School's out for summer, but is your mind still at work?
When was the last time you took a holiday and genuinely switched off? Or are you the person replying to emails from your sun lounger? We spend so much time encouraging our employees to prioritise their wellbeing, use their annual leave and maintain a healthy work-life balance, yet many business owners don't follow the same advice themselves.
Have you reviewed the probationary period in your employees’ contracts of employment?
Although there is no statutory law in the UK that requires or regulates probation periods, the most common duration is six-month. From January 2027, this creates a potential risk for employers due to new unfair dismissal protection (currently at 2 years) being reduced to six-months.
ERA - Important New Legislation for Employers
From 6th April 2026, the Employment Rights Act 2025 introduced a significant new legal duty on employers around holiday pay and annual leave record-keeping — including a mandatory 6-year retention period.
Employment Law April 2026
With the April 2026 employment law changes, using a system like BreatheHR can make managing compliance much simpler. Its user-friendly design helps streamline record-keeping and HR processes.
2026 Bath Life Awards
We’re absolutely delighted that Keystone HR has won the People Services category. It was a fantastic night celebrating so many brilliant businesses across Bath, and we feel incredibly proud to have been recognised in such great company.
How to Give Honest Feedback Without Damaging Morale
Giving feedback can be one of the trickiest parts of running a small business. You want to address concerns, but you don’t want to damage relationships or crush confidence. And let’s be honest — sometimes it’s hard to know what to say (and how to say it).
How effective people management can increase the success of your business
‘In today’s competitive market, attracting and keeping great people is key to business success. Of course, interesting work matters — but what really sets you apart is your culture, career development, and how you reward and recognise your team.