long-term sickness absence policy...

Age discrimination - tips, traps and tribunal cases

Age discrimination can be a tricky area for employers. In this edition of the podcast, Susie Munro, Senior Legal Editor at XpertHR, leads us on a tour of recent cases that offer examples of how things can go wrong if they are mishandled and provides some tips on avoiding typical age-related traps. If you have questions or ideas for future editions of the show, you can email us at podcast@xperthr.co.uk . We would love to hear from you! The resources Susie refers to are: Age discrimination: Case l...

Five steps to save yourself from burning out – help for struggling HR professionals

According to a recent survey, 98 per cent of HR professionals said they had felt burned out in the past six months. In this episode we ask: What is burnout exactly? Why is it afflicting so many people working in HR? And - crucially - what can you do to keep burnout at bay? On hand to address these questions are Debbie Kleiner, from Wellbeing in Work, and Bar Huberman, XpertHR's HR Strategy & Practice Content Manager. We are also hoping to make a second episode in which we explore your experi...

Immigration challenges and opportunities 2023

We look at the challenges and opportunities arising in immigration in 2023 for HR and employers, including: the introduction of new visa types; an additional exemption to the immigration skills charge for senior or specialist workers; the importance of planning ahead to manage the impact of longer lead times; changes to right to work checks; benefits and issues arising from hybrid and remote working; managing sponsored workers when dealing with recruitment, restructures and redundancies; and tre...

Key employment cases of 2022/2023

We reflect on the key decisions from last year and look forward to the case law trends likely to emerge in 2023. These include cases on: gender identity, holiday pay, coronavirus-related health and safety cases, industrial action, and dismissal and re-engagement.

Supporting neurodiversity in the workplace

We shares some practical tips on how HR and employers can improve the working experience for neurodiverse employees and make the wider workforce more cognisant of some of the issues they experience.

Gross misconduct and fairness - what part does the employment contract play?

If an employer dismisses for gross misconduct, what does this mean for an employee's contractual rights? Does a failure to pay notice pay, make an otherwise fair dismissal unfair? Max Winthrop, partner at Sintons LLP, joins us to answer these questions and more, drawing on his legal and practical expertise. Max also shares his thoughts on the potential for significant change to employment law under the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.

Inclusive workplaces - the human case for reasonable adjustments

Jen Rooney, disability inclusion specialist and founder of The Wellbeing tortoise, explores why employers need to understand and embrace the human case for reasonable adjustments to cultivate inclusive workplaces.

Dealing with industrial unrest

Nick Chronias, partner in DAC Beachcroft's employment and pensions group discusses the steps employers can take to avoid industrial action and what obligations employers have once a ballot for industrial action has been successful among employees who are members of a trade union.

TUPE transfers with multiple contractors

Adrian Martin , head of the employment team at law firm Burges Salmon, discusses the tricky issues that can crop up when there are multiple contractors in a TUPE transfer, and how both outgoing and incoming employers can navigate these issues. Adrian takes you through the legal and practical issues involved in service provision changes, including: when and why TUPE might apply; the "fragmentation" of services; recent case law; and how HR can help to structure and shape the services to achieve th...

Hybrid working - progress and challenges

Gemma Dale , HR professional and lecturer at Liverpool's John Moores University and author of the book "How to work remotely" published in June 2022, joins us to talk about progress to date with hybrid working. We cover challenges as well as emerging benefits - including dealing with reluctant returners, cultivating the right culture, building trust, and what HR should be advising senior leaders in terms of the way forward.

Creating a menopause inclusive workplace

Bev Thorogood , menopause specialist trainer and coach, joins us to discuss how you can create and cultivate a workplace that is supportive of people experiencing the menopause transition. Bev discusses how managers can hold conversations with sensitivity and understanding, together with the steps and strategies they can use to support menopausal team members including: menopause-related initiatives; the role of policies; adjustments to working life; and tailored adjustment plans....

Creating psychological safety in the workplace

We outline the steps HR can take to embed authentic trust between people managers and employees and build psychological safety within workplaces.

Remote monitoring of homeworkers

Given that more staff now work from home, employers may be thinking about using surveillance software to help monitor staff conduct and productivity levels. But what are the legal implications of doing so and the best practice guidelines? And, just because you can monitor, does that mean you should?

Sickness absence management and hybrid working

Stephen Simpson , principal employment law editor here at XpertHR, joins us to talk about how employers that are operating under a hybrid working model must ensure that their sickness absence management procedures sit comfortably alongside their new working arrangements. We also present the findings of our latest sickness absence rates survey.

Investigating improper conduct

We discuss tricky issues that can arise when investigating allegations of improper conduct - such as sexual or racial harassment, bullying or discrimination - as well as some common mistakes and process points to have in mind, including issues relating to the role of HR and decision-makers.

Employee engagement in the new world of work

Kate Pritchard , head of engagement and leadership at Tivian, joins us to talk about the significance of employee engagement as we are transitioning into the new world of work shaped by hybrid working, the great resignation, skills shortages and employee wellbeing. Kate also discusses changes in employee engagement and the key role that leaders need to play in driving engagement.

Reasonable adjustments at disciplinary and grievance meetings

Max Winthrop , partner and head of the employment law team at Short, Richardson and Forth LLP, discusses the law and best practice around disability-related reasonable adjustments at disciplinary and grievance meetings including: the circumstances in which the duty arises; considerations relating to face-to-face and remote meetings; a worker's choice of companion; and the timing and rescheduling of meetings. Max also looks at two recent employment tribunal decisions, and reflects on how disabili...

Mental health wellbeing at work

Uxshely Carcamo, a lawyer, psychotherapist and registered nutritionist and author at XpertHR, talks about the impact of the pandemic on mental wellbeing, the need to challenge the misconception that mental wellbeing is wholly mental ill health, potent

HR careers and roles - what our surveys reveal

Noelle Murphy, senior HR practice editor at XpertHR, explores the findings from XpertHR's recent HR careers survey including the impact of the pandemic and hybrid working practices on HR professionals and discusses priorities and challenges on the HR agenda.