Services Provided
GF People Services is an HR consultant with over 20 years’ experience of managing employee relations and workplace conflict. Recognising that such matters rarely land in a neatly wrapped box but more often than not are complex, layered and involving several parties.
We provide creative, innovative and bespoke approaches towards the achievement of realistic and affordable solutions. A conversation with Gerry, in confidence and without obligation, may be the first step in establishing or restoring your workplace relations to bring better results through better relationships.
Here are some of the services provided:
Feedback is meant to address the problem, not the person.
Travis Bradberry
Our Services Explained
Employee Engagement & HR Advisory Services
How organisations engage with their staff and deal with employee relations matters impacts the on their reputation as an employer. People seek to join an organisation when a recommendation to join is championed by a current member of staff. Maintaining positive employee relations and engagement with your staff will significantly contribute towards your organisational reputation and ultimately your ability to attract the highest calibre of staff employer.
Navigating the employment relations environment is difficult. With over forty pieces of employment legislation and ever emerging Codes of Practice that impact on various components of the employee lifecycle, accessing the right advice at the right time is vital. This will ensure that a simple employee relations matter does not unnecessarily develop into a complex situation that could potentially end up being financially costly and being reputationally damaging.
It is the responsibility of every organisation to manage their own employee relations, within the confines of their internal environment. In only very exceptional circumstances, when all other avenues have been exhausted, should matters be referred to the Workplace Relations Commission.
With over 20 years of employee relations experience including representing employers at third party fora, GF People Services are suitably placed to provide the right advice, in a timely manner as a means of promoting positive employee relations and engagement.
Workplace Investigations
Whether it be a complaint under the disciplinary procedure, grievance policy or a bullying/harassment policy, the investigation process is the single most important aspect of dealing with a staff complaint. Investigations must be carried out in a timely manner, in line with the principles of natural justice and be perceived as being fair and independent. For an investigation to be sound, all of these essential aspects must be met.
Where an investigation process falls short, even for procedural shortcomings, then more than likely the findings will be unsound and will fail. If challenged the investigation report needs to be able to withstand an appeals process and potentially a referral to the WRC. Where the investigation fails, the organisation may stand accused of being unreasonable and may subsequently be exposed to significant financial, legal and reputational risks.
Gerry is an experienced workplace investigator with over 20 years’ experience in carrying out investigations. He was a member of the HSE National Workplace Investigation Panel for several years and will ensure that your investigation will be carried out with procedural integrity, discretion and sensitivity.
Independent Appeals
Many elements of employee relations contain the ability to appeal a decision or process. Increasingly there is an onus on organisations not to be reviewing their own employee relations practices and are often advised to engage an outside appeals officer. The appointment of an external independent appeals officer inherently strengthens the procedure and integrity of any employee relations matter and will present the company as being fair and reasonable for all involved parties.
Appeals arise from employee relations activities such as formal disciplinary sanctions where the employee may consider that the sanction was disproportionate, bullying/harassment investigations and grievances where it is felt by an employee that the outcome was fundamentally wrong.
An appeal is not a re-investigation of the whole matter but is based on the specific reasons for appeal that have been set out in writing by the employee.
Impartiality, fairness and procedural correctness remain at the heart of this employee relations facility. GF People Services will ensure that a thorough and efficient appeals process will be undertaken on every occasion.
Mediation & Conflict Resolution
Conflict is a normal component of human interaction. Conflict, while difficult to process can be a positive dynamic. Gerry is an Accredited Mediator who can assist the involved parties in achieving a resolution towards a win/win settlement.
Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process often regarded as ‘an off the record’ conversation, that aims to bring resolution to conflict and differences that exist between parties. The resolution process is owned by the parties and the mediator’s role is to manage the process that facilitates this resolution.
The Mediation Act 2017 now governs mediation practices in Ireland and all mediators must be qualified and accredited.
Independent Recruitment Service
Staff appointments are the single most important aspect of the employee lifecycle for an organisation. The best staff appointments will bring the best results while the wrong appointments will prove costly, from both a time and financial perspective.
The presence of an independent interview panel member will significantly strengthen the recruitment and selection decisions being made and will also bring impartiality and integrity to the process. Understanding the fine workings of competency- based interviews that are designed to ensure that appointments are made based on merit and that only the highest calibre of staff are offered such appointments. This is a skill that Gerry has honed over 20 years and is now available to your organisation.
Contracts, Handbooks & Policies
Compliance is becoming more and more onerous for organisations as employment legislation grows. The requirement to provide statutory entitlements are being matched with the requirement to provide the highest level of administration to ensure that your organisations employee records are comprehensive and maintained securely.
This has never been more pertinent as the Workplace Relations Commission can now issue on the spot fines for any and every breach for each employee. Fines can be as high as €500 but if the breach exists for six employees then the level of fine increases to €3,000 to be paid within 42 days or face prosecution.
By ensuring that each employee has a contract of employment, that key HR policies are in place either individually or as part of a staff handbook will go a long way to ensuring that your organisation achieves and maintains compliance.