Excluding Employees Factsheet

Factsheet

Exclusion in the workplace can be subtle but damaging. From missing out on informal chats to being left off team activities, even small, everyday exclusions can create a hostile work environment and carry serious legal risks. Employment Tribunals treat persistent, targeted exclusion seriously, and employers who fail to act may face significant payouts – as a recent case has shown.

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Download: Supporting your Muslim employees during Ramadan

Guide

Ramadan is expected to begin on 18 February 2026 and will last for approximately 30 days, ending with the celebration of Eid Ul-Fitr. During Ramadan, many Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and increase acts of worship such as prayer, reflection and charitable giving. Fasting can have an impact on energy levels, working patterns and annual leave requests. As an employer, you should consider how best to support employees observing Ramadan, while ensuring fairness and compliance with equality law.

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Reducing complaints with effective leadership

Blog

Frequent grievances don’t just waste time - they damage morale, trust and productivity. By investing in training that enhances emotional intelligence and communication, you can reduce the number of formal complaints, improve relationships, and build a more positive culture.

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When AI enters the grievance process

Blog

Our latest blog covers the rising use of AI within the grievance process, and what you as a HR professional can do to minimise potential risks.

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‘Sandwich leave’: the legal risks

Blog

The concept of sandwich leave is the latest hot-button issue within the HR world. While some employers supported the approach, others questioned whether it was fair or simply a way to discourage employees from taking time off. So, is this something UK employers should be thinking about - and what’s the impact on culture and engagement?

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Guide: Supporting Neurodiversity in the Workplace

Neurodiversity in the workplace

This guide serves as an introduction to some of the key legal considerations that relate to neurodiversity, as well as including some examples of reasonable adjustments. Download it for free using the link.

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Supporting your high performers | 7 practical strategies for HR and leadership

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Read our 7 practical strategies for sustainable ways to retain high performers and help them thrive.

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How Insights Discovery Colour Energies Help to Build an Inclusive Culture

Blog

Why understanding Insights Discovery colour energies is essential for creating inclusive, high-performing cultures.

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Gender Equality: 4 Different Approaches to Making a Positive Change in your Organisation

Blog

The theme of International Women’s Day 2025 is Gender Equality. What does this mean to women in the workplace? It might be achieving equality of women in senior roles, that…

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How to Support Employees with Autism

Blog

Our experts highlight some of the simple things employers can do to assist employees with autism - which may benefit other employees too.

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Preventing Workplace Christmas Party Disasters: Dealing with Alcohol, Secret Santa and Out of Control Employees

Blog

Christmas is a time for celebration, appreciation and fun, but it can also be a real headache from a HR perspective. In this blog we cover some of the potential…

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Alcohol at the Christmas Party: How to Prevent 3 Sobering HR Problems

Blog

Office parties and work-related events are a perfect opportunity for socialising, strengthening team connections, and letting off steam. But often these gatherings come with a common ingredient that can either…

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Secret Santa: 3 Ways to Keep Gift-Giving Fun, Without Unwrapping HR Issues

Blog

Love it or hate it, Secret Santa is something many workplaces participate in in the lead up to Christmas, as an opportunity for team bonding and a little light-hearted relief.…

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Template: Christmas Party Memo

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Please click the link below to download our template for communicating guidelines for staff to follow at the Christmas Party.

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How to Support Carers in the Workplace

Blog

A free template produced by the Vista team to implement a new policy covering caring responsibilities.

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Vista Collaborate with Leading Mental Wellbeing Provider, Thrive UK

Blog

Vista and Thrive will be working together to help employers and HR professionals gain the knowledge, skills and tools they need to better manage mental health and wellbeing in their organisations.

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How To Build a Business Case for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Budget

Blog

Here’s a solid basis for your business case, that will do a great job in selling DEI strategy to the top.

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What Can HR and D&I Professionals do to Support Employee Mental Health?

Blog

HR and D&I professionals play a vital role in supporting employee mental health, and creating a workplace where all employees feel supported and valued. So what are some of the mental health must-haves in your organisation? Our Head of HR, Diversity and Inclusion has put together our top five.

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Mental Health & Employment Law FAQ’s

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Our employment law specialists answer the top questions we're always asked about managing mental health in the workplace.

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How to Create a Neuroinclusive Culture when Working Remotely

Blog

Practical guidance and strategies for employers, to help you foster a neuroinclusive culture, even if you work remotely.

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Building an Inclusive Culture: Navigating Respectful and Disrespectful Questions

Blog

How to ask respectful questions.

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A Guide to Gender Identity Terms

Blog

A list of the key gender identity terms and their explanations, and a download of the full gender identity terms guide for your organisation.

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Gender Pronouns Guide

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It is estimated there are around 78 gender pronouns now in use, to promote and contribute to an inclusive workforce we've put together a new guide covering the one's that need to be on your radar.

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Gender Identity Terms: Extended Guide

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An extended guide to the key gender identity terms.

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Achieving the International Standard for Diversity and Inclusion (ISO 30415)

Blog

In 2021 we became the first organisation in the world to be awarded the International ISO standard for Diversity and Inclusion, here's our story and how we can help you get there.

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3 Helpful Phrases to Use When Having Conversations about an Employee’s Mental Health

Blog

3 helpful phrases to use when you are having a conversation about mental health. Try these techniques to avoid a conversational cul-de-sac.

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Should you have a Separate Mental Health Policy?

Blog

The pros and cons of introducing a specific Mental Health Policy in your workplace.

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Mental Health Policy Template

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A free template policy for you to use in your organisation.

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Managing Stress in the Workplace: HR FAQ’s

Blog

We look at some of the common stress related questions we are asked by clients, and some practical steps you can take to help your employees suffering with stress.

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Wellbeing at Work Action Plan

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A free Wellbeing Action Plan to support conversations around positive mental health and wellbeing at work.

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Gender Inclusivity Guide: Gender discussions into bite sized chunks

Blog

Gender inclusivity can be a complex area to navigate. This Gender Inclusivity Guide breaks this big topic down into bite-sized chunks.

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Managing the Legalities of Maternity Leave – Four Easy Tips for HR Professionals to Avoid the Pitfalls

Blog

Women’s football is in the news again with Reading captain Emma Mukandi criticising the club for failing to support her as a new mother, and criticising maternity leave conditions available…

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Fertility in the Workplace: An Action Plan for Employers & Managers

Blog

16% of the workforce are impacted by fertility issues. Here is an action plan to help you to support fertility in the workplace.

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Menopause at Work: 5 Useful Resources for Employers

Blog

Here are some of our favourite resources for HR teams to share with their managers & employees at work.

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Diversity Training: Responding to the Voices that say it Doesn’t Work

Blog

There has been plenty of articles of over the years pointing out why diversity training does not work. Whilst it’s not inevitable that it works, in our view, it’s equally…

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How to Make Sure your Equality and Diversity Training Doesn’t Go Stale

Blog

This month the word ‘banter’ was yet again the subject of a tribunal claim. In Allay (UK) Ltd v Gehlen the EAT rejected the employers defence that they had taken…

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What is ‘Dignity at Work’ Anyway?

Blog

Dignity at work is the title of our flagship training programme at Vista. But what does dignity at work really mean? In order to feel valued and included at work,…

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How to Avoid Discrimination in Recruitment

Blog

Failing to offer a candidate a position because of a protected characteristic is unlawful and amounts to direct discrimination. We don’t need to explain the reasons why it’s important for…

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Diversity in the Workplace: 3 Things you can do Today

Blog

What is the secret formula for being great at diversity in the workplace? Well if we are being honest there isn’t a one size fits all, but here’s a positive…

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Suicide: The Last Mental Health Taboo in the Workplace?

Blog

It is estimated that during 2017 there were 6,217 suicides in the UK, and that most people who take their own life were employed at the time of their death.…

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Is Your Organisation Transgender Aware?

Blog

Here are a few simple steps you can start to take now in your organisation to overcome the barriers experienced by trans people at work.

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What Can Employers do to Support the Menopause?

Blog

The 18th October is World Menopause Day. Where did that come from and why is everyone suddenly talking about Menopause at work? Menopause has long been one of those ‘taboo’…

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Diversity and Inclusion: Getting Buy In from the Bottom

Blog

In this blog, we’re exploring how employers can achieve diversity and inclusion buy in, from the whole workforce. In our previous blog, we talked about how HR can get buy…

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Diversity and Inclusion: Getting Buy in from your Leadership Team

Blog

With the current HR spotlight on Gender Pay Gap Reporting and diversity and inclusion to attract and retain talent, we could assume that all business leaders are fully engaged with…

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Diversity and Inclusion: How important is it to practice what you preach?

Blog

Equality, diversity and inclusion have risen to the top of Board agendas in recent years. Companies are keen to showcase the diversity of their workforces, whilst those who are not…

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You might be diverse, but are you inclusive?

Blog

It’s no secret that having a diverse, equal and inclusive workforce can reap business benefits and directly impact the bottom line of an organisation. Studies point to greater business productivity,…

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