Quick HR’s Post

There, we have done it. We have only gone and said the “C” word and it is only mid-October (sorry, not sorry). But for many businesses, now is a good time to get plans in place to enjoy a productive Christmas at work, as well as a happy Christmas at home. For some businesses Christmas is a super busy time, whilst for others it goes quiet. Every company is different, so make sure you focus on what is important for your business. Here are five areas to look at to ensure Christmas goes to plan: https://bit.ly/3zJKUtA #hradvice #hrsurreyhills #hrwoking #hrdorking #smes #hr

There, we have done it. We have only gone and said the “C” word and it is only mid-October (sorry, not sorry). But for many businesses, now is a good time to get plans in place to enjoy a productive Christmas at work, as well as a happy Christmas at home. For some businesses Christmas is a super busy time, whilst for others it goes quiet. Every company is different, so make sure you focus on what is important for your business. Here are five areas to look at to ensure Christmas goes to plan: https://bit.ly/3zJKUtA #hradvice #hrsurreyhills #hrwoking #hrdorking #smes #hr

🎄 December in HR: The Season of Surprises 🎁 The month when HR gets to be extra festive! Here's what it's really like in HR as we wrap up the year: 🎅 Managers suddenly remember that 1:1s, performance reviews, and all the things they "meant to do" this year still need to happen... before the holiday party. 🏃♂️ The last-minute leave requests are flowing in like it's Black Friday (we see you, last-minute vacation seekers!). 🧐 Emails asking, “Did I get my holiday bonus?” start to fill your inbox faster than you can say “end-of-year evaluations.” 📝 Your “holiday break” looks a lot like chasing down one more document that someone forgot to submit... on time. As we wrap up 2024, let’s take a moment to celebrate HR’s superpower: keeping the ship sailing smoothly through the holiday storm. ⚓ Cheers to a stress-free end of the year! 🥂 #HRLife #DecemberInHR #HolidaySeason # #EndOfYear #Workplace #HRtalkbyJasminaRidzi

𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗥 𝗽𝗿𝗼? This article by HRZone offers practical tips to help you survive the festive season and avoid the seasonal stress. 💼✨ From managing expectations to setting boundaries, it's a must-read for every HR professional looking to keep their sanity during the holiday rush. 📝 Read the full article here: https://zurl.co/elevU What’s your best tip for staying stress-free during the holidays? Drop it in the comments. 👇 To discover more expert insights and stay updated on the latest hiring trends, explore: https://zurl.co/kxQRn  #HR #HRProfessionals #HolidaySeason #WorkLifeBalance #ChristmasSurvival 

If your business is in the retail or hospitality sector, you may be in peak season, with everyone rushed off their feet, whilst other sectors may experience a quieter time, as demand tails off. Whichever is true for you, there is a particular range of HR challenges around Christmas which you may have to deal with. Here are a few of the most common festive HR challenges along with tips on how to avoid them, or deal with the fallout: **Secret Santa spoilers** Secret Santa is a fun way to get in the Christmas spirit, but needs to be managed carefully. From people feeling excluded to inappropriate gifts being given, there is plenty that can and does go wrong. Whoever is organising it should ensure that everyone has an opportunity to take part, even if they do not celebrate Christmas; and equally that it is fine for them to opt out of it. It is sensible to set a budget, taking into account that money may be tight at this time of year, even if people suffer in silence. Remember, although some gifts could be deemed as funny to one person, but could offend others! **Unusual staffing levels** Depending on your business you may be contending with a skeleton staff, or hiring seasonal workers and dishing out overtime like confetti. If it is really quiet you may consider a seasonal shutdown. Make sure staff have plenty of warning and can manage their annual leave accordingly. If you are very busy, keep in mind the Working Time Regulations and its 48-hour maximum working week (unless opt outs are in place). If you have temporary staff in, they’ll still need proper contracts, adequate training, and don’t forget health and safety!   **Inclusivity** Of course not everyone celebrates Christmas, and each may have their own reason – say religion, an illness or bereavement. Find out to what extent they want to be involved and give them the space they need. For example, someone may still like to come celebrate at the Christmas party but abstain from drinking alcohol. Have soft drinks on hand to accommodate this.   **The Christmas party** Talking of the Christmas party… that is a whole blog’s worth of content in itself, and indeed we published this last week. You can read it here. Set expectations in advance (it is an extension of the workplace), have fun and have a “responsible adult” on the night to keep an eye on everyone’s behaviour.   **Productivity and behaviour** With all the fun that comes at Christmas, it is no surprise that employees may get a little distracted – spending too much time shopping online, turning up the worse for wear after a night out or trying to pull a sickie. You have still got a business to run and you rightly expect certain levels of productivity. There are varying degrees of misbehaviour, and hopefully most can be nipped in the bud with a quiet word. But should an employee persist, or do something that you can’t let go, your disciplinary policy will guide you in how to respond. Need help? Get in touch!

🎄✨ Festive Fibs or HR Facts? Let’s Debunk the Myths! ✨🎄 It’s that time of year when Christmas parties, festive leave, and seasonal work schedules can lead to a lot of HR questions—and a few common myths! Here are a few I hear every year: ❌ “I’m not responsible for my staff at the Christmas party.” ❌ “I can force employees to take leave during the festive period.” ❌ “Employees on leave shouldn’t be invited to the Christmas party.” ❌ “Everyone is entitled to enhanced pay for working Christmas Day.” Think you know the truth? 💡 Spoiler: Some of these are simply not true, and misunderstandings could lead to costly mistakes for your business. That’s why I’ve put together this handy guide to debunk these HR myths and keep your holiday season stress-free. 🎁 Got your own burning HR questions or myths you’d like cleared up? Drop them in the comments or send me a message—I’d love to help!

To #performancemanage or not to #performancemanage before the holiday break? 🎄 Through what I have experienced in 20 years working in #hr and #peopleandculture, it rarely works out better for anyone to delay a performance conversation. This especially applies to a period like the holidays, a time for reflection 💭 Letting someone know that an aspect of their performance or behaviour is not up to standard ❌ person gives them time and space to reflect on their options. ❓ Can I see myself making the improvements required? ❓ Do I need help to improve? ❓ Do I want to improve? ❓ Am I better off somewhere else? Rephrased: This question is: Do I be Nice or Do I be Kind? Nice= not saying something to avoid upsetting them Kind= say something that may upset them but gives them the opportunity to respond and/or improve If you are unsure, default to kind this Christmas 🎁

🎄As the holidays approach, business owners might be wondering: What thoughtful surprises can you drop in your HR pro’s stocking this year? Here’s a guide to what every HR person would love this season. 🎁 1️⃣ Extra PTO for Everyone – Because HR loves seeing a happy, well-rested team (and maybe sneaking in a day or two themselves). 🏖️ #WorkHardRestHarder 2️⃣ A Crystal Ball – To make workforce planning and those “What’s your 5-year plan?” questions a breeze. 🔮 #HRVisionary 3️⃣ Endless Coffee Perks – Fuel their day with a caffeine boost that powers through payroll and holiday party planning. ☕ #BrewedForSuccess 4️⃣ Drama-Free Days – A special button that magically keeps workplace vibes merry and bright. 🛑 #PeacefulWorkplace 5️⃣ An Email Autoresponder With Flair – A cheerful way to say “Check back in January!” 📧 #HolidayBoundaries 6️⃣ Superpowers – The ability to be everywhere at once for year-end deadlines and still make time for festive fun. 🦸♀️ #HRHero 7️⃣ A Decoder Ring – For translating corporate lingo and “urgent” requests into actionable plans. 💍 #EfficiencyGoals 8️⃣ Genuine Gratitude – A heartfelt thank-you card or a meaningful note to remind them their work is truly valued. 💌 #GratitudeMatters 9️⃣ A Magic Compliance Wand – To make policies and labor law updates sparkle with ease. 🪄 #ComplianceQueen 🔟 A Joyful, Relaxing Holiday Season – Because after supporting everyone all year long, HR deserves a little peace and joy of their own. 🎅✨ #HRWellness Pro tip for business owners: HR professionals pour so much into your team. A little recognition, thoughtful gestures, and maybe even a touch of humor go a long way in showing you appreciate them. 🎁 HR pros, what’s on your holiday wish list this year? Share in the comments below! 👇 #HRChristmas #PositiveWorkplace #HolidayHumor #HRAppreciation

My biggest takeaways from the working world are: 1. HR serves the company’s interests, not the employees’. 2. Write down everything. It's more important than you think. 3. A pizza party isn’t a real "thank you" for hard work. 4. Doing too much only earns you more work. Pace yourself. 5. Make the most of your sick days and PTO. You've earned them. 6. We're all just puzzle pieces; anyone can fit the slot. 7. Save those emails. They're your proof. 8. No job is worth sacrificing time with your family. 9. Not everyone at work is your friend, remember that. 10. If you're not growing financially, it's time to move on after a few years. 11. A fancy title without a pay rise? That's a hard pass. 12. Keep your personal life to yourself. Work isn't the place to bare your soul.

Yo, it’s holiday time, let’s set the scene, HR’s here to keep it merry and clean. From policy to parties, we keep it tight, Spreading cheer with a work vibe tonight! “Santa! I know him!”—that’s networking gold, But keep it professional, don’t be too bold. “God bless us, every one,” Tiny Tim’s refrain, Just remember inclusivity’s the name of the game. It’s a workplace vibe, no Scrooge in sight, HR’s got your back for a season that’s bright. From the breakroom snacks to your holiday cheer, We’re making sure it’s the best time of year! “Keep the change, ya filthy animal,” nah, be kind, Holiday bonuses, yeah, we’ve got ‘em aligned. Elf’s words are wisdom: “Cheer is free to share,” So sing it loud (but not too loud!) for all to hear! Grinch had it wrong, till his heart grew three sizes, But in HR, compassion’s our biggest prize. “Yippee-ki-yay,” keep conflicts at bay, With clear communication, it’s a stress-free day. From policies to parties, HR sets the tone, Let’s make this workplace feel like home. So deck your desk and spread some cheer, Happy holidays from Wilford Smith HR—see you next year! 🎄🎶 #hr #employmentlaw #christmas #law