Small Business Guide

Freelancers look like the perfect solution for small businesses.   But this seemingly simple arrangement can hide unexpected risks that could impact your business.

When an employee is grieving having clear policies can be one less worry  When an employee is grieving, you're managing compassion and business needs at the same time.   Balancing support with keeping your business running isn't easy. But the right approach can protect your team and your company.   Understanding your legal obligations   The law provides some clear guidelines for supporting bereaved employees:   Parents who lose a child under 18 (or experience a stillbirth aft

These conversations are your most honest insight into what's really happening in your business and can really help you to improve engagement and retention.   When someone's walking out the door, they've got nothing to lose by telling you the real story.   These conversations are your most honest insight into what's really happening in your business and can really help you to improve engagement and retention.   So, how do you actually handle negative feedback in an exit

If you're hiring someone new, you must check that they have the legal right to work in the UK before they start.   That applies to every role and every nationality.   Skip it and you risk fines of up to £60,000, plus serious damage to your business and reputation. Get the complete step by step guide to lawful Right to Work checks    Get in touch if you need some support with getting this process right internally.

Protecting your investment in good people makes business sense.   If you're not confident about how you handle maternity returns or want help with creating a process that works for everyone, get in touch.   Losing employees after maternity leave is frustrating and expensive.   And when it costs you around £30,000 to replace each employee, every loss matters.   1 in 4 mothers leave their job within a year of returning from maternity leave.   This contributes to £650 million in

Stay informed with the Fluid HR & Coaching newsletter. Get expert HR advice, UK employment law updates and practical people management tips from trusted HR consultant Sarah Cooper. Designed for small and growing businesses, it helps you stay compliant, solve HR challenges and build a positive workplace culture with confidence and clarity.

Growing your business feels amazing. More customers, more revenue, more people wanting to join your team. You're finally getting somewhere. But growth brings some unexpected legal challenges along with it that weren't even on your radar when you started. Those casual ways of doing things that worked perfectly with 3 people can cause real problems once you hit 10 or 15 employees.

You can do everything you think is right and still get hit with a massive fine. That's exactly what happened to a fish and chip shop owner in Surrey. They thought they'd covered all the bases. The person they hired had a National Insurance number, benefit paperwork and was already on PAYE with another employer. Everything looked legitimate. But the Home Office disagreed and the business was fined £40,000.

Interviews can feel awkward, especially when you're trying to build rapport with a candidate. A bit of small talk to break the ice is natural. But some casual questions can land you in hot water, even when you don't mean any harm. Here are 5 topics to avoid completely during interviews. These aren't just HR best practice, they're legal requirements that could expose your business to discrimination claims.

More adults are getting ADHD diagnoses than ever before. That means someone in your business might have ADHD right now, whether you know it or not. As a small business owner, understanding ADHD isn't just about being supportive. It's about unlocking potential you might not even realise exists in your team.

Menopause is a normal life change and a natural part of our ageing process. Yet, for some individuals it can be a hugely challenging time; one that significantly impacts their health, wellbeing and professional life. Many women feel blindsided by their menopausal symptoms at work; it can disrupt their work and overall performance, and shatter their confidence. Failing to adequately support your employees with their menopausal symptoms by refusing to make reasonable

Workplace problems in small businesses don't stay small for long.   In small businesses, these problems hit harder and spread faster than in larger companies.   The relaxed atmosphere that makes small businesses great can also be their downfall. Everyone knows each other's business, banter flows freely and boundaries get blurry.   What starts as harmless jokes can quickly become something more sinister:   Someone gets excluded from conversations Comments about appearance, per