Forrest Scene

International Women's Day - what first steps can businesses take to ensure equality in the workplace?

The 8th of March marked International Women's Day, and the focus this year was on embracing equality.

Employers should always strive to provide equal opportunities for all employees and should aim to create a workplace culture that is free from discrimination and bias.

There has been progress in recent years, but there is still a long way to go.

Regular training on your equality and diversity policy

All employers should have an up-to-date equality and diversity policy that is readily available to all employees, normally within an Employee Handbook. Regular training should be given to educate employees about what discrimination is, how to recognise it, and how to report it. Educating employees on discrimination and how unconscious bias affects employees/potential employees is one of the first steps to preventing discrimination in the workplace.

ForrestHR can support with the above and more.

?World Sleep Day 17th March 2023

How can employers promote good sleep habits?

One of the main elements of healthy sleep is that sleep occurs regularly. Of course, this is challenging for many, shift workers’ working patterns mean that they must sleep at different times throughout the day.

Employers can consider just a few ways of supporting their workforce in this regard:

* Allow adequate breaks in between shifts in line with working time regulations

* Consult with staff on any changes and reviews to shift patterns

* Have agreed protocols to cover unplanned shifts

* Consider the needs of vulnerable workers

From 6th April 2023, all P11D and P11D(b) must be reported online

From 6 April 2023 all P11D and P11D(b) must be reported online.

For the 2022 to 2023 reporting year HMRC will no longer accept paper P11D and P11D(b) forms, this includes lists.

HMRC recommends you file using one of the following methods:

* HMRC’s PAYE Online service (https://www.gov.uk/paye-online)

* commercial payroll software (https://www.gov.uk/payroll-software)

HMRC’s PAYE Online service is free and will allow submissions of up to 500 employees.

Forrest Payroll can assist you in keeping up to date with all payroll changes, big and small.?

Bespoke Training

As well as our ‘people skills’ training which regularly runs throughout the year, we also provide bespoke training.

This could involve working with you to map out a development day, focussing on topics that your team would be interested in and would help with their development.

We also offer more in-depth management training, focussing on modules such as communication skills, unconscious bias, and professional presentation skills, plus any of our other people skills topics.

Our training packages can be tailored to exactly how you want them delivered, contact us to find out more.

Health and Safety Accreditation Schemes

There are several health and safety accreditation schemes across the UK which help organisations to demonstrate competence and conformity in health and safety. These include:

* SMAS

* CHAS

* Constructionline

* SafeContractor

If you need to be certified to an SSIP member scheme, do you have adequate help and support in place to achieve this?

Our health and safety consultants are experienced in all health and safety accreditation assessment schemes and help save you time and money.

Do you follow us on social media?

Check out our pages using the links at the bottom of this email, so you can keep up to date with

Forrest Group news, topical posts to help your business, and more!

Did you know?

Our HR retainer agreements include on-site support, as well as over email and on the telephone. We love coming to the site and meeting our clients, being there for support, and as the external but in-house HR Manager. We don't believe in 'call centre advice', we like to get to know our clients.

Contact your Account Manager to book an on-site meeting today, whether it's to sit in on a tricky meeting and put your mind at rest, or just for a catch-up!