Ask any employment lawyer, HR professional or manager of teams and they will nod their head wearily and confirm this. Here are some facts and figures to support this: According to Susan Clews, ACAS Chief Executive, ‘The headline statistics are startling - in total, the cost of conflict to UK organisations was £28.5 billion – the equivalent of more than £1,000 for each employee. Close to 10 million people experienced conflict at work. Of these, over half suffer stress, anxiety

Think workplace investigations are straightforward? These five common myths could leave your business exposed to unnecessary legal, financial and reputational risk. When an employee raises a grievance, allegations of misconduct arise, or concerns are raised about bullying, harassment or whistleblowing, employers are often under pressure to act quickly. How an organisation responds in those first few days can have a significant impact on the outcome. A well-conducted workplace

Hiring a senior leader is one of the most significant decisions an organisation will make. Technical capability, experience and a strong track record are essential, but they are rarely enough on their own. Many executive appointments fail not because the individual lacks ability, but because there is a mismatch between the leader, the organisation and the role they are being asked to perform. At Vela, we believe successful executive search goes beyond assessing what someone h

UK employers already have a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment at work. From October 2026, the standard will rise to all reasonable steps. Third-party harassment liability is also expected to be introduced, covering harassment by people outside the organisation, including clients, customers, contractors, service users, suppliers, visitors and members of the public. This means employers need to take a proactive approach to prevention. A policy alone is

New research from recruitment platform Totaljobs reveals that fewer than half of UK businesses - just 39% - feel confident that employees clearly understand the benefits available to them. This insight highlights a significant but often overlooked challenge: even the most generous benefits packages lose their value if employees don’t fully grasp what’s on offer. Employee benefits are not just perks; they’re a core pillar of your employer value proposition (EVP). Alongside cu

Finding the right talent for executive positions is a challenge that many organisations face. The stakes are high; a poor hire can lead to significant financial losses and a negative impact on company culture. Therefore, implementing effective executive search strategies is crucial for attracting and retaining quality hires. In this blog post, we will explore various strategies that can enhance your executive search process, ensuring you find the best candidates for your orga

In today's competitive job market, finding the right talent is more crucial than ever. Companies are not just looking for candidates who can fill a position; they seek individuals who align with their values and can contribute to their long-term success. This blog post explores effective strategies to enhance your hiring process, drawing on insights from HR consultancy practices. A recruitment strategy board displaying various hiring strategies and ideas. Understanding the Im

Finding the right person for a role goes beyond matching skills on a CV. Hiring the best talent means assessing technical ability, cultural fit, and values through a thoughtful, multi-stage recruitment process. At the same time, recruitment must be a two-way conversation. In a competitive talent market, engaging candidates effectively can make the difference between securing top talent or losing them to other opportunities. This post explores practical tips to design a recrui