How many of us when faced with a problem, immediately go to the computer, and look up the possible solutions using an online search engine? But what if you don’t know there is a problem, or what you need to do is ensure your policies are up to date? Perhaps worse a situation arises that needs the experience, confidence, and a calm persona that the internet cannot provide? What do you do then?
That was the situation that faced Jodie Lloyd-Jones of Oxfordshire Youth, it was one she was keen to find an alternative for as she told me. “It was up to me as the Chief Executive of what was a small charity to solve all the HR queries, and it was not something at the higher end of my skillset.” So, what brought Amanda and AJ HR Solutions into the frame? “It was a recommendation from my opposite number in Berkshire Youth who had used Amanda for their HR and was very happy with what she did for them.”
Jodie had no, or rather far less worries after handing the “HR” reins over. “Up until then if there were any HR queries it was a case of me venturing onto the internet and trying to search for the answer to the question. Suddenly I had both peace of mind and added capacity to do my core work.
At the beginning, she went through all our HR policies and made sure they were up to date. Then ensured where relevant the policies were updated as & when necessary. But, perhaps the most important thing for me was that if I had an HR related query, Amanda was at the other end of the phone with the answer.
2020 brought many situations Jodie had not planned for; how much help was Amanda to her on the HR front? “A great deal but not with just the usual matters of furlough etc. The decision was made to merge all the groups like ourselves within Oxfordshire and in a six-month period the number of staff under me went from 10 to 56 people. Amanda was really a marvellous help during the TUPE process, even though she knew that some of the staff coming over would take over the HR function.”
“Sadly, as part of the TUPE transfer there were two intense problem cases, with unions involved and everything. It was a tremendous relief to both me, and our new HR team that were coming together that Amanda stepped in and took on finding resolutions that were acceptable to all parties. The way she handled these complex queries was superb.”
It was a recommendation that saw you take on Amanda & AJ HR Solutions, Jodie, would you recommend them to someone else? “I would highly recommend Amanda, she was very proactive in the work she did with the policies, was always there at the end of a phone for me. I think the peace of mind that she created across the whole team was so useful. Especially in the way she took over the handling of the two queries under the TUPE transfers and came up with a resolution that all parties were happy with. If it had not have been for the amalgamation and HR staff coming over Amanda would still be working with us.”
