A Swindon HR consultancy has seen a sharp rise in demand at the start of the year, as businesses seek expert guidance on managing staff issues amid major changes to employment law.
The HR Dept Swindon says enquiries from employers have surged following the introduction of the new Employment Rights Act, which received Royal Assent just before Christmas and brings wide-ranging changes to workplace legislation.
As a result of the increasing and more complex workload, the Swindon-based team has doubled in size over the past 18 months. Operating alongside its sister business covering London, the combined workforce now numbers more than 20, with further recruitment planned.
Peter Jones, Managing Director of the HR Dept Swindon and London, said the growth reflects growing uncertainty among business owners.
“We’ve expanded because of the sheer increase in enquiries and the complexity of the issues employers are facing,” he said. “Many business owners no longer feel confident navigating employment legislation on their own, and understandably so. They want reassurance that they’re doing the right thing.”
The team reported being busy even in the run-up to Christmas, dealing with a wide range of cases including HR compliance queries, redundancy processes and dismissal concerns.
Helen Imbusi, Head of HR at the HR Dept Swindon, which covers Swindon, North Wiltshire and the East Cotswolds, said many employers seek help after encountering difficulties partway through a process.
“In most cases, employers genuinely want to do the right thing,” she explained. “They may have already started a redundancy or dismissal process, but employment law is incredibly complex and it’s easy to get it wrong. Our role is to untangle what’s happened and guide them back onto the right path.”
The HR Dept provides outsourced HR support to small and medium-sized businesses, helping them remain compliant while managing people issues fairly and effectively.
More information about the HR Dept Swindon, North Wiltshire and East Cotswolds, including support with the new Employment Rights Act, can be found at hrdept.co.uk/swindon-north-wiltshire-east-cotswolds, by emailing helen.imbusi@hrdept.co.uk or calling 01793 683 398.
