Coming out at work – reflections of Pride 2022

Coming out at work can be one of the most daunting experiences for an employee. There are no set rules around this. Who do they tell? It’s their private business after all. Although it is the individual’s very personal experience, they should not be made to feel that anyone they work with will think any differently towards them. They need to be assured that there is support from their colleagues and management. That said, there are a few important things employers can do to help.

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What is the employee experience and why is it important?

Over the past few years, the employee experience has become a focal point for many HR departments, from creating strategies to perfecting onboarding processes, it is an extensive area to cover. But why has it become so important and is it just another HR buzzword?

We all know that an engaging work environment can promote happier, healthier, and more fulfilled employees, enhancing both innovation and productivity. Right now, more than ever these are no longer desirable elements for businesses, they’re essential. Want to retain your key talent? Enhance your employee experience; raising salaries are no longer the quick fix answer. You could pay someone a million pounds, but if they’re not happy in their work, neither party benefits, so to achieve a positive employee experience is essential if you want your business to become an employer of choice.

So how can we achieve an enhanced employee experience within businesses, and should it be led by HR?

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Are we creating unrealistic expectations of a “perfect” workforce?

With constant changes in employment law, increased press coverage of “bad” employers and no tribunal screening processes in place it seems like employers just can’t get it right!

In the small business arena, I network with, in some cases it can put employers off employing staff altogether. This can lead to some small business owners preferring to take on the additional stress and workload rather than run the risk of employing people with the increased risks of a claim being raised against them. Not because they’re potentially “bad” employers, but because they’re busy running a business and simply don’t need the hassle!

If you read the high-profile cases in the news it really does beg the question…

Does the perfect workforce really exist?

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The things we notice when we take a moment to slow down…

I was born and brought up in Uxbridge, North West London, and for as long as I can remember life there seemed like a complete blur! Everything and everyone was always rushing, I was really drawn to it and loved the fast paced way of life.

When I was living and working in Central London, everything I did felt like rushing, from getting ready for work, travelling on the Tube, eating and living in a “everything needs to be done by yesterday” pace. Even having a coffee at a coffee shop wasn’t the experience it should have been, it was more of a routine, go in, exchange a few pleasantries with the barista, never drink in, always with a “to go” nod, it is like a secret code that every barista knows!

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How a mentor can help you progress your HR career

One of the things I get asked often, is how did I progress my career?

I started my working life as a Travel Agent and selling holidays on the high street, I made a move into HR as an HR administrator, and now I run my own multi-award winning business which is a dream come true.

The answer I give is – I did not achieve this dream alone!

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