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Buzzing About HR
Kate Underwood
29 episodes
1 week ago
Send us a text In this episode of Buzzing About HR, host Kate Underwood tackles a familiar challenge for many businesses: what happens when your best doer becomes your newest manager. You know the story. Someone’s brilliant at their job, so you promote them… then watch them drown in rotas, one-to-ones and tough conversations they’ve never been trained for. Kate walks through a fair, practical way to grow real managers without losing your top talent along the way. She starts with the big tensi...
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Management
Business
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All content for Buzzing About HR is the property of Kate Underwood and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Send us a text In this episode of Buzzing About HR, host Kate Underwood tackles a familiar challenge for many businesses: what happens when your best doer becomes your newest manager. You know the story. Someone’s brilliant at their job, so you promote them… then watch them drown in rotas, one-to-ones and tough conversations they’ve never been trained for. Kate walks through a fair, practical way to grow real managers without losing your top talent along the way. She starts with the big tensi...
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Management
Business
Episodes (20/29)
Buzzing About HR
Why Promoting Your Star Performer Can Backfire And What To Do Instead
Send us a text In this episode of Buzzing About HR, host Kate Underwood tackles a familiar challenge for many businesses: what happens when your best doer becomes your newest manager. You know the story. Someone’s brilliant at their job, so you promote them… then watch them drown in rotas, one-to-ones and tough conversations they’ve never been trained for. Kate walks through a fair, practical way to grow real managers without losing your top talent along the way. She starts with the big tensi...
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1 month ago
7 minutes

Buzzing About HR
Flu Jabs: Perk or Pressure?
Send us a text Flu-jab season can help teams or harm trust. We show how to offer voluntary, privacy-first vouchers that cut absence without rota penalties, proof demands, or “us and them” culture. • why winter absence spikes disrupt rotas • how a voluntary scheme reduces risk • legal and data basics in plain English • minimal data design and deletion dates • inclusive comms for allergy, pregnancy, and faith • manager training to stop shaming and shift nudges • practical fixes for common poli...
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1 month ago
8 minutes

Buzzing About HR
You Can't Fire Someone Just Because They Called You a Dickhead
Send us a text Heated words exchanged on a Friday afternoon lead to an instant dismissal that could cost a business thousands in tribunal payments. Why? Because process matters more than the actual language used. Whether you're running a small business or handling HR solo, navigating workplace conduct issues is fraught with legal pitfalls. One poorly handled disciplinary action can spiral into costly tribunal claims, damaged team morale, and reputational harm. The truth is, tribunals don't s...
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2 months ago
16 minutes

Buzzing About HR
Beyond the Wagging Tails: The Real Impact of Dogs in the Workplace
Send us a text Office dogs can transform workplace culture when implemented thoughtfully, but require careful planning to avoid potential pitfalls. From boosting morale and facilitating connections between colleagues to serving as recruitment tools, dogs offer numerous benefits that must be balanced against considerations for allergies, safety, and fairness. • Dogs can significantly improve workplace morale and reduce stress levels • Regular dog walks encourage movement and provide healthy r...
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2 months ago
10 minutes

Buzzing About HR
How One Appeal Mistake Cost a Pub More Than Halloumi Fries
Send us a text A shift manager with a clean record was unfairly dismissed for giving a colleague a 50% staff discount for takeaway food instead of the policy-compliant 20%. The tribunal ruled that the appeal process failed to consider proportionality, treating negligence as deliberate dishonesty and ignoring the employee's long service. • Long-serving shift manager allowed 50% discount on takeaway food when policy only permitted 20% • Business dismissed for gross misconduct after CCTV and ti...
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2 months ago
10 minutes

Buzzing About HR
HR Without the Headache: Decoding the Employment Rights Bill
Send us a text Feeling overwhelmed by the Employment Rights Bill landing in your inbox? Take a deep breath – you've got time. The latest legal roadmap outlines changes rolling out in stages between 2025 and 2027, not crashing down tomorrow. This episode cuts through the complexity with a clear timeline of what's changing and when. We start with union-related measures at Royal Assent (likely late 2025), moving to the April 2026 changes including day-one rights to paternity leave, sick pay fro...
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3 months ago
9 minutes

Buzzing About HR
The Reality Check Your Business Needs Before Hiring Your Next Freelancer
Send us a text Have you ever hired someone who invoices monthly, works regular hours, and calls themselves a freelancer? That seemingly straightforward arrangement might be putting your business at serious financial risk. I'm shedding light on the murky world of employment status and why getting it wrong could lead to eye-watering tax bills and tribunal nightmares. Walking through the New Forest with my dog one morning, I received a simple client question about a freelance designer that spar...
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4 months ago
10 minutes

Buzzing About HR
Your Business Has a Legal Duty to Prevent Sexual Harassment—Here's Exactly What to Do
Send us a text Have you caught up with the Worker Protection Amendment yet? Since October 2024, all UK employers have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment at work - and there are no exemptions for small businesses. Whether you're running a boutique design agency, a local shop, or a growing startup, this law applies to you. And as real tribunal cases demonstrate, the financial and reputational costs of getting it wrong can be substantial. From Tesco's £45,000 pay...
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4 months ago
12 minutes

Buzzing About HR
Navigating the Complexities of UK Maternity Pay: A Small Business Guide
Send us a text Drowning in maternity paperwork? Feeling like you're juggling flaming spreadsheets while trying to decipher HMRC emails more terrifying than overdraft notifications? You're not alone. Today's episode dives deep into the complex world of UK maternity regulations and Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), transforming this often-dreaded HR challenge into a manageable process for small business owners. With approximately 600,000 mothers claiming SMP annually and a shocking 77% experienci...
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5 months ago
13 minutes

Buzzing About HR
Can a Well-Crafted PIP Save Your Business?
Send us a text Ever hidden a Performance Improvement Plan in your bottom drawer, hoping you'll never need it? You're not alone. Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) are often dreaded by managers and employees alike, but this episode transforms them from scary legal documents into practical tools for genuine improvement. We break down exactly why poorly executed PIPs can devastate small businesses, sharing real-world horror stories of expensive tribunal cases that could have been avoide...
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5 months ago
13 minutes

Buzzing About HR
Cake, Crisis & Compliance: A Decade in HR
Send us a text A decade ago, I sat at my Harry Potter desk under the stairs, redundancy papers in one hand and a comforting slice of cake in the other, reluctantly agreeing to "try" consulting for six months. Ten years, countless cups of coffee, and an embarrassing amount of cake later, Kate Underwood HR has evolved from that uncertain beginning into something truly special. This anniversary episode takes you on the journey from corporate burnout to building a business that's transformed doz...
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5 months ago
11 minutes

Buzzing About HR
The Legal Minefield of Retracting Job Offers in the UK
Send us a text Every HR professional and small business owner dreads that moment: you've extended a job offer to your perfect candidate, only to discover you need to take it back. Whether it's an unexpected budget freeze, a failed reference check, or a genuine business restructuring, withdrawing job offers presents significant legal risks that can cost your business dearly. This episode breaks down the critical distinction between conditional and unconditional offers that forms the foundatio...
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5 months ago
13 minutes

Buzzing About HR
Between Algorithms and Empathy: The Future of HR
Send us a text Have you ever wondered if robots are coming for your HR job? After my visit to the HR Technologies UK show at Excel London, I've been buzzing with questions about artificial intelligence in Human Resources—and it turns out you have been too. Artificial intelligence is transforming everything from CV screening to performance management, but navigating this brave new world requires both curiosity and caution. Through listener questions, I'm unpacking what works and what doesn't ...
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5 months ago
14 minutes

Buzzing About HR
Your Employees Don't Know the Difference Between FlexiTime and Flexible Working
Send us a text The line between FlexiTime and flexible working has become increasingly blurred in today's workplace, causing headaches for managers and HR professionals alike. This episode dives straight into the heart of this common confusion with a relatable scenario - Dave breezing in late, claiming "I'm on flexi time," then later submitting a formal flexible working request to work from home every Friday. Through clear explanations and practical scenarios, we break down the fundamental d...
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6 months ago
14 minutes

Buzzing About HR
Build a Workplace Where Everyone Thrives Without Getting Stung
Send us a text Ever had that gut-dropping moment when you realize a seemingly innocent question might land you in legal hot water? That's exactly what happened to me when I casually asked a new warehouse manager about old sports injuries – and suddenly found myself facing a potential tribunal. Post-offer medical assessments are a compliance tightrope that many UK employers wobble across without proper training. Section 60 of the Equality Act 2010 creates a clear boundary: health questi...
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6 months ago
17 minutes

Buzzing About HR
The £17,000 Problem: Managing Absence in Small Businesses
Send us a text Sick days are costing British small businesses more than ever. With absence levels hitting a ten-year high at 7.8 days per employee annually, the financial impact is staggering – nearly £17,000 for a 25-person company. That's three weeks of completely empty desks every January. Behind these numbers lies a changing landscape. Mental health conditions have overtaken physical ailments as the leading cause of extended absence for workers under 44. This shift demands new approaches...
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6 months ago
20 minutes

Buzzing About HR
Verbal Job Offers: The Hidden Legal Traps
Send us a text Navigating the legal minefield of verbal job offers can be tricky terrain for even the most experienced HR professionals. Have you ever wondered if that enthusiastic "We'd love to have you!" creates a legally binding contract? The answer might surprise you. When excitement takes over during the perfect interview, it's easy to blurt out an offer without considering the legal implications. But as the McCann v Snowzone case demonstrates, verbal offers carry real weight in employm...
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6 months ago
11 minutes

Buzzing About HR
HR's Secret Weapon: IP Protection Without the Legal Headache
Send us a text Every small business has valuable intellectual property—far beyond what you might imagine. Your sales strategies, client lists, training materials, and even the clever copy on your website represent significant assets, but are you protecting them properly? Buzzing About HR tackles the often-overlooked world of intellectual property protection for businesses of all sizes. We break down the five essential contract clauses that serve as your first line of defence: IP assignment p...
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7 months ago
12 minutes

Buzzing About HR
Sack Races, Sangria, and Solicitors: A Summer Party Manual
Send us a text Brilliant business owners, do you break into a cold sweat when someone asks about the summer party? You're not alone. That single question can unlock memories ranging from legendary team bonding to legendary legal bills. Summer socials aren't just frivolous expenses—they're strategic investments that deliver measurable returns for small businesses. When thoughtfully executed, these events create retention benefits that outperform pay rises, generate authentic employer branding...
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7 months ago
15 minutes

Buzzing About HR
Beyond Borders: Turning Immigration Headaches into Hiring Wins
Send us a text The post-Brexit hiring landscape has transformed how UK businesses can employ international talent, with EU citizens now subject to the same visa requirements as candidates from anywhere else in the world. I break down the entire sponsor license process, explaining exactly what small businesses need to know when hiring non-UK candidates. • Sponsor licenses are required unless candidates are British/Irish, have settled/pre-settled status, or already hold an eligible work visa •...
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7 months ago
12 minutes

Buzzing About HR
Send us a text In this episode of Buzzing About HR, host Kate Underwood tackles a familiar challenge for many businesses: what happens when your best doer becomes your newest manager. You know the story. Someone’s brilliant at their job, so you promote them… then watch them drown in rotas, one-to-ones and tough conversations they’ve never been trained for. Kate walks through a fair, practical way to grow real managers without losing your top talent along the way. She starts with the big tensi...