# HRjoy

> HRjoy is a UK HR consultancy that also designs and builds bespoke HR software. Chartered HR Practitioner, with more than 30 years’ experience. Consultancy and software can be commissioned separately or together, and objectives, responsibilities, timing and fees are agreed before work begins. Every page states only published facts: no invented figures, clients or testimonials.

Start a brief: https://hrjoy.co.uk/contact/
AI agents: a read-only MCP server at https://hrjoy.co.uk/mcp and static JSON at https://hrjoy.co.uk/api/index.json (OpenAPI: https://hrjoy.co.uk/api/openapi.json). See https://hrjoy.co.uk/agents/.

## HR consultancy
- [HR consultancy services for UK employers](https://hrjoy.co.uk/services/): HR consultancy for UK organisations: employee relations, investigations, change, pay and reward, manager development and employee insight.
- [HR advice and employee relations support, UK](https://hrjoy.co.uk/services/hr-advice-employee-relations/): Practical HR advice for UK employers: disciplinary, grievance, absence, performance, policies and contracts, with scope and fees agreed up front.
- [Independent workplace investigations, UK](https://hrjoy.co.uk/services/workplace-investigations/): Independent workplace investigations for UK organisations: terms of reference, fact-finding, evidence review and factual reports.
- [Organisational change and restructuring support](https://hrjoy.co.uk/services/people-strategy-organisational-change/): People strategy, organisation design, restructuring and change support for UK organisations, delivered in clear, agreed phases.
- [Pay, reward and job evaluation consultancy](https://hrjoy.co.uk/services/pay-reward-job-evaluation/): Job evaluation, grading, salary benchmarking and pay structures for UK employers who want a reward approach they can explain.
- [Manager development and people skills training](https://hrjoy.co.uk/services/management-learning-development/): Practical manager development for UK organisations: difficult conversations, performance, inclusive management and tailored toolkits.
- [Employee surveys, engagement and insight](https://hrjoy.co.uk/services/employee-engagement-insight/): Employee surveys, listening, engagement, wellbeing and inclusion reviews for UK employers, with confidentiality agreed before data is collected.

## Bespoke HR software
- [Bespoke HR software and HR systems](https://hrjoy.co.uk/software/): Bespoke HR software for UK organisations: employee portals, onboarding, case management, people reporting and integrations, designed by HR experts.

## Commissioning HRjoy
- [Buying HR consultancy: a guide for procurement](https://hrjoy.co.uk/procurement/): Commissioning HR consultancy or HR software? How to structure a clear brief, and the assurance evidence to request from HRjoy.
- [HRjoy capability statement](https://hrjoy.co.uk/capability/): HRjoy capability overview: HR consultancy services, bespoke HR software, delivery approach and professional background, on one printable page.
- [Contact an HR consultant: start your brief](https://hrjoy.co.uk/contact/): Tell HRjoy what’s happening and what a good outcome would look like. Send a short brief and we’ll reply to talk through scope.
- Ongoing HR support: An advisory relationship for recurring people questions and practical manager support.
- A defined project: A clear brief, agreed deliverables and a focused piece of consultancy work.
- A bespoke system: A people process translated into software, with discovery, design and delivery in scope.

## Answers for employers
### New law and what’s changing
- [How long does an employee have to bring an…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/employment-tribunal-time-limits/): For problems that happened on or after 1 October 2026, most employment tribunal claims in Great Britain must be started within six months less one day.…
- [What are the new rules on fire and rehire?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/fire-and-rehire/): From March 2027 (expected, subject to Parliament), dismissing an employee for refusing a change to core terms such as pay, hours, pensions, leave or…
- [What do the 2026–27 trade union changes mean…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/trade-union-changes-employers/): The Employment Rights Act 2025 makes recognition and industrial action easier for unions. Several changes already apply, including 10 days' notice of…
- [What does the duty to take all reasonable steps…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/sexual-harassment-reasonable-steps/): From 30 October 2026, employers in Great Britain must take all reasonable steps, not just reasonable steps, to prevent sexual harassment of their…
- [What happens when an employee makes an…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/employment-tribunal-process/): In Great Britain, the employee must usually notify Acas first, and Acas offers both sides early conciliation. If that does not resolve things, the…
- [What is changing for zero hours contracts, and…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/zero-hours-contract-reforms/): The Employment Rights Act 2025 will give zero hours and low-hours workers rights to be offered hours reflecting those they regularly work, reasonable…
- [What is changing under the Employment Rights…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/employment-rights-act-2025-timeline/): The Employment Rights Act 2025 is being brought in by phases. Day-one paternity and parental leave, sick pay changes and six-month tribunal time limits…
- [What is the Fair Work Agency and what does it…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/fair-work-agency/): The Fair Work Agency is the government body set up on 7 April 2026 to enforce certain workers' rights. It enforces the National Minimum Wage and…
- [When does the unfair dismissal qualifying…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/unfair-dismissal-qualifying-period/): The qualifying period for ordinary unfair dismissal claims falls from two years to six months on 1 January 2027. The new rule applies wherever the…

### Pay, sickness and leave
- [How does statutory sick pay work from April 2026?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/statutory-sick-pay/): Since 6 April 2026, statutory sick pay (SSP) is payable from the first full day of sickness absence and no longer depends on earning above the Lower…
- [How should employers calculate holiday pay,…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/holiday-pay/): Workers get a week's pay for each week of statutory leave, usually averaged over the previous 52 paid weeks where pay varies. For irregular-hours and…
- [How should employers handle flexible working…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/flexible-working-requests/): Employees can make a statutory flexible working request from day one, up to twice in any 12 months. Employers must handle it reasonably, consult the…
- [What are the current National Minimum Wage and…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/national-minimum-wage-rates/): From 1 April 2026 the hourly rates are £12.71 for workers aged 21 and over (National Living Wage), £10.85 for ages 18 to 20, £8 for under-18s and £8…
- [What bereavement leave must employers give?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/bereavement-leave/): In Great Britain today, employees have a right to reasonable unpaid time off when a dependant dies, and to 2 weeks' parental bereavement leave if their…
- [What does equal pay law require of employers?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/equal-pay/): Under the Equality Act 2010, men and women must get equal pay and contractual terms for equal work: like work, work rated as equivalent, or work of…
- [What is carer's leave?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/carers-leave/): Carer's leave is a day-one right for employees to take up to one week of unpaid leave every 12 months to give or arrange care for a dependant with a…
- [What is neonatal care leave and pay?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/neonatal-care-leave/): Neonatal care leave lets eligible parents take up to 12 weeks off, from their first day of employment, when a baby born on or after 6 April 2025 enters…
- [What paternity and unpaid parental leave are…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/paternity-and-parental-leave/): Since 6 April 2026, eligible employees can take up to 2 weeks' paternity leave and up to 18 weeks' unpaid parental leave per child from their first day…
- [Which employers must report their gender pay…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/gender-pay-gap-reporting/): Employers with 250 or more employees on their snapshot date must report and publish gender pay gap data within a year. Action plans on the gender pay…

### Performance, conduct and exits
- [Are non-compete clauses and restrictive…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/restrictive-covenants/): Sometimes. The government's 2025 working paper explains that under current law a non-compete, like any clause in restraint of trade, is unenforceable…
- [How should a performance improvement plan work?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/performance-improvement-plans/): There is no statutory definition of a performance improvement plan (PIP). Acas guidance says that, if informal steps do not work, a PIP should set…
- [How should employers handle a grievance?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/grievance-procedure/): Employers should try to resolve concerns informally where appropriate. If a formal written grievance is raised, the Acas Code expects a meeting without…
- [How should employers manage long-term sickness…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/long-term-sickness-absence/): Employers should keep in touch as agreed with the employee, get medical evidence such as an occupational health assessment or, with consent, a GP…
- [How should probation periods work?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/probation-periods/): There is no legal requirement to have a probation period, and it can be any length. Acas recommends clear written expectations, regular reviews,…
- [What are the rules on redundancy consultation?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/redundancy-consultation/): Employers should consult every affected employee before deciding on redundancies. If 20 or more redundancies are proposed at one establishment within…
- [What does TUPE mean for employers?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/tupe-transfers/): When a business or service transfers to a new employer, TUPE usually moves the assigned employees across automatically on their existing terms, with…
- [What is a fair disciplinary procedure?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/disciplinary-procedure/): In Great Britain, a fair disciplinary procedure follows the Acas Code of Practice: investigate to establish the facts, tell the employee about the…
- [What makes a settlement agreement valid?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/settlement-agreements/): To waive employment tribunal claims, a settlement agreement must be in writing, relate to particular complaints or proceedings, and follow advice to…
- [What notice must employers give, and when can…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/notice-periods-and-garden-leave/): After one month's service, employers must give at least one week's statutory notice, rising to one week per full year from two years' service, up to 12…
- [What protection do whistleblowers have?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/whistleblowing/): In Great Britain, workers who make a protected disclosure are protected from detriment from the start of employment, and employees dismissed mainly for…
- [When can an employer have a protected…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/protected-conversations/): An employer can propose ending employment on agreed terms at any stage, even with no existing dispute. Under section 111A of the Employment Rights Act…

### Equality and protected characteristics
- [How can employers support neurodivergent…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/neurodiversity-at-work/): Neurodivergence is not a protected characteristic in its own right, but Acas says it will often amount to a disability under the Equality Act 2010,…
- [How does the law protect religion or belief at…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/religion-or-belief/): Religion or belief is one of the nine protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010. It covers any religion, any religious or philosophical…
- [What are the protected characteristics under…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/protected-characteristics/): The Equality Act 2010 lists nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and…
- [What protection do pregnant employees and new…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/pregnancy-and-maternity-protection/): Pregnant employees are protected from unfavourable treatment because of pregnancy, pregnancy-related illness or maternity leave, and dismissal for…
- [What should employers do about menopause at work?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/menopause-at-work/): Menopause is not itself a protected characteristic, but less favourable treatment because of menopause symptoms can be age, sex, disability or gender…
- [When must employers make reasonable adjustments?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/reasonable-adjustments/): Under the Equality Act 2010, employers must make reasonable adjustments when they know, or could reasonably be expected to know, that a worker or job…

### Recruitment, data and technology
- [Can employers monitor their staff?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/employee-monitoring/): Yes, but the ICO says monitoring must be lawful, fair and transparent under data protection law. Employers need a clear purpose, a lawful basis, the…
- [Do employers need a hybrid working policy?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/hybrid-working/): No law requires a standalone hybrid working policy, but Acas says employers should have one. It helps managers handle requests consistently under the…
- [How do employers carry out right to work checks?](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/right-to-work-checks/): Before someone starts work, employers should carry out one of three prescribed checks: a manual check of original documents, a Home Office online check…
- [How should employers handle an employee subject…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/subject-access-requests/): Employers should recognise the request, which can be made verbally or in writing, confirm the person's identity if needed, make a reasonable and…
- [Should we buy off-the-shelf HR software or…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/choosing-hr-software/): It depends on how closely a ready-made product fits your processes, budget and risks. Either way, the employer remains the controller of employee data,…
- [What should employers consider when using AI in…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/answers/ai-in-recruitment/): Employers remain responsible under data protection and equality law when they use AI to source, screen or score candidates. The ICO expects a data…

## Latest HR news
- [Sexual harassment duty and trade union changes…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/news/2026/10/sexual-harassment-duty-and-trade-union-changes-30-october-2026/): From 30 October 2026, employers must take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their employees, and must not permit their harassment by…
- [RSS feed](https://hrjoy.co.uk/news/feed.xml)

## HR software we work with
- [HR software we work with](https://hrjoy.co.uk/works-with/): HRjoy works with Breathe and BrightHR: get HR software set up through HRjoy, with Chartered HR consultancy and bespoke tools alongside.
- [Breathe HR with HR consultancy support](https://hrjoy.co.uk/works-with/breathe/): HRjoy works with Breathe. Get Breathe HR software through HRjoy, plus hands-on HR consultancy, investigations, change and bespoke HR tools around it.
- [BrightHR with HR consultancy support](https://hrjoy.co.uk/works-with/brighthr/): HRjoy works with BrightHR. Get BrightHR for everyday HR admin through HRjoy, plus hands-on HR consultancy, investigations, change and bespoke HR software.

## Employment tribunals
- [Employment tribunal tracker](https://hrjoy.co.uk/tribunals/): UK employment tribunal decisions month by month: 930 published in September 2026, the most common claim types, and a weekly Tribunal watch.
- [Tribunal watch: pregnancy, harassment and…](https://hrjoy.co.uk/tribunals/watch/2026-w44/): Three recent decisions with a common thread: ordinary workplace decisions about pay, conduct and grievances turned into discrimination findings because…
- [Tribunal statistics as JSON](https://hrjoy.co.uk/api/tribunals.json)

## About
- [About HRjoy: Chartered HR consultancy](https://hrjoy.co.uk/about/): About HRjoy: Chartered HR expertise, more than 30 years’ experience and bespoke HR software, with clarity, care, practicality and partnership.
- [HR consultancy and bespoke HR software, UK](https://hrjoy.co.uk/): Chartered HR consultancy and bespoke HR software for UK organisations. 30+ years’ experience, with scope and fees agreed before work begins.

## Optional
- [For AI agents: MCP server and API](https://hrjoy.co.uk/agents/): Connect Claude, Cursor or your own agent to HRjoy: a free, read-only MCP server and JSON API covering our HR services, deliverables and answers.
- [Website privacy](https://hrjoy.co.uk/privacy/): How the HRjoy website handles the information you send in a brief, who processes it, and your rights.
- [Cookies](https://hrjoy.co.uk/cookies/): The HRjoy website sets no cookies and runs no analytics or advertising trackers.
- [Full text of every page](https://hrjoy.co.uk/llms-full.txt)