Nick Chronias, partner in DAC Beachcroft's employment and pensions group discusses the steps employers can take to avoid industrial action and what obligations employers have once a ballot for industrial action has been successful among employees who are members of a trade union.

Adrian Martin, head of the employment team at law firm Burges Salmon, discusses the tricky issues that can crop up when there are multiple contractors in a TUPE transfer, and how both outgoing and incoming employers can navigate these issues.

Adrian takes you through the legal and practical issues involved in service provision changes, including: when and why TUPE might apply; the "fragmentation" of services; recent case law; and how HR can help to structure and shape the services to achieve the commercial objective.

Gemma Dale, HR professional and lecturer at Liverpool's John Moores University and author of the book "How to work remotely" published in June 2022, joins us to talk about progress to date with hybrid working. We cover challenges as well as emerging benefits - including dealing with reluctant returners, cultivating the right culture, building trust, and what HR should be advising senior leaders in terms of the way forward.

Bev Thorogood, menopause specialist trainer and coach, joins us to discuss how you can create and cultivate a workplace that is supportive of people experiencing the menopause transition.

Bev discusses how managers can hold conversations with sensitivity and understanding, together with the steps and strategies they can use to support menopausal team members including: menopause-related initiatives; the role of policies; adjustments to working life; and tailored adjustment plans.

We outline the steps HR can take to embed authentic trust between people managers and employees and build psychological safety within workplaces.

Stephen Simpson, principal employment law editor here at XpertHR, joins us to talk about how employers that are operating under a hybrid working model must ensure that their sickness absence management procedures sit comfortably alongside their new working arrangements. We also present the findings of our latest sickness absence rates survey.

Max Winthrop, partner and head of the employment law team at Short, Richardson and Forth LLP, discusses the law and best practice around disability-related reasonable adjustments at disciplinary and grievance meetings including: the circumstances in which the duty arises; considerations relating to face-to-face and remote meetings; a worker's choice of companion; and the timing and rescheduling of meetings.

Max also looks at two recent employment tribunal decisions, and reflects on how disability-related adjustments may become relevant in other contexts.