Eaton Smith and The Personnel Partnership have joined forces and invite you to a series of practical and interactive workshops aimed at all managers with responsibility for people management or HR staff who would welcome additional skills development.

Each workshop will last around three hours and will be delivered by two experienced practitioners who will use practical examples, case studies and discussion to work through problem areas to build technique and confidence.

Each workshop will cost £49 plus VAT and will include refreshments and all training materials.

Workshop 1: Performance management

23 June 2015 (9.30am – 12.30pm)

This workshop will look at a strategic approach to performance management to help improve staff performance and to deal with issues at an early stage before they become unwieldy. We will look at what you might want in a performance management policy and give you lots of ideas to help you create your own or change your existing policy. We will also look at how performance management might lead to dismissal, and how it may be used to your favour in the Employment Tribunals.

Workshop 2:   How to conduct an investigation

8 September 2015 9.30am – 12.30pm

In this workshop we will focus on how to run an effective investigation to ensure that you get to the centre of an issue without absorbing too much management time, including taking witness statements, dealing with reluctant witnesses and preparing an investigation report. We will also look at the right to privacy and when covert surveillance may be used to your advantage.

Workshop 3:   Running a disciplinary hearing

10 November 2015 9.30am – 12.30pm

This workshop will look at all the practicalities of running a disciplinary hearing from making the arrangements, to interviewing the alleged wrong doer and ensuring that your paperwork is in order. It will also look at what could go wrong and how to keep control of the disciplinary hearing. We will consider, with case studies, what disciplinary sanctions should be imposed when and how an Employment Tribunal will review them. We will also look at the appeal process and dealing with the aftermath of a disciplinary hearing, including claims for unfair dismissal.

Workshop 4:   Attendance management

12 January 2016 9.30am – 12.30pm

Absence management can be a thorn in the side for employers. In this workshop we will look at how absence can be managed effectively and we’ll also discuss stress in the work place, which is becoming an increasing problem for many businesses. We will use practical examples and case studies to look at both short term and long term absences, and what to do when you think an employee can no longer continue in their role. We will look at what you might want in an attendance management policy and give you the tools to create this.

Workshop 5: Restructures and Redundancy

8 March 2016 9.30am – 12.30pm

This workshop will take a strategic look at the factors to consider when re-structuring a department or a business, and how you might go about changing an employee’s job role and their terms and conditions. We will look at some practical case studies to help you work through a best practice approach to this often difficult and emotive area. We will also take a look at lay off and short time working, and redundancy procedures including the use of “bumping” and trial periods.

Who are your speakers?

Kate Booth from Eaton Smith – Kate is a Partner with Eaton Smith and an experienced solicitor specialising in employment law, with particular interest in business acquisitions (including the TUPE Regulations), restructures and discrimination issues. Kate has been dealing with employment law issues for many businesses in and around Kirklees and nationally for the last eight years and brings with her practical examples of what can and does go wrong in the workplace and how you might address this!

Helen Straw from The Personnel Partnership – Helen is the Managing Director of The Personnel Partnership and is also a Chartered corporate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Helen operates at a senior level, providing HR support and advice during times of company set up, business growth, major reorganisations and deals with complex employee issues. She has developed and implemented a range of HR policies and strategies as well as managed day to day operations and developed and delivered HR training programmes across the UK for many small to medium businesses and larger blue chip companies. Helen is both pragmatic and commercially savvy.

Early bird discount: if you book your workshops before 31 May 2015 you will receive 10% off the total price.

Group booking discount: if you book 3 or more workshops in one go or book 3 or more people into a particular workshop you will receive a discount of 10%.

If you would like to book on any of the workshops, please contact Helen Straw via helen@thepersonnelpartnership.co.uk, @personnel_pship or by calling 01484 662536 and she will take your booking, reserve your place and inform you about payment details. Book now to take advantage of our early bird discounts!