top of page
All Posts


Unpaid Parental Leave Changes from April 2026 - What Employers Must Know
From April 2026, Unpaid parental leave changes April 2026 becomes a day one right, meaning small business employers may need to manage parental leave requests much earlier in the employment relationship. Introduced under the Employment Rights Act 2025 , this change removes the current one year qualifying period and allows eligible employees to access unpaid parental leave from their first day of employment. While the reform is not a dramatic overhaul, it does affect how emplo

Bearman HR | HR Services in Kent
Feb 184 min read


Paternity Pay Changes from April 2026 - What Employers need to know
From April 2026, paternity leave becomes a day one right, meaning small business employers may receive paternity leave requests much earlier in the employment relationship than ever before. These changes, introduced under the Employment Rights Act 2025 , simplify entitlement for employees but place greater responsibility on employers to be clear, organised and consistent from the very start of employment. While the reform is not dramatic, it does change when conversations hap

Bearman HR | HR Services in Kent
Feb 44 min read


Statutory Sick Pay changes from April 2026 what Employers need to know
Statutory Sick Pay is changing from April 2026, and while it is not a compliance nightmare, it will affect how small business employers manage sickness absence from the very first day. Changes introduced under the Employment Rights Act 2025 remove waiting days and expand eligibility for SSP, meaning more employees will qualify and payments will start sooner. For employers, this reinforces the importance of clear sickness absence policies, accurate records and consistent proce

Bearman HR | HR Services in Kent
Jan 254 min read


Employment Rights Act 2025 Explained What Small Businesses Need to Know Before April 2026
The Employment Rights Act 2025 is now law, and for small business employers it brings a series of important employment law changes starting from April 2026. After months of consultation and speculation, the focus is shifting from what might happen to what businesses actually need to prepare for. While the changes will be phased in over time, early reforms around day one employment rights, Statutory Sick Pay, family leave and enforcement mean now is the right moment for emplo

Bearman HR | HR Services in Kent
Jan 255 min read


Why Staying Paper-Based Could Be Putting Your Business at Risk
If your business is still paper-based , you’re putting yourself at HUGE risk . 📑⚠️ Let’s break down why it’s time to make the move to digital HR management and how the right software can make your life a whole lot easier. Bearman HR | Supporting Businesses in Kent 🔎 GDPR Compliance Risks | HR Services Keeping your HR records on paper makes it much harder to comply with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), as well as the Working Time Directive (WTD) and Right to Work

Bearman HR | HR Services in Kent
Oct 6, 20253 min read


The Disciplinary Process – Where Do You Even Begin?
When workplace issues arise — whether it's misconduct, poor performance, or policy breaches - knowing where to start with the...

Bearman HR | HR Services in Kent
Sep 22, 20252 min read


How to Handle Absence Without Breaking the Law
For businesses in Kent , including Chatham, Maidstone and Medway , absence management is one of the most common HR challenges. Get it...

Bearman HR | HR Services in Kent
Aug 18, 20252 min read


“I need to discipline someone, but I don’t have a process – and I’m scared it’ll backfire.” Disciplinary Help for Employers in Kent
Avoiding Tribunal Risks: Expert HR Consultancy in Kent for Disciplinary and Employee Issues. A real client story about how Bearman HR ...

Bearman HR | HR Services in Kent
Jul 15, 20252 min read


Why We Rebranded: A New Look, Same Heart
At Bearman HR, we’ve always believed that people are at the heart of every great business. Over the years, we’ve worked with countless...

Sam Bearman
Jun 27, 20252 min read


Why Ignoring Employee Grievances Is Costing Your Company More Than You Think
It started with a whisper. Maria, a high-performing project manager at a mid-sized tech firm, had been dropping subtle hints in meetings...

Sam Bearman
May 27, 20253 min read


HR Essentials for Small Businesses
Get essential HR advice for small businesses! Boost efficiency with expert tips on recruitment and employee management. HR Essentials for...

Sam Bearman
Apr 19, 20253 min read


Grow Your Business: Expert HR Consultancy for Startups
Discover expert HR consultancy for startups to boost compliance, culture, and growth. Grow your business today! Why startups need HR...

Sam Bearman
Mar 17, 20254 min read


HR Advice And Support For Small Businesses
Running a small business is one of the most exciting (and challenging) things anyone can do, but let’s be honest here, it’s also a...

Sam Bearman
Mar 7, 20253 min read


Why Small Businesses in Kent Should Invest in Staff Training.
Running a small business in Kent requires some careful decision-making to ensure that you give yourself the very best chance of success....

Sam Bearman
Feb 17, 20252 min read


The Role of HR in Strategic Growth for Kent Based Businesses
Many Kent based businesses don’t necessarily associate HR with growth, but in fact, the two can go hand-in-hand in so many ways. With a...

Sam Bearman
Feb 17, 20253 min read


How HR Support Can Help Manage Employee Disputes Effectively
It is inevitable that conflicts are going to occur in business from time to time. Not only do you need to think about how you can resolve...

Sam Bearman
Feb 17, 20252 min read


Benefits of Outsourced HR for Small Businesses in Kent
Are you running a small business in Kent? Well, if you’re running a business at all, then you know for a fact that this is something...

Sam Bearman
Jan 30, 20253 min read


5 Common HR Challenges for Small Businesses and How to Solve Them
Running a small business in Kent is probably the furthest thing from being a walk in the park. Well, running a business in general is....

Sam Bearman
Jan 29, 20253 min read
bottom of page