Is Your Business Ready for Autumn?
Running a small or medium-sized business can feel like spinning plates — especially when it comes to managing people. Policies, contracts, absence, employee issues… if just one thing slips, the whole balance can go off.
That’s why September is the perfect time for an HR health check.
Just like you’d service a car before winter, an HR health check makes sure your contracts, policies, and people practices are fit for purpose. It helps you stay compliant, spot risks early, and keep your team engaged.
What Is an HR Health Check?
An HR health check is a review of your HR policies, contracts, and processes to make sure your business is compliant with UK employment law and best practice.
For SMEs, it’s one of the quickest ways to reduce risk. It highlights gaps that could lead to:
- costly employment tribunal claims,
- increased sickness absence,
- employee turnover, and
- wasted management time.
At Cheviot HR, we carry out HR health checks for SMEs across the North East and beyond — giving business owners peace of mind that their HR is legally compliant and practically useful.
Why Do an HR Health Check in September?
September is a natural reset point for businesses. Here’s why now is the right time:
- Employment law changes – Statutory rates, redundancy pay, and family leave entitlements shift regularly. A health check makes sure you’re up to date.
- Rising absence – Autumn and winter bring more sickness absence. Checking absence triggers and return-to-work processes now avoids problems later.
- Retention risks – Many employees come back from summer break ready to move on. Spotting early warning signs can prevent a “mystery resignation.”
- Year-end planning – Appraisals, pay reviews, and Christmas holidays all need structure to avoid December chaos.
What Should an HR Health Check Cover?
When we run an HR audit for retained clients, we look at:
1. Contracts of Employment
- Are all employees on signed, up-to-date contracts?
- Do contracts reflect actual working practices?
- Are essential clauses included (confidentiality, restrictive covenants, notice, holiday)?
2. Staff Handbook & Policies
- Is there a current, accessible handbook?
- Are all statutory policies included (disciplinary, grievance, family leave, equality, health & safety)?
- Are policies reviewed annually and written in plain English?
3. Compliance Processes
- Are absence triggers and return-to-work interviews applied consistently?
- Do managers follow the ACAS Code of Practice in disciplinaries and grievances?
- Are HR records held securely and GDPR compliant?
4. Employee Relations & Risk
- Are there live disciplinary or grievance issues?
- Are managers trained to have difficult conversations?
- Are safeguarding and health & safety incidents tracked and resolved?
5. Pay & Reward
- Is there a clear pay structure or grading system?
- Has equal pay risk been assessed?
- Are overtime and benefits applied consistently?
6. Engagement & Retention
- Are check-ins, surveys, or feedback loops in place?
- Do employees feel recognised and supported?
- Are exit interviews completed and reviewed for trends?
7. Strategic HR Alignment
- Is there a people strategy aligned to business goals?
- Are workforce and succession plans in place?
- Is company culture clearly defined and embedded?
The Cost of Skipping an HR Audit
SMEs without an HR health check risk:
- Tribunal claims from outdated contracts or poor process.
- High absence rates with no triggers in place.
- Sudden resignations leading to recruitment costs.
- Damaged culture and morale.
It’s not just about compliance — it’s about protecting your business, your people, and your reputation.
Final Thought
An HR health check is one of the simplest, most cost-effective steps an SME can take. It’s proactive, it saves money, and it gives business owners confidence that their HR is compliant, fair, and effective.
At Cheviot HR, we provide retained HR consultancy services that include regular HR health checks, audits, and updates — so you never have to worry about missing a change in the law or a hidden risk in your contracts.
👉 If you’d like to arrange an HR health check for your business this September, get in touch today.