Home Podcasts HR:ER
HR:ER

HR:ER

Hroes 61 episodes Nov 3, 2026

HR: ER is a podcast that serves as an emergency room for business owners, HR professionals, and anyone managing a team. Hosted by Elissa Thursfield, founder of Hroes, and Oliver Robinson, it offers insights and practical advice on workplace issues. The show covers hiring nightmares, compliance chaos, and other HR missteps, sharing real stories and expert perspectives. It aims to help listeners navigate the challenges of HR and create resilient workplaces.

Episodes

HR:ER Escalation - The Manager Who Went Looking For Her
HR:ER Escalation - The Manager Who Went Looking For Her Nov 3, 2026 28:21 She was signed off sick and in residential treatment, with a valid fit note.Her manager rang her again and again. Then he went to her home, spoke to her housemate about her health and got into her bedroom. Then he went looking for her treatment centre.At what point did the “welfare check” become something else? 🤔We offer HR protection for UK SMEs, backed by insurance. Software, trainin
HR:ER Escalation - The Town Hall That Ended in a Resignation Email
HR:ER Escalation - The Town Hall That Ended in a Resignation Email Oct 20, 2026 28:01 It starts as an ordinary company town hall. Profits up, salaries down. Then leadership announces they’re training an AI model on company data, along with a list of words staff should stop using in case they “bias” it.By the end there’s a manager confronting leadership in front of his own team, a conduct investigation opened within 40 minutes, and a resignation email that’s written but
HR:ER Escalation - The Employee Who Won't Attend the Meeting
HR:ER Escalation - The Employee Who Won't Attend the Meeting Oct 6, 2026 41:19 Your first management job. The handover note says: "Serious performance problems. Never formally dealt with.”He's been there 20+ years.Welcome to our new series: HR:ER Escalation! Our first episode, "The Employee Who Won't Attend the Meeting", covers four hours of work in three months, AI-generated work, a training course he walked out of after day one, and a PIP meeting he refuses to
Bumping: Redundancy Loophole or Discrimination Risk?
Bumping: Redundancy Loophole or Discrimination Risk? Sep 22, 2026 30:34 "We're making his role redundant... but we're not letting him go.” Meet "bumping" - where one role disappears, but instead of dismissing that employee, the business moves them into someone else's role and makes that person redundant instead. On this episode, Elissa breaks down bumping from both sides: the discrimination risks employers face (hello, 9 protected characteristics), and whe
“It Was Only Curiosity” - Can That Be Homophobic?
“It Was Only Curiosity” - Can That Be Homophobic? Sep 8, 2026 36:35 An employee has raised allegations of repeated homophobic comments from their manager, some allegedly witnessed by other managers. They’ve also raised concerns about sexual harassment from a colleague and homophobic abuse from a customer. But instead of investigating properly, a senior manager suggests the comments might have been “innocent curiosity” and questions whether the manager
New Contract, Worse Terms
New Contract, Worse Terms Aug 25, 2026 33:41 Can you really just issue a new contract and change the terms? 👀What happens when a “contract update” actually means losing sick pay, reducing notice, changing holiday rights and removing contractual benefits? And what if the employee refuses to sign?🎙️ Listen to the full episode to find out what employers should be doing - and how HR can prevent these issues in the first place.With ou
Is Your Remote Employee Working... Somewhere Else?
Is Your Remote Employee Working... Somewhere Else? Aug 4, 2026 26:42 What would you do if you suspected a remote employee was juggling another job during contracted hours? 📌 They're regularly unavailable. 📌 Their work suddenly looks AI-generated. 📌 Productivity doesn't quite add up. Can you investigate? Can you monitor them? And if they are working another job, can you dismiss them? That's exactly what our Unified Employment Solution delivers, combining
Tracking Every 15 Minutes… Is This Really Legal?
Tracking Every 15 Minutes… Is This Really Legal? Jul 21, 2026 32:14 Would you be comfortable being asked to log everything you do at work in 15-minute intervals, every day? That’s what our HR consultancy tackles in our latest episode! An employee with a strong performance record and no disciplinary issues has been asked to complete detailed activity tracking to improve “visibility” of their workload.Our all-in-one solution is designed to help you preve
⚽ Is it Coming Home...or Into a Disciplinary?
⚽ Is it Coming Home...or Into a Disciplinary? Jul 8, 2026 29:59 The World Cup doesn't just divide fans...it can divide the workplace too. On the podcast, we're tackling the biggest workplace football debates, and of course, our silly paddles are back! 🎙️⚽ ⚽ Office sweepstakes - harmless fun or should they be banned? 🍹 Buzzballs at the office World Cup party - yes or no? 👕 Football shirts at work? 🤒 Repeated "post-match" sick days - absence review?
When Ollie Crashed Into Dawn at Work
When Ollie Crashed Into Dawn at Work Jun 16, 2026 28:36 Don't worry, Dawn survived. But after recording a podcast, Ollie accidentally reversed into the front of her car in the studio car park. It sounds like a simple bump... but what if it wasn't? 🤔 If an accident happens during work hours but off company premises, does HR need to get involved? 🤕 If someone had been injured, how much legal risk could that create for the business? ⚖️ Could a
A Welfare Case Turned Operational Crisis
A Welfare Case Turned Operational Crisis Jun 2, 2026 32:53 🚨 A welfare case turned operational crisis. An employee's flexible working request was approved to support caring responsibilities. A welfare meeting followed. The employee was signed off with mental health concerns. Now the business wants to introduce even later shifts, making the agreed arrangement unworkable. In this episode, we explore the legal, practical, and people implications
“My AI Lawyer Sent That”
“My AI Lawyer Sent That” May 19, 2026 37:47 "Please disregard the resignation letter… my AI lawyer sent it.”Yes, really. ⚖️ An employee off sick for 6+ months 📂 Multiple grievances + a huge SAR request 🤖 An AI-generated legal letter alleging discrimination & constructive dismissal So: Is the resignation valid? Should AI-generated complaints be taken seriously? Who’s liable when AI gets it wrong? How should HR respond? Tune in to

Recommended