Your inbox says “quick chat,” and suddenly January feels like a wave you didn’t see coming. In this episode, Kate unpacks why resignations spike at the start of the year, how to tell the difference between a normal January wobble and a genuine culture problem, and what small businesses can do in the next two weeks to steady things without launching a huge programme or making promises you cannot keep.

We start with the human truth. Clarity follows a break. People come back after time off, the job market wakes up, and all the questions they parked in December come back loud. From there, we look at what really drives exits in small teams. Manager inconsistency, constant busyness with no outcomes, fuzzy roles, thin recognition, values not matching reality, and ongoing rows about flexibility.

Then we get practical. You will hear a simple retention reset you can do fast. A 30-minute risk scan to spot hotspots, stay interviews that surface what actually keeps people, and quick visible fixes that rebuild trust quickly. We talk about supporting managers properly with clear expectations, short training, scripts, and weekly check-ins so you do not lose them. We also cover how to simplify roles, set five clear priorities, pause the non-essential, and cut the “urgent” clutter that drains everyone.

We tackle pay and progression with honesty, too. What you can improve when cash is tight, when a counteroffer helps, and how to stop resignations becoming contagious by communicating calmly and early. To make it easier, there is a lean resignation checklist to standardise handovers, lock down access, and keep team messages neutral and steady.

Make January the turning point, not the fire. Subscribe, share with a fellow small business leader, and leave a review telling us the first change you will make this week.

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Have questions or need HR advice? Reach out to Kate Underwood HR & Training at www.kateunderwoodhr.co.uk, email us on buzz@kateunderwoodhr.co.uk or follow us on social media for more tips, resources, and updates.

Until next time, keep buzzing and take care of your people!