The HR Podcast | Built for Business
Sarah Ropek and Claire Cathcart | HR Advice for Business Owners, Managers and HR 33 episodes Nov 4, 2026
Practical HR advice for UK small business owners, managers and HR professionals. Each episode covers employment law issues such as disciplinary, dismissal, performance management, redundancy and hiring. The podcast offers straight-talking guidance on people management with no nonsense. Hosted by Sarah Ropek and Claire Cathcart.
Episodes
The Unexpected Things That Support Parents at Work | With Katie Guild
Most employers assume supporting working parents comes down to pay, but when Nugget Savings surveyed parents about positive leave experiences, money came up only 30 to 40% of the time. In this episode, co-founder Katie Guild explains what makes the real difference: an enthusiastic welcome back, a clear plan for keep in touch days, and flexible working for parents that doesn't need a big budget. Yo
Can You Stop Someone From Working for a Competitor? With Kathryn Evans
Can you actually stop someone working for a competitor? Most business owners assume a clause in the contract does the job, but courts are reluctant to enforce non-compete clauses and the costs of trying can be eye-watering. In this episode, employment partner Kathryn Evans explains how post-termination restrictions really work, why one template for every role rarely holds up, and how enforcing emp
Small Businesses and the New Rules | With Tina McKenzie MBE
Twenty-eight changes to employment law, arriving all at once, for businesses already paying more to hire people than they were a decade ago. If you run a small business and handle the people side yourself, this episode is for you.Sarah Ropek talks to Tina McKenzie, National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, about what the Employment Rights Act means for UK small businesses in practice.
Could Doing Less Make HR More Effective?
HR has had a rough year in the press. Too big, too slow, not enough impact. In this episode, you'll hear a genuinely honest debate about whether that criticism is fair, and what commercially focused HR actually looks like in practice. You'll learn the difference between what's legally required and what's been quietly added under the banner of “best practice,” why measuring HR ROI p
Are Your Employees Ready for AI? | With Katie Jacobs
You've rolled out a new AI tool and half your team seem to be working around it rather than with it. That's not stubbornness, it's a trust problem, and journalist Katie Jacobs has spent the past year finding out why. In this episode you'll hear what's actually driving AI adoption in business right now, why some workers are quietly sabotaging AI strategy instead of getting on board, and what that t
Right to Work Checks: The Compliance You Can't Ignore | With Ian Hamilton
When Sarah and her team audit a new client, right to work checks are non-compliant somewhere between 80 and 90% of the time. In this episode, business immigration advisor Ian Hamilton joins the podcast to walk through exactly what employer right to work compliance actually requires — for British and Irish nationals, EU nationals, and everyone on a visa in between. You'll learn the difference a sha
What The Fair Work Agency Looks at When Investigating a Business | With Lisa Pinney OBE
If an enforcement officer knocked on your door tomorrow, would you know what they'd be checking? The Fair Work Agency launched in April, bringing four enforcement bodies under one roof. In this episode, CEO Lisa Pinney OBE explains Fair Work Agency compliance, from National Minimum Wage to holiday pay, how enforcement actually decides who to visit, and what a risk-based approach to employment law
What Do You Do When Half Your Team Wants The Same 6 Weeks Off?
Half your team wants the same six weeks off, and most of them aren't asking to change their contract — they're stitching together annual leave, dependant leave, and adjusted hours to get through the summer. In this episode, Sarah Ropek and Claire Cathcart discuss practical, tested ways to manage school holiday annual leave without a rigid policy getting in the way, why flexible working for parents
Why Is Everyone Talking About The 4 Day Week?
The four-day working week keeps making headlines, yet most UK businesses still work a traditional five-day week. So what's actually going on? In this episode, you'll hear what two conflicting 2025/2026 studies really say about four-day week trial success rates, why the model suits some businesses far better than others, and the practical questions — pay, contracts, holiday calculations, cu
Should We Be Transparent About Pay?
If one of your employees found out exactly what their colleague earns tomorrow, would your business survive that conversation? Pay transparency UK legislation is on its way, EU rules are already driving change, and around a third of UK job adverts still don't include any salary information at all. In this episode, you'll learn why banning pay conversations rarely works in practice, how sal
What Do You Do When Your Employee Goes Viral?
Your employee just filmed themselves quitting on TikTok, had a very public vent about work on Instagram, or posted something entirely unrelated to work that's still found its way to your desk — and you have to deal with it. In this episode, you'll learn what UK employment law actually allows when it comes to employee social media misconduct, why "these are my own views" disclaime
Is It Too Hot To Work?
There's no legal maximum workplace temperature in the UK — and that surprises almost everyone who asks about it. As amber heat warnings have become a regular part of the British summer, HR managers and business owners are getting the same message on repeat: "it's too hot in the office, can I work from home?" In this episode, you'll learn exactly what UK workplace temperature
Who Is Responsible For Personal Development?
Ask an employer who's responsible for employee development, and most will say the employee needs to drive their own growth. Ask the employee, and most will say their employer doesn't take any responsibility at all. That disconnect shows up whether you're a five-person business with no training budget or a 10,000-person organisation with a dedicated learning and development function. In
How Do I Know If My Team Has a Wellbeing Problem?
Wellbeing problems rarely announce themselves. Nobody walks into your office and says "I'm burnt out" before it's already a crisis — instead, it shows up in small, easy-to-miss changes: someone who's usually chatty goes quiet, a high performer starts working later and later, or a normally reliable team member misses a deadline for no obvious reason. In this episode, you'l
Why Is My Employee Always Sick On a Monday?
When the same employee seems to be off sick every Monday, it's easy to assume the worst. But before you jump to conclusions, it's important to understand what might really be driving the pattern.In this episode, you'll learn how to approach Monday sickness absence fairly, spot attendance patterns early, and manage short-term absence without creating unnecessary legal risk. We discuss w
Does a Dress Code Policy Still Matter?
Only 7% of UK workers now wear a suit to work. The era of formal dress codes has largely passed — but employers still have a say in what people wear. The question has become more nuanced, not less relevant.In this episode: whether a dress code policy is still relevant, why guidelines work better than rigid rules, what UK law allows employers to require, how tattoos and piercings fit in, and why ha
Is The CV Dead?
If you're still relying on CVs to make hiring decisions, you might be missing your best candidates.Skills-based hiring is becoming increasingly common, with more employers using practical assessments and skills tests to predict job performance rather than relying solely on work history and qualifications. At the same time, AI is changing how candidates present themselves and how employers eval
Is a CIPD Qualification Really Worth It?
Is a CIPD Qualification Worth It? An Honest Career AssessmentIf you're in HR or thinking about moving into it, the CIPD question comes up constantly. Is it worth the cost? Do hiring managers actually care, or is it just a box they've been told to tick? And if your career is going fine without it, should you bother?In this episode: the three levels and what they're for, whether CIPD mak
Should You Introduce Stay Interviews?
Should You Introduce Stay Interviews? An Honest AssessmentAn exit interview happens when someone has already decided to leave. The feedback is useful for the next person — but it's too late to help the one walking out the door. A stay interview flips that. You have it while someone is still there, still engaged, and still worth keeping.Oxford Economics puts the average cost of replacing an emp
Why Can't I Just Fire Them... Anymore?
Employment Rights Act 2025: Why You Can't Just Fire Them AnymoreWhen we first answered "why can't I just fire them?", employees needed two years before unfair dismissal protection applied. From 1 January 2027, the Employment Rights Act 2025 reduces that to six months.Unfair dismissal claims are up 72% year on year. The average case takes 33 weeks. The compensation cap is being re
When is Authenticity at Work Just Oversharing?
Authenticity at Work: Where Does It Cross Into Oversharing?Half of UK workers find oversharing annoying — but many would leave if they couldn't be themselves. Where's the line? This episode unpacks it. Listen now."Bring your whole self to work" sounds positive until you're sitting next to someone describing their UTI in graphic detail. Authenticity at work genuinely matters —
What Does Great HR Mentoring Look Like?
What Great HR Mentoring Looks Like (And Why Most Gets It Wrong)Most people have had a mentor who didn't really mentor them. The sessions happened, the conversation was pleasant, and nobody was sure what the point was. Mentoring ranked number one in LinkedIn's Learning Report for L&D priorities — yet only 52% of those who say a mentor is important to their career actually have one.In th
Why Are My Job Applicants Ghosting Me?
Why Candidates Are Ghosting You (And What To Do About It)Candidates ghosting your recruitment process? This episode covers why it happens, what your hiring process signals, and how to fix candidate experience. Listen now.If candidates are disappearing after interview invitations — or not showing up on day one — the instinct is to blame applicants. But 56% of UK employers admit they're likely t
Is Pet Bereavement Leave a Step Too Far?
Pet Bereavement Leave UK: Should You Offer It?No legal obligation exists for pet bereavement leave in the UK — but what should you actually do? Practical advice for small business owners handling this well. If an employee came to you tomorrow morning, red-eyed, and told you their dog had died — what would you do? There’s no legal entitlement to pet bereavement leave in the UK, but that doesn’t mak
Two Teams, One Culture. How do You Make it Work?
Culture Integration After a Team Merger: What Actually WorksMerging two teams with different cultures? This episode covers what leaders get wrong in M&A and how to make culture integration actually work. Listen now.If your business has just merged two teams — through an acquisition, a restructure, or a cost-saving consolidation — you already know the business case. What nobody prepares you for
What to do When Your Top Performer is Toxic
Toxic High Performer: What To Do When They Deliver But DestroyYour top performer hits every target but makes everyone else miserable. Here's how to handle a toxic high performer before it costs you the team. Listen now.If your best performer is also your biggest problem, you're not alone — and you're not imagining it. Toxic workplace culture costs the UK economy over £20 billion a year
How to Create an Inclusive Workplace
How to Create an Inclusive Workplace: The Small Things That Make a Big DifferenceEpisode SummaryInclusion isn't a policy document. It shows up in the small, everyday decisions — whether your team socials always end up at the pub on a Friday, whether there's somewhere quiet for someone to decompress or pray, whether a new mum returning from maternity leave has a private space to express mil
What Managers Should Know About HR
Most managers are promoted because they're great at the job — then expected to just know the people stuff. In this episode, Claire Cathcart and Sarah Ropek cover the HR basics every manager actually needs, where the line sits between HR's job and the manager's job, how to make policies less overwhelming, and what happens when managers avoid people issues altogether.Giving good feedback
What's The Point of a Performance Improvement Plan?
In this episode, Sarah Ropek and Claire Cathcart explore why performance improvement plans (PIPs) have developed such a negative reputation and whether the problem is the process itself or how it’s used.Many employees see a PIP as a sign that their job is already at risk, but Claire and Sarah discuss why that perception exists and what often goes wrong in performance management before a formal pro
International Women's Day Special
International Women’s Day Special: Careers in HR, Confidence & Building Your Own BusinessIn this International Women’s Day episode, Sarah Ropek and Claire Cathcart step away from their usual Q&A format for a more personal conversation about their careers in HR, the decisions that shaped them, and why they both chose to start their own businesses.With more than 20 years of experience each,
What Should I Know About The Employment Rights Act? With Nic Elliott
The Employment Rights Act is reshaping UK employment law in 2026 and 2027 - but what does this major legislation change actually mean for your business? In this episode of The HR Podcast Expert Sessions, Sarah Ropek and Nic Elliott break down the biggest employment law reforms in years. Discover what's coming first, including day-one statutory sick pay and the new Fair Work Agency, plus what's on
Why Do I Keep Hiring The Wrong People?
Hiring the wrong person can cost up to 3x their salary. This episode covers the real causes of bad hires and practical fixes for your recruitment process. Listen now.If you've ever looked at a new starter three months in and thought "this isn't who I interviewed," you're not alone. According to the REC, the wrong hire can cost up to three times their salary — and in a small b
If My Managers Are Good, Why Do I Need HR?
Why HR Still Matters Even With Great ManagersGood managers don't remove the need for HR in small businesses. Here's what HR actually does, when to get support, and what the risks are if you don't. Listen now.Your managers are competent, your team is happy, one-to-ones are happening — so what exactly is HR adding? It's a fair question, and one Claire and Sarah hear regularly from sm
Why Aren't I Allowed to Contact a Team Member Who's Off Sick?
Can You Contact Employees on Sick Leave? UK Absence GuideThink you can't contact an employee on sick leave? You can — but how you do it matters. This episode covers UK absence management done right. Listen now.You can contact an employee who's off sick. That's the short answer — and it surprises more managers than it should. What you can't do is contact them in a way that feels pre
What's The Point of a Probationary Period?
Probationary Period Purpose: What UK Businesses Need to KnowIs your probationary period actually working? This episode covers what probation is for, how long it should be, and what changes in January 2027. Listen now.If your probation reviews get forgotten or treated as a formality, you're running a risk that's about to get significantly bigger. 22% of UK employees say they didn't rece
Why Do I Always Get Resignations In January?
Why Employee Resignations Spike in January (And How to Stop Them)January resignations don't come from nowhere. This episode covers why staff leave after the holidays and which employee retention strategies actually work. Listen now.If you always seem to lose people in January, the decision to leave almost certainly wasn't made in January. LinkedIn and Indeed both show January is one of the
Should I Bother Doing Exit Interviews?
Exit Interviews: Should You Bother and How to Make Them WorkExit interviews done badly are a tick-box exercise that changes nothing. This episode covers when they work, what to ask, and what to do with the data. Listen now.Exit interviews are one of those HR rituals everyone does but few use well. A 2023 CIPD study found 35% of UK employees were considering leaving within 12 months — poor manageme
I Promoted My Star Performer, Why Has It Gone Wrong?
Promoted Your Star Performer and It's Gone Wrong? Here's WhyOne in four high performers underperform after promotion. This episode covers the promotion pitfalls, how to prevent them, and what to do if it's already gone wrong. Listen now.Promoting your best person seems like an obvious call — until three months later it's clearly not working. According to the Harvard Business Review
Should We Cancel The Christmas Party?
Should You Cancel the Christmas Party? Managing the RisksEmployment claims rise 30% in January — often from Christmas parties. This episode covers the risks, your liability, and how to celebrate safely. Listen now.The Christmas party is one of the most anticipated — and most reliably problematic — events in the workplace calendar. Employment claims rise by as much as 30% in January, often from soc
Should I Stop My Employees From Having a Side Hustle?
Side Hustles at Work: Should You Stop Employees Having One?25% of UK workers now have a side hustle. This episode covers when it's a conflict of interest, when it's a benefit, and what your contracts should say. Listen now.A quarter of UK workers now have a side hustle — and that number is rising. Your instinct might be to shut it down, but a blanket ban could cost you good people.In this
Can I Replace My HR Department With AI?
Can AI Replace Your HR Department? What Businesses Need to Know55% of UK HR teams already use AI. But can it replace HR entirely? This episode covers what AI does well, where it falls short, and what to do next. Listen now.The question isn't whether AI is coming to HR — it's already here. 55% of UK HR professionals say their organisation uses some form of AI or automation in HR. But "
How Do I Restructure Without Damaging My Culture?
How to Restructure Without Destroying Your Business Culture58% of employees say they feel less loyal to their company after a restructure — especially when communication was unclear or poorly handled. That statistic isn't just about the people who leave. It's about the ones who stay, watching how their colleagues are treated and deciding what it tells them about the business they're st
Why Does Everybody Hate HR?
Why Do People Hate HR? The Reputation Problem and How to Fix It42% of employees say they don't trust the HR team. That's the finding from a 2023 People Management poll — and if you've spent any time on LinkedIn recently, you'll have seen the sentiment playing out in real time. HR is accused of being the corporate police, of working for management, of hiding behind processes. Some o
Should I Hire for Culture or Capability?
Hiring for Culture Fit vs Capability: How to Get the Balance Right89% of hiring failures are attributed to attitude and culture mismatch — not a lack of technical skill. So how do you hire for culture without just recruiting people who look and think like you?In this episode: whether you can genuinely hire for both, what "culture fit" means versus "culture add," how scorecards
How Can I Stop Being a Bottleneck?
How to Stop Being a Bottleneck in Your BusinessIf every decision, approval, or sign-off has to go through you, you're not leading — you're blocking. According to McKinsey, 61% of growing businesses cite unclear decision-making structures as a top barrier to scaling. And in most cases, the bottleneck starts at the top.In this episode: why bottlenecks happen in both small and large businesse
How Do I Choose The Right Benefits?
How to Choose the Right Employee Benefits for Your BusinessOver 80% of employees say benefits are a key factor in staying — yet most small businesses offer packages that go unused or weren't designed around what people actually want. Getting benefits right is about choosing deliberately, not adding more.In this episode: where to start with benefits strategy, why focus groups beat surveys, why
Do We Really Need To Do Appraisals?
Do Employee Appraisals Still Work? A Practical GuideOnly 14% of employees find appraisals motivating. Yet businesses that replace them with nothing lose the thread entirely — no visibility on performance, no development conversations, no link to pay or progression.In this episode: how appraisals work in practice vs theory, why linking performance to pay gives the process meaning, why personal deve
Can I Make My Team Return To The Office?
Can You Make Your Team Return to the Office? What UK Employers Need to KnowThe return to office debate is back. Amazon, Dell, and others have mandated it. Some businesses are going fully remote. Most are in the middle and not sure where they stand legally or practically.Before you issue a policy, there's a lot to work through: what your contracts say, whether custom and practice changes things
Why Can't I Just Fire Them?
Why Can't We Just Fire Them? A Practical Guide to Employee Dismissal"Why can't we just fire them?" is one of the most common questions HR gets — and it almost always comes from genuine frustration. The answer isn't always no. Sometimes you can. But there are three types of cost — legal, cultural, and moral — and most business owners only consider one of them.In this episode:
