Q&A with Caryl Thomas, Managing Director of The HR Dept

Tell us a little about yourself, how long have you been in HR and why you have chosen this career path?

Hi, I’m Caryl Thomas, Director of the HR Dept, an outsourced HR Company based in Cardiff.  We look after clients across South Wales from Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Newport, Monmouth and as far as the Forest of Dean.  I’m a Valley’s girl originally and come from Hirwaun (near Aberdare) but now live in Cardiff with my husband Fred and our 8-year-old son, Oscar.  I left home for University to study languages and after graduating I worked in Barcelona, Edinburgh and London. 

I had always been interested in the law and when I returned to the UK after living in Barcelona, I was lucky enough to find a back-office role in Human Resources using my languages for an investment bank in London.  I loved HR immediately and the variety of it.  I then studied for my CIPD, my chartered level 7 qualification and gained experience across a variety of sectors from media to manufacturing. After moving home to Wales when I had my son, I set up the HR Dept.  Five years in and with a team of three, I love the variety and it’s true that when you own your own business, no two days are the same.  We get to hear it all and support SME businesses during the good and bad times.  There is nothing like the immense satisfaction of knowing the difference that good HR can make to business owners and their teams alike. 

What would you say is the biggest mistake that employers make when managing their staff?

Without a doubt, it’s not knowing what to say or managing their staff at all.  Working with SMEs the dynamic is very different.  Many SMEs have small teams and see those teams as family members.  They know their personal circumstances and everything about their lives so when it comes to making difficult decisions, it’s much harder.  Not having regular 121’s or appraisal systems in place makes it difficult to focus on performance and nip things in the bud at the beginning.  The more you avoid or put off something, the harder it becomes to manage. So, I would say that regular communication is always key.

Why is outsourcing HR services better than recruiting an HR professional in-house?

For SME businesses, outsourcing HR is typically more cost-effective than having an in-house HR Director and can be more flexible.  We can provide the level of experience and expertise needed having worked at a senior level.  We have also assisted large in-house HR teams where they have needed extra insight and resource.

What are your 3 top tips to employers to improve their workplace culture?

It’s definitely not all about the free bean bags, although that often helps!  Communicate the vision and the direction of the business; be honest and transparent about what’s happening, even when you don’t have all the answers; and create an open environment where collaboration and teamwork are encouraged.

How can employers be best prepared for the endless restrictions and changes of the pandemic?

It’s important not to get too overwhelmed with it all.  Take things one step at a time and make sure you read the regulations thoroughly.  Consult with your HR representative and have all your relevant documents ready and signed and above all, ensure that you fully understand the rules.  It’s important to make sure you have your risk assessments too. We have supported many of our clients with our COVID-19 recovery package and resilience eLearning and are here to support our clients’ all the way.

If you would like to get in touch with The Hr Dept, please click here.