Blog

It’s time to get back to the office – well almost!

· by Emma Browning
We all thought that as of the 19th July we would be getting back to some form of normality as lockdown restrictions were easing!  However,  as the government seem to be back tracking on their recent advice about getting back to the office, and are now saying that we should “continue to work from home” if we can, and we are being “encouraged” to continue to wear masks, we wanted to send you our thoughts on how you approach getting back to work! Talk to your staff. Employers should be…

Do you need some HR Oxygen to help you breathe?

· by Emma Browning
Growing a business without HR expertise is challenging at best, and a constant uphill struggle at worst. If you’ve ever had to tackle a people issue on your own, you’ll know just how stressful it can be. Between trying to manage your legal obligations, and meeting your operational requirements, firefighting can become part of your everyday routine if you’re not careful. The last 18 months have shown us, how valuable it can be to have your HR Expert on speed dial. There is always the option to call upon HR…

Key HR lessons from Matt Hancock’s recent resignation

· by Emma Browning
A few weekends ago, we saw Matt Hancock resign from his position as Health Secretary over the breaking of COVID-19 social distancing rules while having an affair with his aide Gina Coladangelo. Whilst the world of political reporting and the mainstream broadcasters will focus on the implications of his resignation in the world of politics – anyone in an HR role like we are was sat at home thinking; Did Matt Hancock know there was CCTV in his office? How did the CCTV footage of him and an aide get…

Do you want to get £5 return for every £1 you invest in your people?

· by Emma Browning
Consider for a moment, the findings of research conducted by Deloittes that states that for every £1 invested into Employee Wellbeing, you will receive a £5 return – that’s a pretty impressive return on investment. When you take the time to show your people you care – in a variety of ways – they are going to be happier and healthier, more engaged in their jobs, and more productive. The bonus is that when your staff are happy and well, this typically leads to better customer service, too. And who…

Want to learn some new skills? Here’s our up and coming FREE Zoominars

· by Emma Browning
At Meraki HR, we love to help our clients develop their leadership and people management and for the last 7 years we’ve run informative and practical workshops to help you or your team develop their skills. We now run a number of FREE Zoominars each year based on what our clients tell us they would like to hear from us about, so here’s a snapshot of what’s coming up!  We’d love for you to join us for one of our up and coming Zoominars! Bring a cuppa, get comfortable and…

Some Common Myths about Equality, Diversity & Inclusion explained

· by Emma Browning
Most employers are keen to play their part in ensuring that everyone has a fair and equal chance and recognise the benefits of ensuring their business really delivers when it comes to such initiatives. The problem is though, there’s a lot of information out there that you might have come across that isn’t entirely accurate. When you’re dealing with the complexities of human behaviour, as well as the intricacies of the law, things can become a little complicated, and it can be tricky to work out exactly what your responsibilities…

The Common Barriers to the Successful Functioning of a High-Performing Team

· by Emma Browning
Having a High Performing Team is crucial if you are an ambitious business owner or MD and are thinking about growing your business. But there are several barriers or challenges which often prevent teams from being successful and here’s what we see in the businesses we work with, and help them to resolve, when we are helping them to achieve a High Performing Team and Business.  These barriers are often due to the differences in attitude, approach, aspirations, job roles and experience of the team members. Let us take a…

An Employers’ Guide to Strategically Managing Employee Wellbeing

· by Emma Browning
When I am fit, healthy, and well rested, I feel good and make good business decisions. But the savvy business owners and leaders among you have already realised that! Looking after your people as a business owner is a human, ethical and moral responsibility — and it’s good for business too! Higher staff engagement means fewer absences, lower staff turnover and far better business results. Well-being is very much on the agenda this year, so our article here examines the importance of looking after your employees and the impact it…

What Does it Take to Succeed in HR?

· by Emma Browning
If you’ve got someone in your business working in HR or responsible for HR, is their work helping you achieve your business goals? If not, it could be that you haven’t got the right person with the right skills and experience supporting you, or perhaps their job description doesn’t reflect what you really need in your business from HR? Having spent over 20 years in HR working in start-ups, scale ups and working for some blue chip corporates too like Porsche Cars and Harley-Davidson, I know what it takes to…

Lend a hand – why workplace volunteering is a win-win

· by Emma Browning
If I told you that approximately 70% of FTSE 100 companies have a volunteering programme, would you be surprised? Corporate volunteer activity days, giving employees time off to volunteer in their local communities, and sponsorship matching are just three examples of popular schemes adopted by some of the top FTSE companies. Waitrose, for example, donate some 75,000 paid employee hours a year to volunteering. So, there must be a really compelling reason why our biggest and most successful corporates do this . . . After all, they have budgets and…