Prior to this I had some jobs that were long hours, low wages and with no paid time off.


In 1995, I was a graduate working in a privately owned financial services company run by very young, very wealthy and very inexperienced directors. My role was advising customers on financial matters. However, because working conditions were so chaotic and morale so low, I took on the role of spokesperson for my department, mainly because I’m one of those people who feels a responsibility to speak out and change things for the better.


The Financial Services Authority (now known as the Financial Conduct Authority) did not come into being until 2001 and so, in the world of consumer finance, there was little regulatory intervention. This meant that companies such as the one for which I worked, could operate with no intervention or auditing to ensure that people were adequately trained, systems were fit-for-purpose and professional standards were in place. This resulted in long hours, stress and frequent errors to the detriment of customers.


Fuelled by youthful exuberance I gate- crashed a pub lunch which two of the directors had just sat down to enjoy. Whilst they ate I listed a host of issues affecting customers, morale and poor practice in how we operated. Instead of getting sacked (which is what I expected to happen) they seconded me onto a project to help address some of the issues and I found my passion lay in employee relations, training, development and driving strategic change.


When I left it was to take a role in the HR industry and return to university in the evenings to get my post-graduate diploma in Human Resources. One thing


BUSINESS CLINIC


a responsibility to speak out and change things for the better."


didn’t change though; my urge to speak out and change things for the better.


Now, 25 years after I took my first steps into the world of HR and employment rights, I have finally set up my own company and embarked on a journey which will see me being wholly responsible for the success (or otherwise) of my venture.


One of the better aspects of no longer being tethered to an employer is that I can be me without concern that I am too outspoken. Having said that, above I set out the advantage I gained from speaking my mind; indeed, I have never been sanctioned for doing so, and it has in many ways got me noticed, brought me respect and loyalty from clients I have worked for and ultimately led to career progression. I encourage organisations to listen to their employees; they are the future leaders.


Whilst I’ve had many sleepless nights worrying that I had put my head above the parapet one time too many, I can now reflect on the contribution I have made to the many companies I have had the opportunity to work for and the many


I’m one of those people who feels


colleagues and employees I have worked with. On reflection, I wouldn’t change a thing.


I’m conscious that currently many employers and employees will be having sleepless nights as we continue to live through untested policy in terms of dealing with the pandemic and regional variances in the application of policies. I’m not a politician but I am seriously worried that in the UK we haven’t yet got a clear strategy to get through this. I certainly do not want to see more strict lockdowns.


What I do want to do is to continue to work with organisations to ensure they get through this, look to the future and are able to navigate the increasingly complex post-Brexit, post-pandemic world we will be living in. The organisations I work with understand how their people are the most valuable resource. They are prepared to listen to them and give them the opportunity to contribute to getting through the next few months.


To that end, I called my company Meliora HR. Meliora is Latin for ‘the pursuit of better’, ‘better things’ or ‘always better’ and that is what I hope to deliver.


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