Welcome to October’s edition of Forrest Scene
- Sophie Forrest
- Oct 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 24
Why AI Can't Replace Expertise?
AI can be helpful – but be cautious of its limitations.
A recent survey indicates that an increasing number of people are turning to AI for employment-related matters. It may feel tempting to let it draft your disciplinary, grievance or performance procedures. But AI isn’t a substitute for expertise.
The reality is that AI can’t fully understand your business, your culture, or the unique circumstances of each situation. It can miss context and nuance — and it doesn’t always account for the legal requirements that protect both businesses and employees. That can leave you exposed to unnecessary risks, damaged relationships, or even costly disputes.
At Forrest Group, we combine experience, knowledge and people-first thinking to ensure your processes are fair, compliant and effective. We take the time to understand your organisation and tailor our advice to your needs — something AI can’t replicate.
Communicating Across Generations
Communication Challenges in Multigenerational Teams
A recent survey found that half of employers believe Gen Z lacks communication skills.
At the Forrest Group Training Academy, we offer a course that emphasises the importance of effective communication in the workplace, the service industry, and everyday life. This course is designed for anyone who needs to communicate at various levels throughout their workday.
By attending this event, you will be better equipped to:
Explore the different ways we communicate.
Identify when purposeful communication is crucial, such as during performance management and service recovery.
Participate in a team-building exercise that demonstrates cooperation in solving a team problem without verbal communication (Broken Squares exercise).
Examine the four types of communication: Passive, Aggressive, Manipulative, and Assertive through role plays.
Understand the three steps to Assertiveness and apply them to real-life situations.
Have a look at the course overview here
Crossing the Line at Work
Have you ever wanted to call your colleague a d***head?
An office manager did just that to her directors — and a tribunal has recently ruled she was unfairly dismissed, a case reported in the business news last week.
Kerrie Herbert, office manager at Main Group Services (a scaffolding and brickwork company), worked alongside her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Thomas and Anna Swannell, who were operations manager and managing director.
Herbert, who joined the business in 2018, discovered documents showing the cost of her employment to the company. Upset and fearing termination, she confronted her managers. The situation escalated, and during a tense meeting, she stood up, placed her hands on the desk and said:
“If it was anyone else in this position, they would have walked years ago due to the goings on in this office, but it is only because of you two dickheads that I stayed.”
Herbert later told the tribunal the comment was intended as a joke. However, she was informed that her employment had ended and was asked to leave immediately.
The company later claimed it had followed disciplinary procedures, citing unsatisfactory work standards, customer complaints, and contract changes. Herbert received her P45 in July 2022.
Employment Judge Sonia Boyes ruled that Main Group Services had not acted reasonably in the dismissal. While Herbert’s outburst was “not acceptable”, it was a one-off comment made in a heated context. It did not amount to gross misconduct and did not justify immediate termination. Her claim for unfair dismissal was successful.
What is ISO?
ISO – the International Organisation for Standardisation – is an independent, non-governmental organisation made up of national standards bodies from around 170 countries.
Achieving ISO accreditation through an accredited management system can help your organisation:
Manage risk
Improve efficiency
Retain staff
Save money
Strengthen reputation and credibility
Meet requirements for contract tendering
We guide organisations through the full process – from accreditation to ongoing maintenance – across three key standards:
BS ISO 45001 – Health & Safety Management
BS ISO 9001 – Quality Management
BS ISO 14001 – Environmental Management
Contact us today to discuss how we can help your organisation achieve and maintain ISO accreditation
Our CEO, Sophie Forrest-Lavery, recently attended the Best of British Lunch in support of the Chailey Heritage Foundation, which provides life-changing support for children and young people with complex disabilities. The lunch hosted special guest, Sir Geoff Hurst who gave a very enjoyable talk about his time playing for England and specifically his famous hat trick in the 1966 final. A very enjoyable and inspiring afternoon.
Are your employment contracts compliant?
Over the next couple of years, there will be some big updates and changes in employment legislation, and these are certainly set to impact businesses. Forrest HR can review your contracts for FREE to ensure you're compliant and ready for what's coming.
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