HR: it happens to everyone

Our Team

AIME ARMSTRONG

ALEXANDRA BURN

MILLY HARDING

KELLY ALLEN

EMILY LAFLIN

JULIETTE REES

Being human

HR issues happen to everyone

The pandemic has made HR a real headscratcher over the last year. An HR specialist tells our Editor Kerry Smith that HR hiccups happen to everyone, and reveals vital tips on how to deal with underperforming staff

Human resources – it’s a minefield, isn’t it? From putting out a job ad to letting someone go, to promoting someone, or changing their job role; there are important laws and values to consider all the way through an employee’s journey with you, especially if they’ve been with you throughout the coronavirus crisis.

Local business Ninja HR wants to reassure many small to medium sized businesses as we emerge from the pandemic.

In the past year Ninja HR has worked with more than 90 local companies as well as the Government as an approved

Kickstart Gateway helping companies to recruit and train

HR Headscratcher

How to deal with a disgruntled, underperforming employee

1. Take a deep breath and remain calm. Sometimes people think their manager is fair game, and their language and approach can be aggressive, but the worst thing you can do is lose your cool. Try to remember that although it might seem very personal, the real problem might be an issue at home.

2. Listen and be supportive. If you can find out what the root cause of the issue is, it will be a lot easier to find a solution.

3. Follow your policy and don’t rush into doing anything. The vast majority of cases lost at Employment Tribunal are because of procedural errors or hasty dismissals. Take your time.

4. Ask your employee what they think the solution could be. It may be that they feel they need more training, or some emergency leave, have a disability they hadn’t told you about, or are being bullied or sexually harassed.

5. Rushing is bad, but don’t ignore the problem either. It may feel like a hassle, but letting things fester will just make it worse. incredibly tough competition, and only being two years old, they have got through to the final of the Niche Business Awards 2021 in the Professional Services Category.

“I was really humbled to find out that I’d been nominated for this award, and gobsmacked when I got through to the final. After the lockdown, it was so lovely to tell the team that they could all get dressed up, and that our joint efforts have been recognised in this prestigious event. It’s been such a tough 18 months and seeing everyone get excited about a big night out was just lovely,” Aime told us.

Despite only being in business two years, Ninja HR has ambitions to be the go-to HR company for the toughest HR challenges in the UK and beyond. But despite their ambitious plans, they believe that collaboration is far better than competition. They frequently work with other HR consultancy firms and freelance partners so that customers can get the highest quality services in one place, with one contract, without having to worry about hiring specialists

such as employment lawyers, health and safety consultants and learning specialists.

Creativity, innovation and diversity are celebrated at Ninja HR as a way to create unique and bespoke solutions for customers. And because of the challenging nature of their work and having become an extreme hybrid workplace (a term Ninja HR uses to explain that all staff are permanently home-based, but get together frequently online and in person) the Ninja HR team, enjoy letting their hair down as a team over cocktails.

For more advice, or information on the Kickstart Gateway Employers programme and how your company could benefit, visit ninjahr.co.uk.

employees, and to create 454 kickstart placements and achieve grant funding worth £3,632,000.

Ninja HR has also taken on a variety of complex ad hoc work as well as supporting their retained customers. They’ve so far gained all their work through referrals and networking – often where customers, other HR companies and HR, legal, and financial professionals have recommended their services.

Launched in June 2019, Ninja HR has quickly built a reputation for dealing with complex and challenging HR issues without drama or fuss.

“If you’ve got a really tough challenge, whether that is an allegation of fraud or sexual harassment in relation to a director or you want to grow fast and across international boundaries, we’ve got experience in all areas,” commented Aime Armstrong, CEO and Founder of Ninja HR.

“I love that moment when a customer’s frown and worry disappear as they realise the situation that they thought was impossible, does have a solution and not only can it be sorted, but it is also going to be quicker, easier and cheaper than they thought.”

Aime has 20 years’ experience in dealing with the most complex and sensitive issues in the public sector, having run large HR departments in the NHS and local government.

Meanwhile, Milly Harding, Ninja HR’s Chief Operating Officer, has spent the last decade helping start-ups grow. The Ninja HR team also includes Tom, as the Kickstart Service Delivery Manager, Helen, as an HR Business partner, Alex as Head of Learning and Development, Kelly Allen and Emily Laflin as virtual assistants, a growing team of associates and support staff, as well as their very own HR Kickstarter Juliette.

It is clear that, despite being such a newcomer to the market, Ninja HR is already getting noticed. Facing

Finalist

I love that moment when a customer’s frown and worry disappear as they realise the situation that they thought was impossible, does have a solution