Inspired HR Roundup - North East HR&D Awards, Fire & Re-hire & More!
North East HR&D Awards
What an event! Inspired HR, in partnership with our brilliant client Westray Recruitment Group, were shortlisted as a finalist in the North East HR&D Awards in the category of Excellence in SME People Practices and last night was the awards ceremony.
While we're often recognised for our work supporting SMEs and Corporate HR Teams with complex Employee Relations and Neurodiversity matters, this recognition was for a strategic talent and succession planning project we delivered collaboratively with Maureen Wright, Ashleigh Wright and their fantastic team.
Although we didn't come away with the big prize, this was a project we’re especially proud of! It combined strategic design with hands-on delivery and has led to measurable business impact and significant personal growth across the team.
Upcoming Webinar
Just a reminder our legal webinar is next Thursday and we've got some exciting news... Nikki and Kat will be joined by the brilliant Jannine Perryman to talk about Neurodiversity and what workplaces can do to support their neurodivergent employees to thrive!
Jannine is CEO of ADHD Wise UK and is a renowned neurodiversity specialist, known for her unapologetic honesty and lived experience of ADHD and Dyslexia. You will not want to miss her insights so be sure to sign up to this FREE event by clicking here.
Can You Demote An Employee?
Demotion can seem like a fair compromise, a way to retain an employee while still taking formal action. But in legal terms, it’s not always that simple.
Before taking any action, review the contract, your disciplinary procedure and your staff handbook. If demotion isn’t set out as a possible outcome, you’re on shaky ground.
Even if the relevant clause or statement is there, any decision to demote must be reasonable and proportionate to the situation. That means you’ll need a clear trail of evidence and sound justification for why it’s the appropriate response.
In some cases, dismissal may be simpler. But if an employee appeals a dismissal, offering demotion as part of the appeal outcome can be a smart and legally safer move.
Need advice on handling a tricky demotion, disciplinary process, or performance issue? Our team is here to guide you through it - clearly, confidently and by the book. Get in touch.
Inspired Minds: Attention & Concentration
Struggling to stay focused or finding it hard to concentrate? You’re not alone! Here are a few simple tips to help:
Break tasks down into smaller more manageable steps
Use headphones to limit distractions
Ask for written instructions alongside verbal ones
Set time aside to plan your day
Ask your manager to clarify task priorities
Focus looks different for everyone, and that’s okay.
Legal Roundup: Fire & Re-hire
The rules around dismissal and re-engagement are set to change. Currently, employers can dismiss employees on their existing terms and offer re-employment on new ones, as long as they have a genuine business reason, consult properly, and follow the Statutory Code of Practice (introduced in July 2024).
Under proposed legislation, certain dismissals will be automatically unfair. This includes cases where an employee refuses new terms and is dismissed, or where the employer tries to rehire the same person (or someone else) to do the same job under changed terms. There is a narrow exception where serious financial difficulties make the change unavoidable.
These changes are not yet in force and are not expected to take effect until at least Autumn 2025.
What you should do now:
Review employment contracts and flag any clauses you may want to remove
Strengthen variation clauses where needed, while keeping them fair and reasonable
Be cautious when making contractual changes and always follow a fair process
If you are unsure how this could affect your business, we are here to help. Get in touch.
Service Spotlight
Identify and understand the cognitive profile indicators for ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, and other neurodiverse conditions that may be present/overlapping in you or your employees.
Our screening service produces detailed reports along with strategies for turning those insights into an advantage. Please note, this is not a formal diagnostic service.