Consensus HR Blogs & HR Insights
Stay up to date with the latest HR news, Employment Law updates, workplace guidance and practical people management advice from Consensus HR. Read our latest HR blogs shown below and discover how we help businesses take the pain out of managing people whilst preventing people problems.
Our HR blogs are designed to help SMEs understand Employment Law changes, improve workplace culture and reduce HR risk through practical outsourced HR support.
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Are You Measuring Employee Performance… or Simply Hoping for the Best? | Consensus HR – Herts & Beds
One of the most common issues we encounter when supporting businesses is poor employee performance management.Interestingly, the problem is rarely the employee.More often, it is the absence of clear expectations, measurable objectives and regular communication.Without these, employees cannot be expected to consistently deliver outstanding performance.Performance Should Never Come as a SurpriseEmployees should never attend an […]
Why Every Business Should Carry Out a Mid-Year HR Health Check | Consensus HR – Herts & Beds
As we move into the second half of 2026, many business owners are rightly reviewing their sales performance, budgets and business plans. However, one area that is often overlooked is the effectiveness of their people management practices. A mid-year HR Health Check is one of the most valuable exercises any organisation can undertake. Rather […]
The First Six Months Could Soon Become Your Biggest Employment Risk | Consensus HR – Herts & Beds
Many employers still believe that once an employee has started work, they simply “wait and see” how things develop.Unfortunately, that approach is becoming increasingly risky.With the Government confirming that the qualifying period for ordinary unfair dismissal is expected to reduce to six months from January 2027, the way employers recruit, induct and manage new employees […]
Are Your Managers Solving Problems or Creating Them?
By Matthew Chilcott – Owner, Consensus HR FCIPD, ACEL, BA (Hons)Managers have one of the greatest influences on workplace culture, employee engagement and business performance.Yet many organisations spend considerable time recruiting talented employees whilst investing far less time in developing the managers responsible for leading them.The result can be a workplace where managers unintentionally create […]
Why Good Employees Leave Good Businesses
By Matthew Chilcott – Owner, Consensus HR FCIPD, ACEL, BA (Hons)One of the most common comments I hear from employers is:”We were surprised they resigned. We thought they were happy.”The reality is that employees rarely make the decision to leave overnight. More often, the decision develops over weeks or months as frustrations, concerns or unmet […]
The Most Expensive Employee Problem Is Often the One You Cannot See
By Matthew Chilcott – Owner, Consensus HR FCIPD, ACEL, BA (Hons)Many business owners tell me that they do not have people problems.However, throughout my HR career I have often found that the most expensive workplace problems are not the ones employers can see. They are the issues quietly developing beneath the surface which eventually emerge […]
Exit Interviews: One of the Most Valuable Business Tools Employers Rarely Use
Every Resignation Provides an Opportunity to LearnWhen an employee resigns, many employers focus solely on replacing them.However, a departing employee can often provide valuable insights that help improve business performance, employee retention and workplace culture.This is where exit interviews can become an extremely useful management tool.Unfortunately, many organisations either fail to conduct exit interviews or […]
Workplace Gossip: The Hidden Risk That Can Damage Teams and Productivity
“It’s Only a Bit of Office Chat”Many workplace issues begin with what employees often describe as harmless conversation.However, what starts as informal discussion can quickly develop into rumours, misunderstandings, damaged relationships and workplace conflict.Workplace gossip remains one of the most underestimated causes of employee relations problems.Whilst employees naturally communicate and socialise with colleagues, there is […]
The Cost of Poor Management Training: Why Technical Experts Do Not Always Make Great Managers
Promoting the Best Employee Is Not Always the Best Management Decision One of the most common mistakes businesses make is assuming that because somebody excels in their current role, they will automatically become an effective manager. Many organisations identify their highest-performing employee, reward them with a promotion and then expect them to lead a team […]
The Hidden Cost of Keeping the Wrong Employee
Most employers can identify at least one situation where an employee’s performance, conduct or attendance has become a challenge. What many businesses fail to recognise is the true cost of delaying action. Poor performance rarely affects only one individual. It can impact: Team morale. Customer service. Productivity. Management time. Workplace culture. Business profitability. Managers often […]
Employment Law Changes Are Coming Again – Is Your Business Prepared?
Employment law remains one of the fastest changing areas affecting UK businesses. Many employers are aware that changes are coming, but fewer fully understand how these developments may affect their organisation, policies, contracts and management practices. During 2026, businesses continue to monitor developments arising from the Employment Rights Act reforms, changes to employee rights and […]
