Buzzing About HR
🎙️ Buzzing About HR
Straight-talking HR for the people doing payroll, sales and playing workplace therapist before lunch.
If you run a UK small business, or you're the HR-of-one trying to keep the wheels on, this podcast is for you.
No corporate jargon.
No "synergy."
Just real answers to the people's problems no one warned you about.
Hosted by award-winning HR expert Kate Underwood, each episode tackles the moments small business owners actually face:
- The employee who's brilliant at the job and causes chaos in the team
- The manager who avoids hard conversations until they turn into a bonfire
- The "small issue" grievance that suddenly becomes a formal complaint
- The sickness pattern is suspiciously linked to Mondays and payday
- The resignation that makes you think, " What did we miss?"
You'll get plain-English UK employment law, practical advice on performance, absence, hiring and retention, and grown-up culture conversations, all usable the same day. No theory. No paperwork museums. No advice that only works in big HR departments with unlimited budgets.
This is also a permission slip to lead like a human. Clear standards. Fair boundaries. Decent communication. 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" quite like a judgmental stare from a Wellbeing Officer who's never written a policy in her life.
☕ Start here: take the FREE HR Health Check and see where your risks and your quick wins are hiding.
New episodes every Tuesday.
Buzzing About HR
Flu Jabs: Perk or Pressure?
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this episode of Buzzing About HR, we are talking about flu-jab season and how something meant to help your team can quietly damage trust if it is handled badly.
Because on the surface, it sounds simple. Offer flu jabs, reduce absence, everyone wins.
In reality, this is where small businesses can accidentally create pressure, confusion, and a bit of an “us and them” culture if they are not careful.
So this episode is about doing it properly.
We start with the reality of winter absence and why it hits rotas, cover, and stress levels so hard in small teams. Then we look at how a voluntary, voucher-based approach can reduce absence without turning into something that feels forced or monitored.
I break down the legal and data side in plain English, including how to keep things privacy-first, what you do and do not need to record, and why less data is usually the safer option. We also talk about setting clear deletion points so you are not holding onto health information longer than you should.
From there, we get into the bit that really matters. How you communicate it.
Making sure your approach is inclusive for people with allergies, pregnancy considerations, or faith-based reasons. Training managers so this does not turn into subtle pressure, rota penalties, or awkward “have you had yours yet?” conversations that land badly.
We also cover the common mistakes that trip businesses up. Asking for proof. Linking it to shifts. Creating quiet pressure. And how to fix each one with a simple, fair approach.
Finally, I answer the questions I get all the time. Can you make it mandatory? Should you ask for proof? Can you link it to attendance? How do you measure if it is working?
If you want to support your team, reduce absence, and avoid turning a good idea into a trust issue, this episode will help you get it right.
Subscribe, share it with another business owner who is about to roll this out, and leave a review if it helped you rethink your approach.
If you would like to offer flu-jab vouchers at a discounted rate, you can find more details here.
If you’re not 100% sure how your HR is really holding up, take our free HR Health Check. It’s short, jargon-free, and gives you a clear score on what’s working — and what needs a bit of love.
And if you do it before 1st April 2026, you’ll get a bonus 7 Pillar Strategy-on-a-Page, tailored to help you manage HR brilliantly for the year ahead.
That’s it for today, but if you fancy a bit of friendly HR advice in your inbox (with zero waffle), come and join our newsletter.
We send out bite-sized tips, plain-English updates, and handy things you’ll actually use — no spam, no fluff.
You can sign up here
If you're not sure how your HR is really holding up, take the free HR Health Check. It's short, jargon-free, and gives you a clear score on what's working and what could do with a bit of love.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe so you never miss one, and leave a review if you've got thirty seconds. It honestly does help more small business owners find the show, and it's the cheapest good deed you'll do all week.
Got a question or need actual HR support? Find Kate at kateunderwoodhr.co.uk, email buzz@kateunderwoodhr.co.uk, or follow along on social.
Until next time, keep buzzing, and take care of your people.
Picture this cold November morning Warehouse heaters trying their best half the team sniffly ops goes let's sort flu jabs email flies out free flu jab vouchers available and then the replies land I'm allergic I'm pregnant my faith says no I'll do it but I'm not handing over my medical details suddenly our nice perk
Perk, Pressure, or PR Problem
SPEAKER_00feels like a rule helpful or a bit heavy handed that's today welcome Hello you lovely lot I'm Kate this is Buzzing About HR topic flu jabs at work Perk, pressure or PR problem UK only plain English if you've got a live situation get help early. Right, brew in hand, let's crack on. Why this matters? Flu can flatten a rotor in a week. You start Monday with a full crew. By Friday you're playing staffing Tetris. So offering jabs makes sense. It's practical. It's visible. It says we care. But the minute we demand proof, shuffle people off good shifts. Or treat jabbed like VIPs. We've moved
Why Flu Jabs Matter at Work
SPEAKER_00from caring to controlling. That's where trouble starts. Benefits vs headaches. Do it well and you get fewer absences, karma rotors, a simple well-being win. Do it badly and you get privacy rows. Us and them vibes. Grievances you didn't need. Plus a full inbox and a mild migraine. The basics. No jargon. Health and safety first. Use sensible measures. A jab can be one of them, not the only one. Equality matters. One size rules can hit some people harder. Think religion or belief. Think pregnancy. Think disability or medical reasons. Push too hard and you'll get pushback. Data protection, vaccination
Benefits, Risks, and Legal Basics
SPEAKER_00status is health information. Keep it minimal. Keep it private. Don't store it forever and please don't rely on consent at work. It's rarely truly free. Bottom line keep it voluntary. Offer alternatives be kind to the data how to roll it out without drama. Start with purpose what problem are you actually solving? Absence spikes client exposure? Write one short note to yourself. Keep it. Make it voluntary. Say it clearly your choice no penalties, no side eye. Pick how you'll do it. Vouchers via pharmacies work well. On-site clinic if you're big enough. Either way give paid time to
Keep It Voluntary and Private
SPEAKER_00go privacy by design. Don't collect certificates. Track the minimum voucher offered voucher used lock the list down delete it after flu season. Inclusive comms explain the offer in human words signpost allergy pregnancy and faith questions private chats only no canteen quizzes train managers no jab shaming no rotor nudges no guessing who did what measure gently look at uptake as a percentage review absence after the
Rollout Plan That Avoids Drama
SPEAKER_00season. Then decide if it's worth repeating the slightly spicy take employer paid flu jabs can be a lovely perk. Turn it into pressure and it starts to feel like health policing so perk or policing which story are you telling? Pick perk your culture will thank you Mini dramas and fixes the shift nudge manager no jab no Saturday shift fix remove the penalty Rotus are about skills and availability not medical status. The spreadsheet of secrets someone uploads a list vaccinated slash not fix swap it for a simple voucher tally no names on walls limited access auto delete date set the poster that overshot comms protect the team no excuses fix try this instead flu jabs
Inclusive Comms and Manager Training
SPEAKER_00available if you want one questions private chat alternatives in place quick Q and A. Can we make it mandatory? In most workplaces no Keep it voluntary and proportionate can we ask for proof you can but better not use a simple voucher used tick no certificate on file can we move non-jabbed off busy shifts? Risky looks like a penalty stick to neutral rotor rules What should our data note say? Why you're doing this what tiny bit of info you'll record? Who can see it? When you'll delete it will jabs really cut absence? Often yes especially in customer facing or close contact roles still do the basics hygiene ventilation sensible sickness reporting how do we avoid us and them keep it optional no naming and shaming positive
Mini Dramas and Practical Fixes
SPEAKER_00private practical what do we say to people who aren't sure point to NHS guidance their GP or a pharmacist give them time no pressure vouchers your options we've got flu jab vouchers this season you can buy them for your team you can share the cost with staff or you can offer them to buy cheaper than most pharmacies and supermarkets. Check the link in the show notes to find out more simple setup easy tracking no medical certificates needed outro here's the landing offer jabs as a choice you'll cut absence and show you care you'll spark privacy rows and wobble your culture lead with care design for choice mind the data if you'd like the one page rollout checklist and a manager briefing it's in the show notes. And don't forget those voucher options buy for the team share the cost or pass on a cheaper than the high street deal. Links in the show notes I'm Kate. This is Buzzing About HR Kettleon. Standards up see you next
Quick Q&A: Proof, Rotas, Data
SPEAKER_00time
Podcasts we love
Check out these other fine podcasts recommended by us, not an algorithm.
