Buzzing About HR
🎙️ Buzzing About HR
Straight-talking HR for real businesses (the kind where you are doing payroll, sales, and playing therapist before lunch).
From Kate Underwood HR & Training, this podcast makes the people stuff make sense, without the corporate jargon and “synergy” nonsense.
Hosted by award-winning HR expert Kate Underwood, each episode is designed for real life. You know, the moments nobody prepares you for:
- The employee who is brilliant at the job but chaos in the team
- The manager who avoids tough conversations until it turns into a bin fire
- The “it’s only a small issue” grievance that suddenly becomes a formal complaint
- The sickness pattern that is suspiciously linked to Mondays and payday
- The resignation that makes you think, “Wait… what did we miss?”
This is practical HR for small businesses and busy leaders. We talk performance, absence, hiring, retention, culture, motivation, and how to stay on the right side of UK employment law without turning your business into a paperwork museum. Expect straight answers, real examples, and steps you can actually use the same day, not theory that only works in perfect-world HR departments with unlimited budgets.
It’s also a permission slip to lead like a human. Clear standards, fair boundaries, decent communication, and less drama. The goal is a calmer workplace, fewer sleepless nights, and a team that actually wants to stick around.
And yes, Hazel the office dog pops up too, because nothing says “people management” like a judgemental stare from a Wellbeing Officer who has never written a policy in her life.
☕ Start here: Take the FREE HR Health Check and see where your risks (and quick wins) are hiding.
Episodes
Farewell To The Paper Round
The ERB Procrastination Trap: Why ‘Later’ Will Cost You
January Tsunami: Why People Quit
What Worked, What Hurt, And What To Change In 2026
Start 2026 Strong By Fixing Five Simple HR Jobs Today
Special Edition: The Employment Rights Bill Explained in Plain English for SME's
How Small Employers Can Build A Resilient Early Careers Pipeline In A Shaky UK Job Market
How To Keep Morale High And Customers Happy When December Chaos Hits
How To Get Ready For The UK Employment Rights Bill Without Drowning In Admin
How The Autumn Budget 2025 Hits Small Businesses
Making Men's Health Routine At Work
Quiet Quitting Isn’t The Problem; It’s The Signal You’ve Been Ignoring
Practical Ways To Support Menopause And Keep Teams Fair
How To Keep Clients Without Breaking Employment Law
From Cake Crumbs To Fair Perks: How To Spend HR Budget Where It Works
Why Promoting Your Star Performer Can Backfire And What To Do Instead
Flu Jabs: Perk or Pressure?
You Can't Fire Someone Just Because They Called You a Dickhead
Beyond the Wagging Tails: The Real Impact of Dogs in the Workplace
How One Appeal Mistake Cost a Pub More Than Halloumi Fries
HR Without the Headache: Decoding the Employment Rights Bill
HR Paperwork That Actually Saves You (Not the Stuff That Just Looks Important)
Your First Week Sets The Truth About Your Business And Whether Good People Stay
When A Quick Raise Fixes One Problem And Starts Five More
The Reality Check Your Business Needs Before Hiring Your Next Freelancer