National Wage increases The National Living Wage will increase by more than a pound an hour from April 2024, the Treasury has announced. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said that the pay threshold will rise from £10.42 per hour to £11.44, the largest increase in more than a...
The Government previously announced proposals to make changes to the Flexible Working Regulations. There was movement this week as the proposals have been passed in the House of Lords and are now awaiting Royal Assent – the final stage in the process. So, what does...
The Government announced the rates of the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW), in their Autumn Budget, which are coming into force from April 2023. As always, we are here to help make these changes as stress-free as possible for you and your...
It is estimated that around one in seven people (more than 15 per cent of people in the UK) are neurodivergent, meaning that the brain functions, learns and processes information differently - so that means around 10 million people. 10 Million. We’ll leave that...
Picture this; you’ve set up your own business, you’ve built it, you’ve scaled it, you’ve put in the hours, it’s your passion! Your team are a part of your extended family, you want to make sure they’re looked after fairly and in line with current legislation. You...
With over 1 million diagnosed cases of Menopause every year in the UK alone, do you have a menopause policy and have you considered your duties as an employer to support your employee? We read this recent case with interest – a successful discrimination claim brought...
If you are responsible for paying staff you need to be aware of pay increases that have come into effect. Under the minimum wage legislation, employees must be paid at least the statutory minimum wage for their age or whether they are an apprentice. There are two...
Meet our newest full-time team member, Trinity who has joined Spire HR in 2021. We are so excited to have her on board, and cannot wait to see what the new year will bring, now that our team has grown. So, over to Trinity to find out more about her. Why are you...
Towards the back end of 2021, we saw a big shift in employee salaries and a general pattern of potential candidates wanting more from their employer. Hybrid working seems to be at the top of everyone’s wish list following the numerous lockdowns. According to the...
Many business owners and managers are dealing with new and unfamiliar conversations in the workplace surrounding Covid-19. We’ve put together a helpful blog which covers conversations with staff about the vaccinations and other FAQs. How can I discuss vaccinations...
It’s uncertain when and if we will ever fully get back to ‘normality’. For sure we feel that we will always be having a conversation with employers regarding Covid in some form in the future. We have seen the coronavirus restrictions starting to ease and we are all...
Proud to be working with iSupply Group! How to make customers happy… is it really a secret? They need a positive experience when interacting with brands. Essentially, experience even trumps the product itself (a bit like Apple). They want to do business with brands...
National Minimum Wage Increase The National Living Wage (NLW), known as ‘Minimum Working Wage’ is a set hourly rate that all workers in the UK are entitled to be paid. The amount depends on your age and whether you are an apprentice. As an employer, it is a violation...
End of free movement for EU nationals On the 1st of January 2021, free movement for all EU nationals ended and the UK introduced a point-based immigration system. The system treats EU and non-EU citizens equally. Anyone coming into the UK to work needs to ensure...
With a new year comes new opportunities, new chances for growth, and positive change! It’s very important to hold regular Personal Development Plans (PDPs) with your staff to make sure they are on the right track. Some businesses opt for once a year, but every 6...
It’s safe to say it’s been a strange year. Although it’s very likely that coronavirus is still going to have a huge impact on our everyday lives in 2021, we can plan ahead and do everything we can as company managers/directors to keep our businesses productive and our...
We all know what it feels like to feel a bit stressed and it’s normal to feel under pressure at time but it’s important to reduce stress factors where possible and manage our stress levels. Becoming overwhelmed by stress can lead to mental health problems or even lead...
World Mental Health Day is coming up on the 10th of October this year and, unfortunately, a lot of employees and employers are experiencing difficult times and uncertainty this year. That’s why we’ve put together some ways you can actively support mental health in the...
Here at Spire, we are a team of highly qualified and knowledgeable HR experts with a deep understanding of employment law. Our skills vary from employment contracts to managing disciplinarians as well as any other enquiries on your journey as an employer. Whether you...
We at Spire HR are a local company based in Warrington who specialise in helping companies with advice, support, payroll, recruiting, and more. Luckily for us, we’re not limited to working within a particular industry and have experience working with a range of...
Whilst many of us are due to return to work after the COVID-19 outbreak, we are all treading unprecedented times and potentially sensitive conversations. We at Spire HR have put together some tips on how to work safely and securely as well as our best tips and advice...
As you will know, we are all going through big changes right now – both in our professional and personal lives. The current situation we are facing is new to all of us, which is why it is important that if you are a business owner you are making the best decisions...
A potential business and HR headache, it’s just some of the things that can be expected when changes in employment law are introduced. That’s exactly what has happened following the recent changes in April 2020, as businesses around the country have to tweak and...
As more of the UK is in lockdown and more of our employees are working from home, employers have a key responsibility in continuing to look after the wellbeing of staff. While remote working is already commonplace in some businesses, for others it will be a complete...
COVID-19, otherwise known as coronavirus has been instilling fear across the world as the disease continues to spread, but just how will that impact the workplace? With confirmed cases constantly on the rise, it can be a big worry having to share confined spaces with...
Summer’s out for school. The office is fuller again. Everybody’s work-life balance is returning to normality. The holiday requests and unexpected time off for dependents has slowed a little. With the start of the new school year you may have found that the number of...
Low-unemployment ratio. Is it more difficult to employ the best people for the job? How can people overcome the challenge of employment? 3.8%. That's the current unemployment rate in the UK. It's the lowest the rate has been for 45 years - mighty...
I was happy to attend the world’s largest not-for-profit disability exhibition recently. It’s a matter close to my heart having a father with a disability. On July 14th around 250 exhibitors descended on Walton Gardens in Warrington to promote a culture of what...
Advice for people managers during National Stress Awareness Month Do you know how to start a conversation about work-related stress? Nearly 600,000 UK workers suffered from work pressures, anxiety or depression in 2017-18 according to figures released by the...
Are you an SME in need of comprehensive HR-oriented support? If so, Spire HR are a team of professionals ready and waiting to help. Offering a holistic service that is firmly centred around an ‘employment cycle’ concept, Spire HR consider themselves an extension of...
Are you in a position to give new employees a written statement of terms on their first day of work? If not, you could fall foul of proposed legislation set to be implemented on 6 April 2020. Dubbed “the largest upgrade in workers’ rights in over a generation” by The...
When does ‘banter’ become workplace bullying? As a people manager, could you recognise the signs and do you know how to tackle it compassionately and legally? That’s the question Spire HR are asking this Anti-Bullying Week, which has a core theme of ‘Choose Respect’....
UK workers took 15.8 million mental health sick days last year, but the true number could be even higher... There are concerns that stigma-related fears are preventing many employees from disclosing anxiety, depression and stress to account for their absence, as the...
Has the number of outstanding employment tribunals increased in your workplace? If so, you’re far from alone… One year on since tribunal fees were abolished, their number has more than doubled according to official statistics from The Ministry of Justice – leaving...
These shock findings – reported by technology firm Sage – support what Spire HR have long suspected: time spent tackling the daily onslaught of admin can account for nearly half the working year, which has devastating consequences for productivity. “In any business,...
Spire HR Solutions is 8 years old today. Where has the time gone? In the last 8 years we have helped a multitude of companies, ranging from 4 employees to 4000, in various different industries. Whether it's a charity, a multinational company or a new start up we have...
Most of us are either counting down to our pre-booked summer holidays or researching last-minute deals. You’ll certainly have both types of workers on your team: people who plan their annual leave requests meticulously, and those who like to ‘chance their arm’ with a...
Originally known as Adult Learners’ Week, the Festival of Learning takes place from 18-24 June and is an annual celebration of lifelong learning in England. Now in its twenty-sixth year, the festival’s principal aims are to champion the cause of adult education and...
The Court of Appeal has today ruled that individual sales-related commission should be included in the calculation of statutory holiday pay (4 weeks leave as derived from the Working Time Directive). This was decided in the case of Lock v British Gas Trading Ltd and...
With effect from 1st October 2016 the following minimum wage rates will apply: The rate for workers aged 21 to 24 years will increase to £6.95 per hour The development rate for 18 to 20 year olds will increase to £5.55 per hour The rate for 16 to 17 year olds...
Do you hold all of your staff data on excel spreadsheets? Is it a laborious task to update your holiday records each week/month? Are your employee personal contact details likely to be out of date? If the answer is yes to any of the above then we have a solution just...
The new ACAS code of practice on Disciplinary and Grievance procedures came in to force on 11th March 2015. The new code was issued following uncertainty regarding workers’ statutory rights to be accompanied by a Trade Union Representative or fellow worker at...
It was recently announced that the government is looking to introduce the option for grandparents to take shared parental leave. The policy is expected to be implemented by 2018. This proposal follows the recently implemented shared parental leave which allows the...
It was recently held by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) that travel to and from a temporary workplace from home is to be classed as Working time for the purposes of the Working Time Directive. The case of Federacion de Servicios Privados del...
Are you aware of pension auto-enrolment? Do you know when it affects you? As we have previously reported, the 1st October 2012 was the first staging date for the pension roll out. Employers with over 120,000 employees had a legal obligation to automatically enroll...
