The festive period is often framed as a reward for a long year: parties, client dinners, overnight stays and “team bonding” over drinks. Yet those same ingredients also create a perfect storm for sexual harassment risk, especially under the Worker Protection Act’s new proactive duty to prevent harassment. For many employers, December is when blurred boundaries, alcohol, and power dynamics collide with legal obligations in a very real way. Office space decorated for holiday pa

Side hustles, second jobs, fraud risks, and flexible careers are no longer fringe topics. They now sit at the heart of how start-ups and scaling businesses manage their people. Two recent wake‑up calls A striking UK example is a recent case of the Gloucestershire man with four council jobs found guilty of fraud . He held roles across several local authorities at the same time, submitting false timesheets and failing to disclose his overlapping posts. Over about 16 months, he

Menstrual health is an often overlooked but critical workplace issue with growing legal implications, as highlighted by the recent employment tribunal case of Platukyte v Secretary of State for Justice . A woman in a cozy sweater naps on a bed, hugging a pillow. Natural light fills the room, creating a peaceful atmosphere. This case has clarified that supporting staff with menstrual health issues, including providing reasonable adjustments like remote work, is not just good p

When the Worker Protection Act came into force in October 2024, it imposed a crucial shift in responsibility for employers: The duty to...

The government has launched a call for evidence on unpaid internships and related roles as part of its Plan for Change , which aims to ban unpaid internships unless they are explicitly part of an educational or training course . The consultation is open until 9 October 2025 , and this is a crucial opportunity for small and scaling businesses to have their say. For many small and growing businesses, interns and work trials are a lifeline. They provide extra capacity, fresh id

Hiring decisions aren’t just about filling gaps—get them wrong, and founders and business owners risk big legal and financial headaches....

Withdrawing a job offer isn’t always straightforward — especially when it’s already been accepted. In this blog, we explore a recent employment tribunal case that highlights the legal risks of conditional offers, and what growing businesses need to know to hire compliantly in uncertain times.

Start-ups, It’s Time to Write It Down: Why a Clear Strategy Matters (Especially in VUCA Times) If you’re running a start-up or small...

On 10 October, the UK Labour Government published the Employment Rights Bill 2024 . This Bill includes significant reforms to employment...

New Developments in Sexual Harassment Prevention: What Employers Need to Know Following our previous blog  on the new preventative duty...

In our previous blog post  we discussed the Code of Practice on Fire and Rehire and its implications for protecting employee rights....

How to Ensure High Employee Retention: A Guide for Entrepreneurs and Founders Employee retention is one of the main challenges  for small...

In our previous blogs, we discussed recognising the right time to make your first hire and explored various hiring strategies. Now, let's...

In our previous blog, " Navigating Growth: Recognising the Right Time to Make Your First Hire " we explored the signs that indicate it is...

Is It Time to Make Your First Hire? Here’s How to Know—And How Protean HR Can Help Every entrepreneur reaches a pivotal moment when their...

The government has recently launched Skills England to revolutionise opportunities and drive growth. This initiative aims to align...

As discussions surrounding the controversial practice of "fire and re-hire" continue to make headlines, businesses and employees find...

On October 26, 2024, the Worker Protection Act 2023 (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) will introduce a new legal obligation for employers...

In today's dynamic business landscape, the role of Human Resources (HR) has evolved significantly. SMEs in particular face unique...

In today's competitive business landscape, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) often face unique challenges when it comes to...