<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  <channel>
    <title>Kate Underwood HR Blog</title>
    <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog</link>
    <description>Practical HR advice, employment law updates, and insights for small businesses</description>
    <language>en-GB</language>
    <lastBuildDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:25:10 GMT</lastBuildDate>
    <atom:link href="https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/rss.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
    
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[SSP Now Starts on Day One: Should You Change Your Sick Pay?]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legislation/ssp-starts-day-one-change-sick-pay</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legislation/ssp-starts-day-one-change-sick-pay</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[SSP now starts on day one. Should your SME offer Occupational Sick Pay or stick with SSP? Get the pros, cons, real costs, and practical tips to cut absence headaches and stay compliant.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>legislation</category>
      <category>occupational-sick-pay</category>
      <category>sick-pay-schemes</category>
      <category>employee-benefits</category>
      <category>absence-management</category>
      <category>hr-policy</category>
      <category>employment-rights-act</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How to Calculate Annual Leave for Part-Time Employees]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/calculate-annual-leave-part-time-employees</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/calculate-annual-leave-part-time-employees</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[Struggling with part-time annual leave? Get a clear, no-fluff method to calculate holidays for mixed schedules and bank holidays, without the maths headache.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>guides</category>
      <category>part-time-annual-leave</category>
      <category>part-time-holiday-entitlement-uk</category>
      <category>pro-rata-holiday-entitlement</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[SMART Objectives Without Corporate Nonsense: The SME Way]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/smart-objectives-for-smes-without-corporate-jargon</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/smart-objectives-for-smes-without-corporate-jargon</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[SMART objectives without the corporate fluff. For SMEs who want clarity, focus, and real results. Set goals people understand, review simply, and ditch surprises.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>guides</category>
      <category>smart-objectives</category>
      <category>smart-goals-for-small-business</category>
      <category>smart-objectives-examples-for-small-business</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[The AI Grievance Era: Same Rules, Bigger Headaches]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/people-hr/ai-grievance-era-same-rules-bigger-headaches</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/people-hr/ai-grievance-era-same-rules-bigger-headaches</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[AI-generated grievances are flooding inboxes: formal, legalistic, and panic-inducing. Here's what small business owners need to do now to stay compliant, calm managers, and handle claims smartly.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>people-hr</category>
      <category>small-business-hr</category>
      <category>hr-compliance</category>
      <category>ai-in-hr</category>
      <category>employee-grievances</category>
      <category>employment-law</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Work WhatsApp Rules for SMEs: Allow, Ban, Write It Down]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/people-hr/work-whatsapp-policy-smes</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/people-hr/work-whatsapp-policy-smes</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[WhatsApp runs your rota, noticeboard and the manager's office, until chaos hits. Set clear rules: what to allow, what to ban, what to write down. Plus when to use WhatsApp Business.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>people-hr</category>
      <category>employee-whatsapp-policy</category>
      <category>workplace-whatsapp-policy</category>
      <category>whatsapp-rules-for-employees</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Weight Loss Drugs as an Employee Benefit: The SME Reality Check]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/weight-loss-drugs-employee-benefit-sme-reality-check</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/weight-loss-drugs-employee-benefit-sme-reality-check</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[SMEs can be nimble and personal, but offering weight loss drugs as a benefit is sensitive and complex. Here's the reality check small teams need before deciding what's fair.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>guides</category>
      <category>weight-loss-drugs</category>
      <category>sme-employee-benefits</category>
      <category>glp-1-coverage-for-employees</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[3 HR Traps for SMEs Under the Employment Rights Act (Avoid Them)]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legislation/3-hr-traps-smes-employment-rights-act</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legislation/3-hr-traps-smes-employment-rights-act</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[Employment Rights Act changes aren't 'legal updates' - they're people problems. Discover 3 HR traps UK SMEs fall into - and how to avoid panic, delays, and costly disputes.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>legislation</category>
      <category>uk-employment-law</category>
      <category>hr-compliance</category>
      <category>employment-rights-act</category>
      <category>sme-hr</category>
      <category>employee-relations</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Statutory Sick Pay Changes April 2026: Who Qualifies & What SMEs Do]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legislation/statutory-sick-pay-changes-april-2026-who-qualifies-smes</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legislation/statutory-sick-pay-changes-april-2026-who-qualifies-smes</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[Statutory Sick Pay rules change in April 2026. See who qualifies, how fast to respond to sickness reports, and the simple, consistent process SMEs need to protect teams and reduce absence.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>legislation</category>
      <category>absence-management</category>
      <category>uk-employment-law</category>
      <category>small-business-hr</category>
      <category>statutory-sick-pay</category>
      <category>ssp-changes-2026</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[When Someone Says "Can We Talk?" Here's What Great Managers Say Next]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/can-we-talk-what-great-managers-say-next</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/can-we-talk-what-great-managers-say-next</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[Heart sinks at "Can we talk?" You're not alone. Get clear, legally safe phrases great managers use to navigate difficult employee conversations, calmly, clearly, and fast.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>guides</category>
      <category>difficult-employee-conversations</category>
      <category>manager-conversation-scripts</category>
      <category>what-to-say-as-a-manager</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[World Cancer Day: the manager's guide after "I've got cancer"]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/world-cancer-day-managers-guide-after-ive-got-cancer</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/world-cancer-day-managers-guide-after-ive-got-cancer</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[An employee has just told you they have cancer. What do you do next? A calm, human, step-by-step guide to respond with empathy, clarity, and practical employee cancer support.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>guides</category>
      <category>employee-cancer-support</category>
      <category>workplace-cancer-policy</category>
      <category>reasonable-adjustments</category>
      <category>return-to-work</category>
      <category>disability-at-work</category>
      <category>occupational-health</category>
      <category>sick-pay</category>
      <category>fit-notes</category>
      <category>world-cancer-day</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Severe Weather and Small Businesses - What to do before it hits]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/severe-weather-and-small-businesses-what-to-do-before-it-hits</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/severe-weather-and-small-businesses-what-to-do-before-it-hits</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[Severe weather can derail your day. Learn a simple, repeatable plan small businesses can use to keep teams safe and operations steady before storms hit.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>guides</category>
      <category>small-business</category>
      <category>severe-weather</category>
      <category>business-continuity</category>
      <category>emergency-preparedness</category>
      <category>crisis-management</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[The Monthly SME Reset: Track, Tweak and Tidy in 60 Minutes]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/monthly-sme-reset-track-tweak-tidy-60-minutes</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/monthly-sme-reset-track-tweak-tidy-60-minutes</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[Small business chaos doesn't mean you're failing. Try a 60-minute monthly business reset to track, tweak and tidy, so fires stay small, priorities stay clear, and momentum builds.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>guides</category>
      <category>small-business</category>
      <category>time-management</category>
      <category>productivity</category>
      <category>monthly-review</category>
      <category>business-operations</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[The Employment Rights Bill Is a System Change, Not a Update]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legislation/employment-rights-bill-system-change</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legislation/employment-rights-bill-system-change</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[Employment law is woven into everything you do, job ads, rotas, payroll, leave, performance, exit. That's why the Employment Rights Bill isn't a quick policy update. It's a system change. Here's a 12‑month, bite‑size plan to implement it with control instead of chaos.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>legislation</category>
      <category>employment-rights-bill</category>
      <category>uk-employment-law</category>
      <category>small-business-hr</category>
      <category>hr-compliance</category>
      <category>workforce-management</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[The New Paper Round: Safe First Jobs for Teens (13+)]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/teen-employment/safe-first-jobs-for-teens-13-plus</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/teen-employment/safe-first-jobs-for-teens-13-plus</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[Paper rounds are fading. Discover safe, modern 13 plus year old jobs with small businesses, from tech help to tidy tasks, teaching reliability, real skills and confidence as the new paper round.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>teen-employment</category>
      <category>teen-jobs</category>
      <category>youth-employment</category>
      <category>small-business-hiring</category>
      <category>first-jobs</category>
      <category>jobs-for-13-year-olds</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[5 Subtle Signs a Team Member Might Be About to Quit]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/employee-retention/signs-team-member-about-to-quit</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/employee-retention/signs-team-member-about-to-quit</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[Employee retention starts before the resignation email. Spot 5 subtle signs a team member may quit, plus a Plain English legal lowdown, fresh data, and a quick action plan.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>employee-retention</category>
      <category>employee-retention</category>
      <category>employee-turnover</category>
      <category>employee-engagement</category>
      <category>people-management</category>
      <category>human-resources</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Employment Rights Bill Update – December 2025]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legislation/employment-rights-bill-update-december-2025</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legislation/employment-rights-bill-update-december-2025</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[The Employment Rights Bill has passed Parliament and is set to become law. This guide sets out what's already in place, what has just been confirmed, and what small businesses should have already done or now start preparing for.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>legislation</category>
      <category>employment-rights-bill</category>
      <category>uk-legislation</category>
      <category>employment-law-updates</category>
      <category>hr-compliance</category>
      <category>small-business-hr</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Advantages & Disadvantages of Sick Pay Schemes (OSP)]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/advantages-disadvantages-sick-pay-schemes</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/advantages-disadvantages-sick-pay-schemes</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[Explore the advantages and disadvantages of Occupational Sick Pay (OSP) schemes. Learn how OSP can create a healthier workplace, prevent financial hardship, and build a positive culture, while understanding the costs and risks involved.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>guides</category>
      <category>occupational-sick-pay</category>
      <category>sick-pay-schemes</category>
      <category>employee-benefits</category>
      <category>absence-management</category>
      <category>hr-policies</category>
      <category>statutory-sick-pay</category>
      <category>small-business-hr</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Autumn Budget 2025: What it really means for small businesses]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legal/autumn-budget-2025-what-it-really-means-for-small-businesses</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legal/autumn-budget-2025-what-it-really-means-for-small-businesses</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[Rachel Reeves has gone hard on tax and 'fairness'. On the surface, it sounds pro worker and pro growth. Underneath, if you run a small business, you're looking at higher wage bills, higher NI, more compliance, and a bit of sugar sprinkled on top.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2025 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>legal</category>
      <category>budget-2025</category>
      <category>employment-law</category>
      <category>small-business</category>
      <category>tax</category>
      <category>national-living-wage</category>
      <category>compliance</category>
      <category>payroll</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Why Every Small Business Needs an HR Audit (And How to Do One)]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/why-small-business-needs-hr-audit</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/why-small-business-needs-hr-audit</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[An HR audit isn't about catching you out, it's about protecting your business. Learn what an HR audit covers, why it matters, and how to audit your people processes in just 5-7 minutes.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 07 Nov 2025 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>guides</category>
      <category>hr-audit</category>
      <category>hr-compliance</category>
      <category>small-business-hr</category>
      <category>employee-lifecycle</category>
      <category>hr-health-check</category>
      <category>compliance</category>
      <category>risk-management</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Who Can Accompany an Employee to a Disciplinary Meeting in the UK]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legal/who-can-accompany-employee-disciplinary-meeting-uk</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legal/who-can-accompany-employee-disciplinary-meeting-uk</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[Find out who an employee may bring to a formal disciplinary hearing in the UK, what the legal rights are, and how to handle companions, support persons and witnesses fairly.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>legal</category>
      <category>disciplinary-meeting-uk</category>
      <category>right-to-be-accompanied</category>
      <category>acas-companion-rules</category>
      <category>employee-companion-disciplinary-uk</category>
      <category>support-person-disciplinary-meeting-uk</category>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Are Verbal Offers of Employment Contractual in the UK?]]></title>
      <link>https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legal/verbal-offer-of-employment-uk</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legal/verbal-offer-of-employment-uk</guid>
      <description><![CDATA[Can a verbal job offer form a legally binding contract? Learn what makes a verbal offer enforceable, when you can withdraw it, and how to protect your small business from costly mistakes.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jan 2025 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>kate-underwood</author>
      <category>legal</category>
      <category>verbal-offer-of-employment-uk</category>
      <category>employment-law</category>
      <category>recruitment</category>
      <category>contracts</category>
      <category>small-business</category>
      <category>job-offers</category>
      <category>hr-advice</category>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>