Dakota Blue Consulting Blog - Page 7

18 February 2026

I’m a bit of a karate nut and I recently learnt from my Sensei, that whilst he has failed many competitions and won one very big one, he has only got to this point through failing.

18 February 2026

Performance management review

It’s that time of year for many companies for annual performance reviews.

18 February 2026

Employee performance – why you should document it

As an HR Director, it is not unusual for one of my first conversations with a new client to be about problems they are experiencing in managing the performance of an employee.

18 February 2026

Five mistakes made with employee handbooks

According to a recent study by XpertHR, 92 per cent of companies have created employee handbooks to share with their staff.

18 February 2026

Harassment and bullying

Over recent weeks we have been bombarded with revelations and headlines of harassment and bullying, from Hollywood to British politics.

18 February 2026

People retention

Many business owners think that retention is based on compensation issues, including salary levels and other financial incentives.

18 February 2026

When an employee unexpectedly resigns

You’ve been really focused on your business and your employees are engaged and productive.

18 February 2026

Avoid costly legal action against your business

When you’re an HR consultant, you often find yourself having in-depth conversations about how business owners can avoid legal action.

18 February 2026

Immigration status

Overseas workers have long been used by employers in the UK and are a vital source of labour in many industries.

18 February 2026

Recruiting for less desirable roles

The first thing to remember is that a role that might not appeal to you, will appeal to someone else.

18 February 2026

UK employment tribunal fees – update for employers

At the end of July, the Supreme Court ruled that the government was acting unlawfully and unconstitutionally when it introduced fees in 2013 for those bringing employment tribunal claims.

18 February 2026

Dealing with hate in the workplace

Last week the BBC reported that police handling of hate crime is to be reviewed after a recent sharp rise in incidents being reported.

18 February 2026

Selecting a quality external training provider

Learning and development should be a high priority in every organisation as it drives engagement and productivity.

18 February 2026

Managing relationships in the workplace

It’s Valentine’s Day and romance is in the air.

18 February 2026

New Data Protection bill

New legislation brought forward by the government this summer, will give people the right to force social media and other online traders to delete personal data about themselves.

18 February 2026

Five ways to streamline your HR practices and budget

At some point most businesses will face difficult times.

18 February 2026

Whistleblowing

This year there has been an explosion of sexual harassment stories in the media, with more and more industries coming under scrutiny as a result of the rising number of claims.

18 February 2026

Organisational design for SMEs

An organisational design for SMEs is an exciting challenge and is usually due to business growth, or is triggered by the need to improve service delivery or specific business processes.

18 February 2026

Would you ignore Richard Branson's Business Advice?

When you think of influential people from the world of business, Richard Branson is a name that's likely to feature pretty high up on your list.

18 February 2026

Bullying and harassment in the workplace

Workplace bullying headlines are not ones that any employer would like to see their company involved in.

18 February 2026

Are you stamping out sexual harassment?

A recent report from TUC, in association with the Everyday Sexism Project, found that 52 per cent of women have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.

18 February 2026

Achieving work-life balance as a business leader

One of the key factors believed to help attract and retain talent is providing your employees with a good work-life balance.

18 February 2026

Can you dismiss an employee because of their controversial views?

You may have seen the headlines in July that a school dinner lady was suspended for attending a protest march organised by an ex-English Defence League (EDL) leader.

18 February 2026

What does leaving the EU mean for your business?

Over the coming weeks, months and years we will inevitably see many changes to our businesses after the momentous decision to leave the EU.