1. Should an employer deal with an employee's poor performance through its disciplinary or capability procedure?
2. Can an employer ask a prospective employee to fill in a medical questionnaire?
3. How long must an employer consult with employees for when seeking agreement to change their contracts?
4. If a third party harasses an employee, will the employer be liable for the third party's actions under the Equality Act 2010?
5. My team are asking me about what we are doing this year for our Christmas Party, and I am worried that as usual it will all “kick off” at the party when everyone has had too much to drink! How can I make sure our Christmas party isn’t carnage this year?  
   

Supporting Women Through Every Stage of the Menopause Experience

National Menopause Day in the United Kingdom is an annual event that takes place on October 18th. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about menopause and highlighting the importance of supporting women through this significant stage in their lives. The menopause experience is unique to each woman, and providing the right support and information is crucial to ensuring that they can navigate this transitional phase with confidence and comfort.

Understanding Menopause:

Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. It typically occurs in a woman’s late 40s to early 50s, though the age at which menopause begins can vary. During menopause, a woman’s body undergoes hormonal changes, which can lead to a range of physical and emotional symptoms. These can include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and changes in sleep patterns.

Supporting Women at Every Stage:

1. Education and Awareness: The first step in supporting women through menopause is to raise awareness and provide accurate information. This not only empowers women to understand the changes happening in their bodies but also helps dispel myths and misconceptions about menopause. It’s essential to educate women about the physical and emotional aspects of menopause and its potential impact on their overall health.
2. Access to Healthcare: Women should have access to healthcare professionals who can provide guidance and medical options to manage symptoms. Doctors can help women make informed decisions about hormone replacement therapy, lifestyle changes, and other treatments that may alleviate menopausal symptoms.
3. Workplace Support: Employers can play a significant role in supporting women going through menopause. This includes offering flexible work arrangements, providing access to cool and private spaces, and promoting a culture of understanding. Addressing menopause in the workplace not only benefits women but also contributes to overall employee well-being.
4. Emotional Support: Menopause can bring emotional challenges, such as mood swings and feelings of anxiety or depression. Friends, family, and support groups can offer a crucial emotional support system. It’s essential to create an environment where women feel comfortable discussing their experiences and seeking help when needed.
5. Self-Care and Lifestyle Changes: Encouraging women to adopt healthy lifestyle habits can significantly impact their menopause experience. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress-reduction techniques can help manage symptoms and improve overall well-being.
6. Community and Advocacy: Events like National Menopause Day are important for fostering a sense of community and solidarity among women experiencing menopause. They also serve as an opportunity for advocacy, drawing attention to the need for better understanding, research, and support for menopausal women.

National Menopause Day in the UK serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting women at every stage of the menopause experience. By providing education, healthcare access, workplace support, emotional assistance, and encouraging self-care, we can help women navigate this significant life transition with confidence and dignity. It’s a time for everyone to come together, raise awareness, and ensure that menopause is not a taboo subject but a natural part of a woman’s life journey that deserves respect and understanding.

How can we help?

If you’d like to request a FREE Menopause Policy please get in touch with us: help@merakihr.com with MENOPAUSE in the subject line.

Or if you like us to deliver some Menopause Awareness Training for your team, then please get in touch with Emma directly; emma@merakihr.com

We both know you wouldn't admit this out loud, but does this sound familiar?

You're delivering exceptional results. The 70% growth in market reach. The 30% increase in operational efficiency. The partnerships that transformed your competitive position. Your board presentations are flawless, your team respects your judgment, and your clients see genuine value in what you deliver.

But here's what keeps you up at night: the opportunities you want—the board positions, the key partnerships, the investor meetings—aren't materialising at the pace your track record warrants.

Why CEO Visibility Doesn't Match Results

Here's what I've learned after 25+ years working with global brands: there's a fundamental difference between having excellent results and having executive visibility.

You can achieve remarkable outcomes, but if the right people don't see them in the right context, those achievements remain operationally valuable rather than competitively advantageous. Your competitors with half your experience are securing opportunities because they understand something you might be missing about executive presence.

The kicker? This isn't about your capabilities. It's about positioning.

Why Recognition Doesn't Follow Results

Most established leaders assume that excellent work automatically translates to recognition. Here's the reality: in today's business environment, visibility requires the same systematic approach you apply to every other critical business function.

Your results speak for themselves—but only to the people who are already in the room to hear them.

The opportunities you want to attract operate on a different level entirely. Board positions aren't filled by the most qualified candidates; they're filled by the most visible qualified candidates. Speaking engagements don't go to experts; they go to recognisable experts. Investment opportunities don't flow to the best businesses; they flow to the most well-positioned businesses.

Executive Visibility Strategies That Actually Work

Here's what visible leaders do differently: they treat their expertise as an asset that requires systematic positioning for industry recognition.

When you deliver that 30% operational improvement, visible leaders don't just report it—they leverage it. That achievement becomes a case study for industry publications, a speaking opportunity at key conferences, a thought leadership article that positions them as operational excellence experts.

When you close that complex deal, visible leaders document the approach and share the frameworks that made it possible. Not the confidential details—the thinking that demonstrates their methodology.

When you solve that challenging business problem, visible leaders position themselves as the expert who understands that specific challenge better than their competitors.

CEO Visibility as Competitive Advantage

Let's be honest: you already have the expertise. You already have the results. What you need is executive presence that ensures the right people recognise what you've achieved and understand what it means for their opportunities.

This isn't about personal branding or content creation. It's about thought leadership communication that positions your existing expertise for the industry recognition it deserves.

The CEO who leverages their turnaround expertise into executive visibility becomes the go-to advisor for similar challenges. The MD who positions their growth methodology becomes the obvious choice for board positions in scaling businesses. The senior consultant who demonstrates their frameworks becomes the preferred partner for high-stakes projects.

Your results should be opening doors to opportunities. If they're not, the issue isn't your capability—it's your executive visibility.

Making Executive Recognition Inevitable

CEO visibility isn't about getting lucky with recognition. It's about systematic positioning that makes industry recognition inevitable.

The leaders who attract the right opportunities understand that their expertise deserves amplification. They invest in executive presence and thought leadership with the same rigour they apply to any critical business function.

Because here's what I've learned working with L'Oréal, Colgate, Volkswagen, and Ryanair: the most successful leaders aren't just excellent at what they do—they're excellent at making their expertise visible to the right people at the right time.

Your track record has earned you opportunities. Executive visibility ensures you actually secure them.

About Strategic Visibility for Ambitious Leaders

My experience in high-stakes negotiations and award-winning strategic campaigns has taught me that visibility isn't about personal branding—it's about strategic communication that positions leaders for the recognition their expertise warrants.

Ready to stop watching less qualified competitors secure your opportunities? My Strategic Visibility for Ambitious Leaders service helps established CEOs, MDs, NEDs, and senior consultants translate their offline success into online authority. This isn't about building a personal brand from scratch—it's about communication that matches your business calibre. Book a consultation to discuss how proper positioning can level the competitive playing field.

Photo Credit: Elaine Walsh-McGrath

What is an SAR and what do we need to include in it?

As an employer, do we have responsibilities at he Christmas party?

If an employee is sexually harassed by another employee, will the employer be liable for their actions under the Equality Act 2010?

A grievance has been raised by an autistic employee and I’m not sure how to manage this

In April 2024, Jo was delivering mental health training courses in a local hall. Seventeen months later, she's designing bespoke content for the CEO of Europe's largest vertically integrated digital car marketplace.

Here's what changed everything.

The Tool vs. Strategy Revelation

When Jo first reached out, she had one specific request: "Can you teach me Canva so I can create better images for my mental health training courses?"

It seemed straightforward enough. But during our first session, I asked a different question: "What contacts do you have?"

Her answer was telling: "They're all my husband's friends or colleagues. Nobody I could really use for business."

Here's what Jo didn't realise: she was dismissing a goldmine of potential pathways to opportunity.

Every single contact—even her husband's friends and colleagues—could be one or two degrees away from exactly the person she needed to meet. You never know who in your network knows someone at a major corporation, or has a connection to a CEO looking for training or consultancy solutions.

The Evaluation Sheet Breakthrough

Jo had incredible testimonials from her training sessions—genuine praise from participants who'd experienced real transformation. But she was posting the evaluation sheets exactly as they were: formal, corporate, impersonal.

Nobody was engaging.

The solution was devastatingly simple: "Take the same evaluation sheet, sit in a chair reading it, and take a staged photo. Then write what they said in the caption."

That single change transformed everything.

Suddenly, her LinkedIn exploded with engagement. The same testimonials that had been ignored as corporate documents became powerful, personal endorsements when Jo put her face to them.

Behind-the-Scenes Content That Built Authority

We started documenting Jo's business journey authentically:

• Videos from her trip to Leeds when she landed a training contract

• Walking through her local high street, announcing free training partnerships

• Showing the reality of consultant life—the travel, the preparation, the client meetings

Each piece of content positioned Jo not as someone asking for work, but as someone actively delivering value to serious clients.

The Credibility Cascade Effect

Here's where strategic visibility becomes exponential growth:

When Jo started posting about working with high-end clients like Rolls Royce—maintaining privacy while sharing credibility—something fascinating happened. People who had met her previously began commenting on her increased visibility.

She was being taken more seriously in meetings. Her phone started ringing with referrals. Prospects could see exactly what she delivered before they even spoke to her.

From Local Hall to European Marketplace

The transformation speaks for itself:

April 2024: Delivering courses locally and struggling to see how the business could possibly scale September 2025: Designing bespoke stress resilience content following direct discussions with Avril Palmer-Lavery, CEO of Constellation Automotive Group—Europe's largest vertically integrated digital car marketplace

The company includes Cinch, We Buy Any Car, Marshall Motors, and British Car Auctions. Jo now has training sessions booked across UK and European locations.

I have to pause here to congratulate Jo properly. What I admire most about her is how passionate, talented, and driven she is. This has been central to her success. Jo doesn't stay in her comfort zone. When I'd make a suggestion for a post, she'd try it. When she got an opportunity to network, she'd take it. Her willingness to act on strategic advice and push beyond what felt safe made all the difference.

Why This Transformation Happened So Fast

Jo's success wasn't about creating content from scratch. It was about leveraging what already existed:

• Her expertise was real—she just needed to make it visible

• Her testimonials were powerful—they just needed the right format

• Her client wins were impressive—they just needed strategic sharing

• Her personality was engaging—it just needed the right platform

The irony? We never did get around to that Canva training. When I realized Jo's potential, it became clear she should outsource design work and focus entirely on what only she could do: sharing her story and building relationships through authentic content.

The Strategic Visibility Formula for Consultants

Jo's journey reveals three critical elements that transform consultant businesses:

Leverage existing credibility: Your past clients and testimonials are your strongest marketing assets—when presented strategically.

Document the journey: Behind-the-scenes content builds trust faster than polished corporate messaging.

Make referrals effortless: When prospects can see exactly what you deliver and how you work, referrals become natural conversations rather than awkward asks.

The Compound Effect of Strategic Visibility

Here's what most consultants miss: visibility isn't just about attracting new clients. It's about making everything else in your business easier.

When Jo walked into meetings, people already knew her work. When she pitched for contracts, prospects had already seen her expertise in action. When satisfied clients considered referrals, they could point to specific content that demonstrated Jo's capabilities.

Strategic visibility transformed a training consultant working from a local hall into a specialist designing content for European marketplace leaders—in less than eighteen months.

The expertise was always there. The difference was making it impossible to ignore.

After 25+ years developing strategic communication for global brands like L'Oréal, Colgate, Volkswagen, and Ryanair, I've learned that the most successful leaders aren't just excellent at strategy—they're excellent at making their expertise visible to the right people at the right time. My experience in high-stakes negotiations and award-winning strategic campaigns has taught me that visibility isn't about personal branding—it's about strategic communication that positions leaders for the recognition their expertise warrants.

Ready to stop losing opportunities to more visible competitors? My Strategic Visibility for Ambitious Leaders service helps established CEOs, MDs, NEDs, and senior consultants leverage their expertise into the online authority it deserves. This isn't about building a personal brand - it's about strategic communication that ensures your visibility matches your professional success. Book a strategic consultation to discuss how strategic positioning can transform your competitive advantage.

Image Credit: Elaine Walsh-McGrath