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Human resources

People are at the heart of every business, determining its success and profitability.

However, being an employer can be a minefield with a myriad of legal responsibilities and obligations. Whether you have just one member of staff or many, problems with people can be time-consuming and stressful.

Helping you get the most from your people and avoiding problems before they begin is where BKL HR can be invaluable.

Seeking our timely support and advice can help you avoid damaging and expensive litigation, as our clients testify.

We understand the pressures you face as an employer and can provide as much or as little support as you need, from handling “one-off” HR projects to providing a fully outsourced HR service.

“BKL Human Resources were key when our company underwent massive expansion last year. They provided expert and reliable support in all areas of recruitment, including training our less experienced team managers. Growing would have been so much more difficult without their help.” - Angelo Castelo, Human Resources Supervisor, Fairhold Services Ltd.

BKL HR can support clients throughout the entire life cycle of employment, including recruitment and selection, preparation of contracts of employment and handbooks, performance management, training, seminars, coaching and mentoring, mediation, handling disciplinary and grievance investigations, hearings and appeals, and termination of employment, taking in redundancies and outplacement services.

HR audit and in depth review

We provide two types of HR review:

An in-depth HR review whereby we interview a cross section of staff, from Directors downwards, in confidential interviews and then prepare an unattributed report which can form the basis of future HR strategy.
A free HR audit where we conduct a summary review of your HR systems and employment documents against current legal requirements.

Staff really enjoy the opportunity to talk confidentially to an independent person and the Directors receive invaluable information on employee relations and engagement.

Recruitment and selection

BKL HR can manage the whole recruitment process from advertising the vacancy, sifting CVs and conducting or assisting at the first and second interview, right through to drawing up the employment contract for the successful candidate.

We can run the process as an assessment centre and conduct psychometric and personality testing if required.

BKL Human Resources is experienced in recruiting all types and levels of roles, with particular expertise in recruiting for financial positions, where the technical questioning is conducted by a Partner or Manager with accountancy qualifications.

Redundancy and redundancy counselling

BKL HR can guide you through the whole process and provide support for employers and employees at a very stressful time.

We can also provide redundancy counselling for employees and assistance with CV preparation, job searches and interview techniques.

Contracts of employment, policies and procedures

With almost a third of employment tribunals resulting from misunderstandings over the terms and conditions, it pays to ensure that these are clearly defined.

BKL HR can draft your contracts of employment, policies and procedures and prepare a handbook tailored to the needs of your business.

“It’s excellent to work with Marjorie, she’s effective, on time and on budget. You could not ask for more. Marjorie and BKL have strong ethics, a no nonsense approach to tricky issues and she is certainly someone you’d want with you when major decisions are to be made.” - Tracey Proudlock, Proundlock Associates

Mediation

Mediation is an informal, flexible process which is conducted confidentially and involves a neutral person actively assisting parties towards a negotiated agreement.

The parties are in ultimate control of the decision to settle and the terms of resolution. Mediation can be tremendously effective in dealing with a range of issues such as relationship breakdown, allegations of bullying and harassment, discrimination, personality clashes and communication problems.

Compared with alternative methods of resolution, such as recourse to grievance and disciplinary hearings, a tribunal or litigation, mediation is far less procedural or adversarial and will almost always reduce delays, costs, stress and confrontation.

Marjorie Hurwitz Bremner is a CEDR (Centre for Effective Disputes Resolution) trained mediator with special expertise in handling workplace disputes.

“Marjorie is an effective workplace mediator, dealing with and effectively resolving complaints of personality clashes, grievances, stress-related sickness, relationship breakdown, bullying and micromanagement, age discrimination, sexual harassment, personality clashes and communication problems.

She gets the job done simply and without fuss, but with humour when needed and, if I dare say it, her natural charm.” - Barry Abrahamson, Abrahamson & Associates

Handling disciplinary and grievance investigations, hearings and appeals

Many clients do not have the resources or expertise to handle these difficult and sensitive matters. However, the human and financial cost of “getting it wrong” in any area of employment law can be considerable.

BKL HR can advise on all aspects of the process, from initial investigations to appeal hearings and all the stages in between.

In the event of a settlement being required we can draft the Compromise Agreement for you.

Outsourced HR and HR retainer services

For a fixed fee, BKL HR can provide all levels of support from telephone advice and document drafting only, up to a fully outsourced HR service, leaving you free to focus on running your business.

“We have worked with Marjorie in a variety of capacities over the past 10 years and have always received a first class service. The advice given is always prompt and delivered in a thoroughly professional manner to a high standard, with a human touch. Marjorie has a wealth of knowledge and experience in HR and is an excellent communicator.” - Huw Jones, North London Chamber of Commerce

Training, coaching, lecturing and mentoring

Research proves that training and developing your staff adds real value to your organisation.

BKL HR provides a wide range of courses, coaching sessions and seminars. Topics include:

Recruitment, selection and induction
Customer/client care
Stress and time management
Management development
Assertion skills
Communication skills
Employment law seminars
Performance management and conducting the appraisal interviews
The Equality Act and diversity training

These sessions can be conducted as full or half days or even as two-hour sessions for busy people.

“The module went extremely well,” says Dr Porter. “The students all loved Marjorie and passed at a higher level than for anything else. In fact, over half of them got distinctions.”- Dr Christine Porter, Westminster Business School

For more information about how we can help you, please contact Marjorie Hurwitz Bremner.

The Human Resources team:
Marjorie Hurwitz Bremner
Rachel Montgomery
Helen Koumi