HR Consultancy
Employee Relations
People issues come with the territory when you run a business or manage an organisation but we’re here to help you through it all.
Whether you’re battling absenteeism, struggling to manage an underperforming employee or need help navigating a complicated exercise like redundancy, we can help handle the situation appropriately.
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How we help
Expert support to manage employee relations in the modern workplace
Employee disputes and conflicts can manifest themselves in different ways; from poor performance and attendance to personality clashes, bullying and harassment claims or discriminatory behaviour. Whatever the issue, workplace conflict can have noticeable negative repercussions for the rest of the organisation and result in disruptions to work, decreased productivity, absenteeism, increased turnover and termination.
Furthermore, a failure to address and deal with the problem can impact business efficiency and the wider organisation and could result in discrimination claims through tribunals if not handled correctly.
WorkNest offers expert advice, guidance and solutions to deal with employee relations issues, and our HR Consultants have the skills to support you in achieving the best outcomes.
Bespoke services to meet your budget
Speaking to a professional can dramatically reduce the amount of time spent dealing with staffing issues. It’s also a great way to reduce legal risk and improve outcomes. Our services are completely bespoke, and we can tailor our solutions to meet your budget.
We can provide day-to-do support and also work with you strategically to:
- Diagnose potential organisational factors contributing to conflicts
- Help you understand what can be done to address the range of employee relations issues
- Assist in minimising the impact through swift resolution and developing effective consultation with employees
- Develop manager skills in handling difficult conversations and meetings
Related resources
Popular FAQs
Common employee relations queries, answered by our HR specialists.
What day-to-day support can you provide?
- Development of policies and procedures
- Advise on the legal process
- Investigate and case manage grievance, disciplinary, harassment and bullying cases
- Attend or conduct meetings with employees and advise on all stages of the process, up to and including dismissal
- and more. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
How flexible are your services?
We offer flexible packages to suit your needs and your budget – these can grow and change as your organisation develops.
What sort of businesses do you support?
Our dedicated consultants have unmatched HR expertise that can support both new start-ups and growing organisations, as well as those with no internal HR teams and those with established HR teams.
Explore Our HR Consultancy Services
We do more than just consultation support...
Dispute resolution
If alternative forms of dispute resolution fail, settlement agreements may be the only viable solution. However, negotiating one can be daunting – that’s why we’re here to make the process as painless as possible, as well as help you avoid legal pitfalls along the way.
Whether you have an employee who’s consistently underperforming or who isn’t suitable for your team, causing disruption and impacting negatively on team output, we can steer you through the legal requirements and iterative processes that need to be followed to deliver the settlement so that you can sever ties and move forward positively.
HR audits
Want to ensure your organisation is compliant with HR best practice and latest employment law developments? Keen to understand your strengths and weaknesses, protect your organisation, and improve the efficiency of your HR system? Then you need a HR audit.
Policies, procedures, practices. Get a systematic health check of how you’re performing from a people management perspective and take your HR function to the next level with support from WorkNest.
Investigations, hearings and appeals
There are many components to a fair disciplinary or grievance process. If you’re not comfortable conducting investigations, hearings and appeals yourself, or are simply strapped for time, our seasoned HR specialists can offer on-site support to take the pressure off.
We can conduct the meetings for you or, if you prefer, attend them with you to provide expert guidance and reassurance. This is invaluable when experienced, independent HR support is needed.
Mediation and facilitation
Resolving a workplace dispute or repairing a working relationship that has gone sour isn’t always easy. At WorkNest, we can provide mediation or facilitation services to help two or more individuals or groups reach a solution that is acceptable to everyone.
We can help those involved understand each other’s perspectives, clarify potential options, and develop an appropriate action plan for the parties to follow – allowing you to move forward positively.
Organisational change
Got big plans for your organisation over the next 12 months to three years? Then you might need to rethink and right-size your organisation to make sure your structure and skillset aligns with your aims.
If you’re not sure where to start with a task of this scale, our skilled HR Consultants can support you through the reorganisation process and ensure your workforce is set up for future success.
Recruitment
Hiring the right people can measurably propel your organisation towards success. Using proven methods, we can maximise your chances of attracting, sourcing, selecting and retaining the most talented personnel.
If you’re spending too much time and money on your recruitment, or struggling to get quality candidates through the process expediently, our outsourced recruitment offerings are suitable for one-off senior-level hires or even for us managing all your annual vacancies in one place.
Staff surveys
There’s only one way to truly evaluate your workforce’s feelings towards your organisation as a place of work, and that’s by asking them. Our staff surveys provide an effective and transparent measure of employee engagement.
After identifying your objectives, we can help you design, implement and analyse your survey. Done effectively, this can enhance your relationship with your employees, address critical issues and direct organisational growth.
Training and organisation development
Equipping your staff with the right skills fortifies your organisation and maximises its success.
Our trainers will apply fresh thinking to your operational and strategic challenges and offer innovative solutions to address your training requirements. Sharing their skills and knowledge, they will facilitate productive and insightful events to enhance your business’s management and leadership capability.
Welfare and medical capability meetings
When dealing long-term absence or persistent short-term absences, care must be taken to avoid being found liable for unlawful discrimination.
If you have concerns about an employee’s ability to undertake their role effectively, our seasoned HR Consultants can take care of all formal meetings for you and help you to do the right thing by your people and your business.
99.2% Client happiness rating
97% Client retention rating
Why choose us?
Experts in HR
At WorkNest HR, we’re known for our bespoke service and the quality of our support. Not only is our expertise unmatched, but we take the time to know you so that we can function as a true extension of your team.
- 40 employed HR Consultants, most of whom are CIPD qualified, chartered and fellows
- A dedicated Organisational Development Team of specialist trainers and consultants
- Cradle-to-grave HR service for new start-ups and growing businesses – everything from managing your HR administration through to defining your HR strategy
- Specialists in managing projects such as pay and reward, recruitment, HR systems, onboarding, redundancy and restructuring
- HR Consultants based in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Chester, Horsham and London, working remotely and in your premises
Who you’ll be working with
Angela Carter
Director of Legal Services
Toyah Marshall
Head of Team
Toyah Marshall
Principal Employment Law Adviser
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Clare O’Brien
CEO, Federation of British Artists at the Mall Galleries
