Holistic HR Services

28/09/2026

What could possibly go wrong when David Brent handles a sexual harassment complaint?

The dodgy comment in the company WhatsApp group.
The joke that makes someone uncomfortable.
The response of:
“He didn’t mean anything by it.”
“He’s old school.”
“That’s just what he’s like.”

In my latest Brent v HR video, we look at what happens when workplace banter crosses the line, and why intent isn’t the only thing employers need to think about.
From 30 October 2026, employers will be required to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment.

And that means moving beyond simply having a policy tucked away somewhere.
Employers need to be able to demonstrate that they have considered their actual workplace risks and taken all reasonable steps to address them.

That is exactly why I created my POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) Compliance Kit.
It takes employers from “we've got a policy” to “here's what we've actually done.”
The toolkit is deployed via your own portal, which includes guided compliance modules, a structured risk assessment and action log, employee e-learning, policies, manager resources, checklists, and practical templates to help employers work through what reasonable steps look like for their organisation.

Watch Brent v HR: “He’s Just Being Brent”
https://youtu.be/XBaYaRyytj4
Then, if it leaves you wondering whether your organisation could actually evidence what it is doing to prevent sexual harassment…

Take a look at the POSH Compliance Kit:
https://www.holistichrservices.co.uk/sexual-harassment-compliance-kit

Stop guessing your HR. Start knowing what you need to do.
Tim Oliver as David Brent

05/09/2026

✨ Business Spotlight: Holistic HR Services ✨

“Don’t wait until people problems become business problems.”

That thinking sits at the heart of Charlotte Harding’s recent refresh of Holistic HR.

After years of supporting small and growing businesses, she saw the same challenge repeatedly:

Micro-businesses face the same people issues as larger organisations - just without the in-house teams or big budgets to manage them 😕

This new chapter is about changing that 👏

Clearer, more proportionate HR support.
Stronger foundations from the start.
Healthier, more inclusive workplace cultures.

As someone with ADHD, inclusion is deeply personal to Charlotte. She brings both lived experience and specialist expertise to help businesses create environments that genuinely support neurodivergent employees - and allow people to thrive 🥰

In this month’s spotlight, she shares:

• Why getting the foundations right early saves time, money and stress
• How her services have evolved beyond traditional HR consultancy
• New tools including The Handbook Hub, Policy Pal and the C.L.E.A.R.™ Collective

🆓 And how Warwickshire Review readers can access a FREE in-depth HR Health Check! 🆓

Because culture isn’t just a corporate buzzword - it shapes our everyday working lives, whether you own a business or work in one.

👇 Read the full spotlight via the link below 👇
https://thewarwickshirereview.co.uk/holistic-hr-practical-human-impact-driven/

💬 What do you think makes a workplace genuinely supportive?

21/07/2026

David Brent got probation wrong. He got redundancy wrong. And now... he's about to get sexual harassment very, very wrong.

🎬 Coming soon... from Holistic HR Services LTD: David Brent v Sexual Harassment.

It's funny because it's David Brent.

It's uncomfortable because we've all met someone who thinks like David Brent.

And from October, employers can't afford to laugh it off.

The law is changing. Employers will have a legal duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment at work, including harassment by customers, clients and other third parties.

"It's just banter."
"They didn't mean anything by it."
"That's just how they are."
Those excuses won't protect your business.

The best way to deal with harassment isn't by knowing what to do after it happens.
It's preventing it from happening in the first place.

In my next David Brent video, I'll be taking a light-hearted look at a very serious topic, showing exactly how outdated attitudes can quickly become expensive mistakes.
If you've enjoyed David Brent v Probation, I think you'll like this one too.

Keep an eye out... It's coming soon.

Tim Oliver as David Brent

08/07/2026

🚨 Our David Brent vs Probation video is finally here.🚨

What could go wrong when David Brent explains how he manages probation? 🤦‍♀️

- No objectives.
- No feedback.
- No documentation.
- Just "they seem alright."

As funny as it is, I still see far too many businesses treating probation exactly like this.

A new starter joins... Everyone is busy... Six months fly by...

Then suddenly someone says:

"We probably should have dealt with this months ago..."

The reality is that probation isn't just a box to tick. It's your best opportunity to:

- Set clear expectations.
- Spot issues early.
- Support people to succeed.
- Make confident decisions before problems become much harder (and more expensive) to deal with.

With employment rights continuing to evolve, getting probation right has never been more important.

So... how does your probation process compare with David Brent's? 😅

Get your popcorn at the ready; let me know your favourite moment.

👇 I'd also love to know...

What's the biggest probation mistake you've seen a manager make? (No names... let's protect the guilty!)

Tim Oliver as David Brent

Brent v Probation 📋😬What happens when David Brent is asked about ...

01/07/2026

Today isn't just another Wednesday...

If you're recruiting from today (1 July 2026), it's worth taking a look at your probation process.

Why?

Because anyone who starts work from today will reach six months' service on 1 January 2027... and that's when the new unfair dismissal qualifying period kicks in.

So, if your probation lasts six months, your employee could finish probation and gain unfair dismissal rights at exactly the same time.

Coincidence? Yes. Ideal? Probably not.

Now's a good time to ask yourself:
- Is our probation period still fit for purpose?
- Do managers actually know how to manage probation (or do they avoid difficult conversations until it's too late)?
- Are we holding meaningful check-ins, or just crossing our fingers and hoping for the best?
- Do our contracts and offer letters reflect the changes?

For SMEs especially, a strong probation process isn't about catching people out; it's about giving people the best chance to succeed, while making sure concerns are addressed early.

And because every workplace seems to have one...
My "David Brent vs Probation" video will be landing shortly. 🎬

How does your probation process compare?

If you're not sure whether your probation process is ready for the changes, drop me a message at [email protected], I would be happy to sense-check it.


Holistic HR Services Tim Oliver as David Brent The Warwickshire Review Leamington Courier

28/05/2026

What a night at Birmingham City FC ⚽
Last week, Holistic HR Services was proud to sponsor the match alongside TEK Ltd.

From pitch-side access to a cheeky look behind the scenes in the dressing rooms, it was a fantastic evening and a brilliant experience all round.

As a Midlands-based business, we always value opportunities to support local organisations, connect with other businesses, and enjoy great community events like this.

Proudly supporting Midlands businesses, on and off the pitch. Here’s a little look at what we got up to…

14/04/2026

Sneak peek time…👀

We’re officially in the editing phase of David Brent Versus HR, and it’s all coming together 🎬

Here’s a little snippet of what we’ve been working on, and trust us, you’re going to want to see the final cuts…

From David Brent energy to real-world HR truths.

Make sure you’re following us so you don’t miss the finished versions dropping soon.

The Warwickshire Review Tim Oliver as David Brent

10/04/2026

09/04/2026

Had such a fantastic day filming with Tim Oliver as David Brent 🎬 for Holistic HR.

Huge thanks to my amazing team for making it such a brilliant experience, couldn’t have asked for a better day!

We’ve got some great content coming your way… think David Brent vs the Employment Rights Act 👀

If you’re a small business, make sure you give us a follow for first dibs! 

12/01/2026

✨ Holistic HR has had a glow-up ✨ So it felt like the right time to reintroduce ourselves.

Over the past year, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes, listening to our clients, spotting the gaps, and rethinking how HR support should work for small and growing businesses.

This refresh isn’t just about how we look. It’s about clarity. Clarity around what we do, how we support you, and how we make enterprise-grade people support accessible to SMEs, without unnecessary cost or complexity.

Our purpose remains the same:
👉 To make great people practices accessible to small businesses, so founders can grow sustainably, teams can thrive, and workplaces are built with intention, not guesswork.

We’ll be sharing more about the new services and tools we’re launching in the coming weeks, all designed to reduce admin, remove uncertainty, and give business owners confidence in their people decisions.

If you’re a founder, business owner or leader who’s ever thought "HR feels overwhelming", this refresh is for you. Watch this space 👀