Employee Relations Support for Small Employers
Helping you handle people problems with confidence
Many small employers delay tackling poor performance, sickness patterns or conduct issues because they’re unsure how to address them or what they’re allowed to do. Elliott HR brings structure, clarity and confident decision-making to help you manage these situations consistently and in line with best practice.
How can we help?
With a specialist focus on Employee Relations, Elliott HR supports small employers across Sussex and the South East (typically with 1 - 100 employees) in addressing issues that can affect morale, reliability or productivity. Using the CLEAR framework support is fair, structured and designed to give clarity at every stage.
Common problems we help resolve:
Persistent or patterned short-term absence
Poor performance
Conduct concerns
Conflict in working relationships
Handling difficult conversations
Early stage grievances
Investigations
How do we work?
The CLEAR Framework
A structured approach to resolving people issues with confidence and consistency
Employee Relations issues can feel complex or uncertain for small employers. Elliott HR uses the CLEAR Framework — a structured, practical method designed to bring clarity to the situation, reduce risk, and guide you through each stage with confidence.
The CLEAR Framework ensures every step is fair, proportionate and aligned with best practice.
Clarify the Problem
Understand what has been happening, the impact on the business, and what the employer would consider a fair and reasonable outcome. This includes reviewing any previous conversations, concerns or expectations already set.
Look at the Evidence
Bring together relevant information to form an accurate and balanced picture. To include dates, patterns, notes, messages, fit notes, absence history or examples of performance concerns. This protects fairness and helps inform proportionate next steps.
Explore the Options
Assess the situation using ER best practice. Consider both informal and formal approaches, proportionality, potential risks, and what a reasonable course of action looks like. This stage helps employers understand what is ‘fair’, what is ‘allowed’, and the safest path forward.
Agree the Plan
Set out a clear, structured plan that outlines expectations, review points and timescales. Elliott HR provides meeting guidance, suggested wording, scripts and any required documentation to ensure the process remains consistent and well-managed.
Review and Strengthen
Review progress, discuss outcomes, and identify next steps based on improvement, partial improvement or continued concern. This may include strengthening processes, policies or manager confidence to reduce the risk of similar issues escalating again.
Signature ER Packages
Structured support for the people issues that small employers face most often
Elliott HR offers clear, practical packages designed to help employers address attendance, performance and conduct concerns with confidence. Each package includes structured guidance, documentation, meeting preparation and next steps, all aligned with good practice and tailored to your situation.
Performance Improvement Package
£595-£695
A clear, supportive process for addressing performance concerns.
What’s included:
CLEAR assessment call
Review of performance concerns
Tailored improvement plan
Meeting guidance & wording
Goals, timescales & measures
Review structure & next steps
Employee Relations by the Hour
£135 per hour
Flexible support for any Employee Relations issues.
Use for:
Conduce concerns
Difficult conversations
Grievances
Investigation guidance
Documentation help
Absence Improvement Package
£595
A structured, fair approach to resolving repeated short-term sickness absence.
What’s included:
CLEAR assessment call
Review of absence chronology
Tailored plan with expectations and review points
Meeting agenda and suggested wording
Follow-up guidance
Recommendation to strengthen attendance
Optional Add-Ons (Available with any package)
Meeting attendance - Additional support calls - Manager coaching - Policy / process improvements - Investigation support - Occupational Health / mental health guidance
Not sure which option is right for your situation? Book a free 20 minute call to talk it through.
Why choose Elliott HR?
Specialist expertise from a Chartered MCIPD professional
Employee Relations issues require clarity, structure and sound professional judgement. Elliott HR is led by a Chartered MCIPD practitioner with extensive ER experience, providing employers with advice that is aligned with CIPD standards and best practice.
A structured approach that reduces uncertainty
Using the CLEAR Framework, Elliott HR brings method and order to situations that can feel complex or uncomfortable. Each stage is grounded in good practice, offering employers a transparent pathway and carefully guided next steps.
Fair, balanced and proportionate guidance
ER concerns often involve sensitive judgement calls. Elliott HR provides objective, proportionate advice that supports both managerial responsibility and fairness for employees. This approach helps employers maintain positive working relationships while protecting the business.
Practical tools and documentation to support every stage
From tailored plans and meeting guidance to suggested wording and review structures, Elliott HR provides the clarity and resources managers need to navigate ER issues with confidence.
Support tailored to small employers
Small employers rarely have dedicated ER expertise and often feel unsure about what is ‘allowed’ or how to conduct a fair process. Elliott HR offers clear, straightforward advice and flexible support, without long‑term commitments.
A steady, professional presence when issues arise
Employers value Elliott HR for measured judgement, discretion and an ability to bring clarity to challenging situations. Whether addressing attendance patterns, performance concerns or conduct issues, support is delivered with consistency and professionalism.
Juliette Elliott, Chartered MCIPD
Employee Relations Specialist