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Human resources

Every business knows that its people are its most important asset. They can drive your success, increase your profitability and give you the cutting edge you need in a competitive marketplace.

But all too often, people also can be the cause of a business’s most time-consuming problems. Helping you to get the most from your people, and to avoid problems before they begin, is where our BKL Human Resources consultancy can be invaluable.

Whether you have just one member of staff or dozens, your legal responsibilities and obligations as an employer are complex and ever-changing. Our timely help and advice can help you to avoid costly and damaging litigation and to identify ways to draw on the unique asset of your workforce to add value to your business.

The Human Resources Review

Our human resources service starts with a review, carried out by our human resources partner, Marjorie Hurwitz Bremner, a consultant and lecturer with more than two decades of experience in personnel, training and management in the public and private sectors.

Her review will review your employee policies, procedures, contracts and systems against current legal requirements and codes of practice. Following the review, you will receive a comprehensive report and HR plan, to form the basis of your future HR strategy for your firm.

Recruitment and selection

We offer a comprehensive and expert recruitment and selection service. We will write and place your recruitment advertisement, analyse CVs, test where appropriate and carry out the first interview.

You only have to invest your time when we have drawn up a shortlist of outstanding candidates. Once your choice has been made, we can help with writing the offer letter and contract.

Contracts of employment, policies and procedures

Research suggests that almost a third of employment tribunal cases are due to misunderstandings arising through a lack of written terms and conditions. The majority of cases relate to disagreements over wages and breach of contract.

With this in mind, BKL Human Resources can review and draw up:

employment contracts – outlining terms and conditions of employment contracts, policies and procedures:

discipline
grievances
internet usage
managing performance
sickness and absence
work life balance
a staff handbook, setting out the duties and responsibilities of your business and its employees.

Our service can be face-to-face or we can make recommendations based on your existing documents.

Redundancy and redundancy counselling

The last thing an employer needs in difficult financial circumstances is an unfair dismissal or discrimination claim with the attendant costs and stress.

Irrespective of how justifiable the business reason for the redundancy, if the proper procedure is not followed, it will be an unfair dismissal. BKL HR can guide employers and provide support at this time.

In the event that redundancies are inevitable, we are also able to provide redundancy counselling i.e. to assist redundant employees with CV preparation, job searches and interview techniques and generally coming to terms with the redundancy.

Mediation

The repeal in April 2009 of the statutory disciplinary and grievance procedures requires employers to review their processes for resolving disputes and under the new ACAS Code and Guidance there will be an increased focus on workplace mediation. So what is mediation and why is it desirable?

Mediation is a flexible process conducted confidentially in which a neutral person actively assists parties towards a negotiated agreement, with the parties in ultimate control of the decision to settle and the terms of resolution. Although it can be (and is) used in commercial disputes it particularly comes into its own in the workplace where it can be a tremendously effective way of dealing with a range of issues such as relationship breakdown, allegations of bullying and harassment, personality clashes and communication problems (or a combination of the foregoing – workplace problems are seldom so simple as to have only one cause).

Compared with alternative methods of resolution such as recourse to a tribunal, mediation will almost always reduce delays, costs, stress and confrontation and it can be used either to avoid the formal disciplinary or grievance process or even after litigation has commenced. Think of mediation as defusing the situation and litigation as testing it to destruction. Statistically, between 70% and 80% of mediations reach a settlement and many of those which do not settle “on the day” proceed to settlement shortly afterwards.

Marjorie Hurwitz-Bremner is trained as a mediator and accredited by CEDR (the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) and happy to give advice on the process and if appropriate to act as mediator, particularly in disputes in the HR arena.

Training courses

Research shows that investing in people – valuing and developing them – gives your firm a clear competitive advantage.

After carrying out a training needs analysis to identify and assess any issues that might benefit from development, we can provide training tailored to meet your firm’s needs.

We may recommend a course, workshop, seminar, one-to-one coaching or mentorship. Our courses include:

performance management
management development
assertion skills
customer care
managing time and priorities
recruitment, selection and induction
stress management
practical techniques to motivate, engage and retain staff.

After a course, we will follow up with a review to assess how the theory is being put into practice in your workplace.

Seminars and workshops

We offer a short series of employment law workshops, presented in conjunction with expert lawyers and barristers. These interactive seminars are based on the employment life cycle – from recruitment to termination – and cover the most common legal and human issues businesses encounter.

Outsourced HR and HR Retainer services

We offer a competitively priced fixed fee HR retainer service providing ongoing telephone support leaving you free to concentrate on running your business.

We will draft any letters you may require concerning recruitment, employee relations and other issues connected with contractual or statutory employment related matters.

We can also attend your premises on a weekly or monthly basis and act as your outsourced HR Manager.

Employment advice telephone helpline

Do you know?

what procedures to follow if you have to make redundancies?
what rights part-time staff have?
how to deal with poor performance or attendance?

If you are unsure of these answers – or have any other questions – our employment advice and best practice helpline is just a phone call away. We’ll provide support and guidance and carry out research on your behalf, referring you to additional sources of expert help if necessary.

For more information about how we can help you, please contact Marjorie Hurwitz Bremner.