The SME HR Playbook for Reducing Absence and Turnover

Kindness is what makes work actually work

Kindness isn't soft. It's what makes work actually work. Kind cultures aren't fluffy. They perform better, retain more people, and create environments where honest conversations can actually happen. In this episode of Across the Table, host Joe Perry is joined by David Beeney, speaker, consultant and author of Breaking the Silence, to explore what kinder workplace cultures really look like and why kindness and performance are not in tension. Drawing on nearly 40 years in the workplace and a decade helping organisations build cultures where people can be honest about their mental health, David shares practical insights on: * why "difficult conversations" is the wrong frame entirely * how line managers make or break culture, whatever senior leaders say * why mental health first aiders alone won't fix your organisation * what the one to 17 check-in can tell you that one to 10 never will * how being kinder to yourself makes you better at your job We Discus * Why David hates the phrase "difficult conversations" and what to say instead [06:10] * The bank that asked 76,000 staff "do we care about you?" and what 50% said [09:17] * Why you can build a kind culture even when the one above you isn't [12:12]  * Sally's dog and what it taught David about transactional vs meaningful relationships [14:59]  * The man who was always 10 out of 10 and why that should have been a warning sign [14:59] * FIFO culture and who's really responsible for changing it [20:50]  * Why mental health first aiders are not enough [12:12]  * Two things every manager and leader can do on Monday morning [26:20] Chapters [00:00] Intro & David's story  [03:54] Breaking the Silence - the book  [06:10] Honest conversations, not difficult ones  [09:17] Tone from the top  [12:12] The role of line managers in kind cultures  [14:59] Sally's dog & the 1 to 17 check-in  [17:58] Kind cultures & performance - getting the balance right  [20:50] What good leadership visibility looks like  [23:28] Not turning managers into fluffy bunnies  [26:20] Final thoughts on kindness and self-care Where to find David Beeny LinkedIn: David Beeney [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-beeney-2096044/] Website: Breaking The Silence [https://www.breakingthesilence.co.uk/] Book: Breaking the Silence [https://www.breakingthesilence.co.uk/shop/] Host: Joe Perry LinkedIn: Joe Perry [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-perry-45ab1127] Newsletter: Across The Table by Joe Perry [https://joecollectiveer.substack.com/] Website: collaboratER [https://collaborater.org/] About the show Across the Table explores the conversations that shape work, and the people who have them. Practical, grounded discussions for HR professionals, managers, and leaders navigating modern ER and HR challenges. For sponsorship inquiries: podcast@collaborater.org [podcast@collaborater.org]

Leading Change Without Losing People

Change programmes don’t fail because the plan is wrong. They fail when the human experience is ignored. In this episode of Across the Table, host Joe Perry is joined by Tara Jones, founder of The Good Change Consultancy, to explore what it really takes to lead change while protecting dignity, trust, and working relationships. From system rollouts and restructures to new policies and operating models, organisations often pour time and money into business cases, timelines, and governance, while missing a simple truth: change only happens through people. Drawing on decades of experience across central government, policing, higher education, charities, and highly unionised environments, Tara shares practical insights on: - why “change resistance” is a misleading label - why comms alone won’t build trust - how dignity becomes the first casualty of poorly handled change and how leaders can make space for honest conversations without slowing delivery This is a grounded, practical conversation about leadership, employee voice, compassionate challenge, and how to move away from permanent crisis mode, toward change that actually sticks. We discuss - Why change programmes lose sight of people [00:00] - Dignity at work and the human cost of transformation [03:48] - Why “change resistance” is the wrong diagnosis [07:25] - Meaningful involvement vs “just doing some comms” [07:25] - Outcomes before plans: what leaders get wrong [11:22] - Trust, honesty, and saying “I don’t know” [12:39] - Crisis mode, BAU, and fractured relationships [16:23] - Compassionate challenge and asking better questions [19:38] - Why honouring people can speed up delivery [22:36] - One simple Monday-morning change leaders can try [25:16] Chapters - [00:00] Change programmes & the missing human truth - [03:48] Dignity at work during transformation - [07:25] Rethinking “change resistance” - [11:22] Outcomes vs delivery plans - [14:12] Leadership, urgency & space to think - [16:23] Crisis culture & BAU reality - [19:38] Compassionate challenge - [22:36] Does human-centred change slow delivery? - [25:16] A practical change you can make next week - [26:45] Wrap-up & reflections Where to find Tara Jones - LinkedIn: Tara Jones [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tara-jones-1884728] - Website: The Good Change Consultancy [https://www.thegoodchange.co.uk/] Host: Joe Perry - LinkedIn: Joe Perry [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-perry-45ab1127] - Newsletter: Across the Table by Joe Perry [https://joecollectiveer.substack.com] - Website: collaboratER [https://CollaboratER.org] About the show Across the Table is about the conversations that shape work - and the people who have them. Thoughtful, grounded talks about how work works. For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@collaborater.org [podcast@collaborater.org]

How Small Teams Prepare for Big HR Changes: Absence, Day-One SSP Rights & Real-World ER Skills

Deb Rees (HR Manager at LSN Diffusion) returns for Episode 2, fresh from attending the CBI Roundtable in London and appearing on the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme. This episode explores how SMEs can prepare without panic as workplaces face major changes: the Keep Britain Working Review, the Employment Rights Bill, rising conflict and pressure on small HR teams. Host Joe Perry looks at practical steps small organisations can take before changes land. ⚠️ Legislative Update: Recorded before the 27 Nov 2025 announcement. Unfair dismissal protection will now start after six months, not day one. Day-one rights to SSP and paternity leave are still due from April 2026. WE DISCUSS: * Deb’s week: CBI Roundtable + BBC Radio 4 Today Programme [01:20] * Why UK HR is facing a “perfect storm” of pressures [02:40] * Deb’s SME HR framework: kindness, development, belonging [04:39] * Sick pay changes: SSP, waiting days & early contact [05:55] * Why letting sickness drift is “unkind” — and what SMEs must do [07:57] * Day-one rights: what changes and what SMEs need to prepare [10:10] * Conflict, tribunals & conciliation delays — early resolution [13:23] * Line manager capability & why soft skills training matters [17:35] * Wellbeing, neurodiversity & building belonging at work [21:34] CHAPTERS * [00:08] Intro + Deb’s week: CBI + BBC Radio 4 * [02:40] The “perfect storm” * [04:39] SME HR priorities * [05:55] SSP & sickness changes * [07:57] Why absence drift is unkind * [10:10] Day-one rights & probation * [13:23] Conflict & early resolution * [17:35] Manager capability * [21:34] Wellbeing & belonging * [25:00] Wrap-up WHERE TO FIND DEB REES * LinkedIn: Deb Rees [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-rees-chartered-fcipd-llm-ilm-l7-02a08727/] * Website: LSN Diffusion [http://www.lsndiffusion.com] REFERENCED * Keep Britain Working Review [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keep-britain-working-review-final-report/keep-britain-working-final-report] * ACAS & early conciliation [https://www.acas.org.uk/early-conciliation] * Skilled Managers Programme (Professor Saundry) [https://skilledmanagers.org/] HOST: JOE PERRY * LinkedIn: Joe Perry [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-perry-45ab1127] * Newsletter: Across the Table [https://joecollectiveer.substack.com] * Website: CollaboratER.org [https://CollaboratER.org] ABOUT THE SHOW Across the Table explores the conversations that shape work - and the people who have them. Practical, grounded discussions for HR professionals, managers, and leaders navigating modern ER and HR challenges. For sponsorship inquiries: podcast@collaborater.org [podcast@collaborater.org]

The SME HR Playbook for Reducing Absence and Turnover

Deb Rees is the HR Manager at LSN Diffusion, a manufacturing SME in South Wales. Over recent years, her team has halved sickness absence (6% → ~2–3.5%), cut turnover (33% → 7.5%), and strengthened trust and engagement - all without corporate bureaucracy. In this first episode, Deb joins host Joe Perry to share a practical SME HR “playbook” you can use on Monday morning. We discuss: * Why SME HR can move faster - and where it’s uniquely hard [03:13] * Examples of “small org speed”: shift patterns, medical support, hardship loans [03:50] * The “family feel”: how proximity helps (and sometimes hurts) engagement [04:52] * Absence management that works: cost analysis, policy, training, KPIs [08:07] * Sustaining results: pay, bonuses, data culture, transparency [11:01] * How absence links to conflict and why honesty + support beat punishment [13:54] * Lifelong learning as a culture shift [16:31] * Avoiding overwhelm: imperfect action, self-care, networks [21:39] * Looking ahead: AI’s promise, EDI shifts, Employment Rights Act (2025) [26:58] Chapters * [00:30] Intro & why SMEs matter * [03:33] The dynamics of SME HR * [06:22] Managing absenteeism & wellbeing * [09:38] Making policy & training stick * [12:22] Professional development that changes culture * [15:27] Networking, self-care, and focus * [18:18] The future of HR * [21:32] Wrap-up & key takeaways Where to find Deb Rees: * LinkedIn: Deborah Rees [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-rees-chartered-fcipd-llm-ilm-l7-02a08727/] * Website: LSN Diffusion [http://www.lsndiffusion.com] Referenced * Keep Britain Working: Sir Charlie Mayfield [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keep-britain-working-review-discovery] * CIPD: Health and Wellbeing Report 2025 [https://www.cipd.org/globalassets/media/knowledge/knowledge-hub/reports/2025-pdfs/8920-Health-and-wellbeing-report-2025.pdf] * Daniel Barnett: Employment Law Resources [https://www.danielbarnett.com/] Recommended books * Collective Employment Relations [https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-65471-8] Host: Joe Perry   * LinkedIn: Joe Perry [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-perry-45ab1127] * Newsletter: Across the Table [https://joecollectiveer.substack.com] * Website: collaboratER.org [http://CollaboratER.org] About the show Across the Table is about the conversations that shape work - and the people who have them. Thoughtful, grounded talks about how work works. For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@collaborater.org [podcast@collaborater.org]