Authentic HR Newsletter - Summer (Aug 2024)

Welcome to this summer edition of the Authentic HR Limited newsletter which summarises what I’ve been up to in the past few months.

After several years of entering the ballot, we finally managed to get hold of Wimbledon tickets for the first time and on finals day!? This was a real tick off our bucket list. It was everything we hoped for and even the sun was shining.? We also enjoyed celebrity spotting and saw Cliff Richard, Sue Barker (selfie above), Annabel Croft, Claire Balding, Alcaraz and Djokovic to name a few.

Authentic HR celebrated its 5th year in business during the past quarter.? Thank you to everyone who has supported me on a varied and exciting journey so far. I feel immensely grateful and proud.

Recent assignments have included working one day per week in Camden on an interim assignment for a few months with Touch Tunes (a US owned digital jukebox Company).? It was nice to get into London again and work as part of a team.

I was very fortunate to have several new and different clients in the past quarter.? These included the United Synagogue and Methodist Church amongst them.? I also had several repeat clients including some who used me early on when I first established Authentic HR, and who I have not supported for a few years.? I am increasingly being introduced to clients via a variety of employment law firms such as Lewis Silkin, Eversheds and Keystone Law. Recent projects have included grievance, whistleblowing and safeguarding investigations, designing and implementing restructuring programmes, workplace mediations and executive coaching.? I also continue to volunteer as a trustee for a London based homeless charity which can be challenging but is also very rewarding.

Just a reminder that I provide HR Retainer services for small organisations without an inhouse HR department as well as freelance Employee Relations specialist services.? I also have other Senior HR Consultants who work for Authentic HR as Associates who I can call on as and when required.? Please do contact me if you have any sensitive people related challenges that I can help with or if you might be interested in using my services going forward.? Contact details are at the end of this newsletter.

We have a new Labour Government in UK for the first time in 14 years.? There are a number of employment law changes pending, although many of these are not expected to come into effect until 2025. I am looking forward to the next Authentic HR Networking meeting in early October when we will have a presentation from Eversheds on what this means for employers and HR professionals.? Whilst this is a by invitation only HR Networking Group, do get in touch if you are interested in joining or coming along as a guest.

I am not normally a big sports fan but have thoroughly enjoyed watching the Euro’s, Wimbledon and Olympics. Inspired by this, I managed to reach my 100th Park Run’s milestone.? For anyone who has not tried Park Run, I really encourage you to try it.? There are free events across the UK (and indeed across the World) at 9am every Saturday morning.? You can walk or run 5k (3.1 miles) and will be truly welcomed and encouraged.? They have tail walkers and Park Walk marshals and pride themselves on the face that you will never finish last.? This is such an enjoyable community event and sets me up for the weekend.

I saw this image recently and it really struck a chord with me.? We have one life and time goes by so quickly. A timely reminder to live life to the full and to try and maintain a sensible work-life-balance. Life is to be enjoyed, not endured. In this spirit, my wife and I have regular weekend breaks, make time to be outdoors – often walking Libby, our rescue greyhound and have holidays planned for the rest of the year.? We also create a yearly Picture Bucket List and really enjoy ticking off activities, big and small throughout the year.? What is on your bucket list and what are you doing to make sure this happens and does not remain a dream??

A reminder that I provide mindfulness presentations and have run these several times across UK, Eastern Europe, Portugal and Milan with amazing feedback.? Why not consider this for your teams.? It can form a great part of wellbeing events or off-site team days.

Why not plan a day (or a few hours) when you unplug, switch off your phone, ignore social media and are completely unavailable to everyone.? This is not always easy to get your head around, especially if self-employed but is surprisingly achievable and enjoyable.? I have been doing this more recently and strongly believe that this time helps me to be more reflective, creative and clear minded to be more effective once I tune back it.? I also book days off as holidays as if I would if I was still employed in the corporate world.? Sounds strange when you are self employed and can do what you want but without booking in such days, putting an out of office voice mail and email message on, we do not actually ever switch off or plan in a break.? Give it a try and let me know how you get on.

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• Are you an organisation without an HR professional?? Why not hire me as your remote HR department.
• Are you in need of some one-off Employee Relations specialist support?
• Is your HR department overloaded?
• Could there be a perceived lack of independence or conflict of interest by your own HR function dealing with a sensitive people issue?
• Do you need a qualified mediator?
• When was the last time you reviewed your Company policies? Are you legally compliant?
• Would you and your managers benefit from some legal awareness training?
• Would your team benefit from a Mindfulness training session?
• Do you need some advice and ideas on how to proceed with a people related issue and would like to understand your options?
• Would you or any of your team benefit from some Coaching or Mentoring?

Please do reach out if you have any questions, need some advice, or just fancy a coffee catch-up:

My email is [email protected]

My website is https://authentichr.co.uk/

My LinkedIn profile is https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/hrdirectormarkclements5050/

The next edition of the Authentic HR Newsletter will be in the Winter.

Best regards

Mark

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