When You Know Something Isn't Right, but You're Not Sure What to Do Next
Workplace problems are not always straightforward. You might know that something does not feel right but be unsure what your employer can do, how seriously to take it or what you should do next.
You may have read the guidance, checked your contract or spoken to someone you trust and still have questions about how it all applies to your situation.
Sometimes what helps most is being able to explain what is happening to someone who understands workplace processes and can help you make sense of it.
That's what Talk It Through is for.
It gives you 30 minutes with an experienced HR professional to talk through your workplace situation, organise what's happening and consider realistic next steps.
You don't need to have everything worked out before you book.
What Happens in a Talk It Through Session?
Understand what's happening
Talk through the situation and identify the main workplace issues involved.
Organise the situation
Separate the key facts, events and concerns so that the situation is easier to understand.
Understand what may happen next
Explore the workplace process that may apply and what you might reasonably expect from your employer.
Consider your options
Talk through realistic ways you could respond, including the practical advantages and disadvantages of different approaches.
Prepare your next step
Identify useful questions to ask, points to raise or actions you may want to consider after the conversation.
The aim is not to tell you what decision to make. It is to help you understand your situation well enough to decide what feels right for you.
What We Can Help With
Talk It Through can be useful across a wide range of workplace situations, particularly when you understand the basic issue but are unsure how it applies to you or what to do next.
Problems with your manager
Difficult conversations, changing expectations, communication problems or concerns about how you are being managed.
Disciplinary or grievance situations
Understanding what is happening, preparing for workplace meetings and thinking through the points you want to raise.
Redundancy or workplace change
Making sense of a proposed restructure, redundancy process, role change or other significant workplace change.
Performance or capability concerns
Understanding concerns about your performance, a performance process or what your employer may expect from you.
Pay, hours or contract issues
Talking through changes or concerns involving your pay, working hours, duties or employment terms.
Sickness, absence or returning to work
Understanding sickness absence, discussing support or adjustments you may need, and preparing for conversations about returning to work.
Flexible working or caring responsibilities
Thinking through a request, a refusal or a proposed change to your working arrangements.
Leaving work or settlement discussions
Helping you understand the workplace situation, organise your questions and think about practical considerations before deciding what to do.
Your situation does not need to fit neatly into one of these categories. If something is happening at work and you need help making sense of it, Talk It Through may be a useful next step.
If it becomes clear that your situation needs specialist legal, financial, medical or other professional advice, we'll tell you.
Talk through your workplace situation, understand your options and get clear on what to do next.
49 British pounds
About Gareth
Talk It Through is a one-to-one conversation with Gareth Germain, a Chartered HR professional with extensive experience helping people navigate workplace situations and employment processes.
Gareth has worked in senior HR leadership roles across UK and international organisations, including regulated financial services businesses. His experience includes employee relations, disciplinary and grievance processes, performance and capability, redundancy and organisational change, workplace investigations, employment terms and difficult workplace conversations.
That experience means he understands not only how workplace processes are supposed to work, but also how they often work in practice.
Talk It Through gives you the opportunity to explain what's happening in your own words and talk it through with someone who understands HR processes from the inside.
The aim is to help you make sense of the situation, identify the important issues and get clearer on the questions, options or next steps you may want to consider.
You don't need to have everything worked out
You don't need to know the right HR terminology or have everything organised before the conversation. Start with what's happening, and we'll work through it together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens during a Talk It Through session?
You'll have 30 minutes to explain what's happening at work and what you are most concerned about. We'll help you organise the situation, identify the main issues, understand the workplace process that may apply and talk through realistic options or questions you may want to consider. The conversation will focus on the areas that matter most to you.
What kinds of workplace situations can I talk about?
Talk It Through can be used for many workplace situations, including problems with a manager, disciplinary or grievance processes, redundancy or workplace change, performance concerns, pay or contract issues, sickness or absence, flexible working and difficult workplace conversations. Your situation does not need to fit neatly into a particular category.
Is the conversation confidential?
Yes. Talk It Through is a private one-to-one conversation about your workplace situation. We will not contact your employer or become involved in your workplace process on your behalf.
Do I need to prepare anything before the session?
No formal preparation is required. When you book, we'll ask a few short questions about what's happening and what you would most like help with. It can be useful to have relevant dates, correspondence or key points to hand during the conversation, but you do not need to send documents in advance.
Is Talk It Through legal advice?
No. Talk It Through provides practical workplace guidance and helps you understand workplace processes, questions and options. It is not legal advice or legal representation. If your situation appears to require specialist legal or other professional advice, we'll tell you.
What if I need to cancel or change my appointment?
You can cancel or reschedule your Talk It Through session up to 24 hours before the appointment using the booking management options provided with your confirmation. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the appointment and missed appointments are normally non-refundable. If WorkAnswers needs to cancel your appointment, you will be offered a new appointment or a full refund.