I’ll be upfront with you, writing this feels a little like talking myself out of a job. But after twenty years of working in HR, there are things that need to be said, and I’d rather say them honestly than pretend everything is fine.
I won’t pretend it hasn’t been a while since I sat down to write a proper update. The honest reason is that we have been genuinely flat out — and while that’s a good problem to have, it does mean the blog has taken a back seat. So here’s a proper catch-up on everything that has been happening at Rebox HR so far this year.
Let’s be honest – December in the workplace is absolute carnage, isn’t it?
Secret Santa gone wrong. Someone’s ordered three pairs of shoes on company time. Dave from Accounts is three sheets to the wind at 2pm. And don’t even get me started on the passive-aggressive battle royale over who gets Christmas week off.
As HR professionals, we often find ourselves at a crossroads of organisational interests and ethical responsibilities. Achieving a balance, being aware of our responsibilities, all whilst juggling the needs of the business and ethical boundaries; it is no wonder that I get asked this often at events I speak at.
For many, this is an uncomfortable position to be in, for example, how many times have you been asked to cross the line when it comes to dismissals because that person doesn’t fit in, but no other reasons behind it? Or may be an issue has been swept under the carpet, yet something obviously should have been done about it, yet the person is bein protected because of who they are etc.?
The recent BBC Panorama episode “Should we still be working from home?” has thrown a spotlight on one of the most contentious workplace debates of our time. Since Covid-19 transformed our working patterns, we’ve seen an unprecedented shift in how Britain works – but as the dust settles, some uncomfortable truths are emerging.
While the Office for National Statistics reports that 13% of UK workers now never commute to work, there’s a growing disconnect between what employees want and what businesses actually need to thrive. The conversation seems to have shifted from “how can we make this work?” to “this is how I want to work” – often without considering the broader implications for business operations, team dynamics, and long-term sustainability.