Silk Helix Ltd - training your business, protecting your business and growing your business.
Based in Chelmsford, Essex and founded by Jenefer Livings we work with businesses right across the UK. Book Jenefer to train your management team or check out our digital courses!
We know getting legal compliance right is a challenge for any business, hence we created this channel to help you. But, we also know it's about more than compliance, the right culture and the right people are needed to grow your business.
Jenefer studied Human Resource Management and Sociology at Keele University, she then achieved her level 7 CIPD qualification, a Masters in Personnel and Development with Westminster University. She is also a Chartered Member of the CIPD.
Jenefer has been working as a HR Consultant, supporting SMEs with all their HR needs for many years. She has worked extensively in the care sector, hair and beauty, nurseries, construction, retail, professional services and hospitality.
Sooo I am late diagnosed but I’ve been masking my whole life. I recently had in the last year, someone I believed to be a raging adhd’er - middle aged (similar to me) and she either didn’t want to admit it and get assessed or was completely oblivious. Obviously it’s not my place to say anything unless it’s disclosed. But I did reveal my diagnosis to de stigmatise and also discuss some of my challenges and work arounds as well as the fact that I am now medicated. Funnily she would tell me her bestie who is a psychologist also has adhd and would say the same things. This woman was sooo bad - not productive? Not competent. Inattentive, always getting distracted with side quests and had zero awareness or didn’t want to face the truth. She was also entitled & her perception of her abilities and work were so grossly incongruous with reality. It was diabolical and it drove me nuts as I tried so hard to accommodate everything and nothing helped. It took so much out of me and I cared for far too long because she didn’t care at all (despite saying she was grateful to me - her actions proved otherwise). She has since resigned. Thank goodness because I was clinging on feeling sorry for her but simultaneously so angry that she was being so disrespectful to me. Now to pick up the pieces…
you can change the playback speed in the settings of the video 😊 Kinda ironic especially ADHDers often hear that they are talking too fast xD. I don't blame you for it :)
I pretty much listen to all RU-vid podcasts on 0.75x speed, sometimes it sounds a bit weird slowed down but generally it has made me able to absorb what people are saying
Some employee are a law onto themselves, once managers condone and ignore some staff bad behaviour, they loose the respect for the manager. The situation becomes toxic an disorganised making it hard to have academic and practical growth.
Having a disability or other debilitating illness and being off work is an addition stress for people with financial responsibility, ie mortgage and bills a damaging on less income to survive have left people feeling they have to look sick and dont leave their home otherwise they'll be judge as not sick, it can also leave them feeling scared going out for their weekly shopping pr simply taking daily exercise building their physical and mental strength and confidence. Being put through scrutiny weights heavy on their mental health that could prolonged their confidence and recovery.
The cause of believing the perpetrators can leave the victims in an unsafe in seriously physical danger and increased mental health fearing for their life and become accommodating to whatever they're asked to do even working through their holidays in a hope the harm to their wellbeing stop. Of course the victims can't afford to give up job bills and mortgage fearing in job poverty
Mob bully, recording you, silence your voice with threats. No one help leaving a person in deep fear. Never reported anything if you do it get worse. Setting you up recording and take pictures without your permission threatened to share in fb and community. Created hostile environment then reported that you're the one committed hostilelity threatened you to take responsibility things you haven't done. You stay silent because being told they're senior staff and do as you're told. It's happening but no one at yhe top listening and still put to work with the main perpetrator. The victim end up being called a gofor, mocked as thick
I know some comments gave said about ADHD not being a superpower. I've had my difficulties and I am still waiting to get a diagnosis. But I just wanted to say thank you for having so much empathy for the difficulties and the strengths if ADHD. I've found that in some environments I've really felt completely debilitated... but in the right role I ADHD does feel like a superpower. Right now I am starting my first business and while I have found some things are a struggle, the framework of wearing multiple hats in your own business actually leans naturally into how my brain works. In the side jobs I had to keep me supported while I set everything up? I felt the complete opposite and completely out of sorts. I would love to see a video on self-employment and another on the strengths you can lean into with ADHD. It doesn’t hurt to show the positive aspects, as the more support and awareness there is the better we can come up with strategies not just to survive, but thrive.
Why is the advice always about office settings, not everyone works in an office. I work in a residential care home and none of the help is any good to me at all.
Something so serios as to warrant being called a disability is not a superpower, just like not having legs is not a superpower even though you will have very strong arms etc. It's a debilitating, alienating disability.
There are unfortunately no ADHD specifically friendly jobs other than possibly creative type work which, by nature, is sporadic. Listing that I have a disability such as ADHD on an application is a sure way for me to not be hired (without them giving that as the reason). It simply is not fair to expect everyone else adapt to you I have been a creative, but, regular income-wise, work I am better at repetative "boring" tasks. Currently I feel sorry for my manager to have me as his employee. I am ok just doing the lab/clinical work but have absolutely zero aspiration to move up because it's more pressure, more admin work, more meetings, etc which the money is not worth it for me to do, let alone be good at it
Knowing this has made it extremely difficult on me to even be in the office, I hear the whispering, I hear the tones, I’m being treated differently. And now I just don’t feel secure at work anymore. I don’t even really know what to do at this point or how to advocate for myself because I feel like they’ve turned me into this “problem coworker” or something and I just wish there was the same level of empathy and understanding. I’m so tired. I’ve been running on fumes for months and in a major depressive episode which I’ve also tried to be open as I can about (without making people feel uncomfortable or oversharing)
I have tried to be open with my work workers about my struggles, they are new to the company and now, months down the line I know they are frustrated with my production level and not getting things done quick enough
I feel like an idiot and I’m sorry if this is a dumb question, but are these things also available in the US? Is the grant available? I have a hard time sitting in my chair at work, and I have extreme sensory issues sometimes but I don’t want to ask my workplace to spend $500 on an ADHd friendly chair.
I'm pretty sure they're not, sadly. Otherwise we'd be hearing a lot more about it because there are so many more people being diagnosed nowadays thanks to better research and information being available. I hate to say it, but most workplaces in the US operate under neurotypical rules and are pretty ableist. Even the ones that are more aware of neurodivergence can only do so much about it. For example, I work at a technical college as a tutor. They're willing to accommodate me as a person with ADHD, I think partly because we have so many students who need accommodations as well. But those accommodations are more along the lines of being more forgiving of lateness due to time blindness, providing a quiet place to work, pretty much the same types of accommodations that are extended to students such as extended time on assignments and test readers. Nothing that requires spending money because we're a small college with a limited budget, but at least they do acknowledge that ADHD exists and try to accommodate when and where they can. As far as the chair goes, you may have to get creative. Maybe you can get some cushions to make it more comfortable, or maybe you can get permission to stand up and move around more often. I wish I had a better answer for that. I hope everything works out for you.
I will watch your video tomorrow as I only read the super power bit and felt ta knee jerk reaction willw arch and give a chance im sure its a great video
Please do have a watch. I’m not a fan of the superpower idea either, I can find it very dismissive of the challenges. I make videos aimed at employers and I want them to see that it’s worth providing the support for challenges and that there are also strengths that come with ADHD. That’s why the word is in the title, but, I do also hear your point about the impact of that word.
Thank you very much for this explanation, but I have a problem about my holiday I'm working for a company my boss he don't wanna give my holiday 😅and he say to me you don't have any holiday? what I have to do/For your information I'm working part time thanks 💐
To be perfectly ‘honest’ I think it’s unreasonable for a fit and healthy person that hasn’t actually experienced the condition or ‘obstacles associated with a condition’ to assess how a disability actually impacts on a person…even if you simulate the effects of a disability the way the individual deals with their frustration and anxiety is ‘subjective’…I remember struggling to find employment during the 1980’s, attending interviews and being told that I wasn’t being considered because I didn’t have the necessary experience…isn’t it strange that the authorities nowadays with the benefit of experience can’t seem to digest or understand the context of my suggestion…perhaps there is a reason for the protocols that exist and method in the madness. It’s a difficult situation for a reasonable person to defend if they actually care about people that have to struggle with health issues everyday…I’m referring to the ‘duty of care’ that health professionals are supposed to uphold…maybe that duty is to themselves…to prioritise their own care..?😇
I think there is a lot to be said for the benefit of lived experience in all situations related to differences and discrimination. Hearing the voices of those with lived experience is so important to really understanding and sometimes the support needs to come from those with lived experience.
Here is what I do not understand about your advice. If I am paying an employees salary, I should not have to ask him or her why they are not following instructions and company policies. They should do what they are told because they are getting paid. Of course, we are not asking anyone to do anything unethical or dishonest. We are just asking them to do the job that they are receiving money to do. I should not have to plead with employees by asking them why they do not following company policies and instructions.
I got PTSD from the workplace failing my disability. The continual disaplanaries were horrific. I ended up with a 57k payout as i proved discri.initation. that work place ruind my life. I nearly ended myself over work problens. This is such an important subject . Line manager was the devil.
When it comes to Ice Breakers, I went from being totally against them, to then realising that if it's relevant to the topic at hand (I'll admit, not always easy) people are much more positive in their response and it flows much better. (An element of competition can also occasionally help too.) Also, I think that "Death by PowerPoint" only happens when people use PowerPoint incorrectly. PP is a fantastic tool which is should be used to illustrate and guide the course, not dictate it. I personally use a lot of images, gifs and gadgets in my presentations to add an element of visual interaction and even humour.
I generally book my holidays well in advance.. or always ahead of the minimum notice. at that point am no longer asking permission, am advising them I wont be in. as I have satisfied their criteria. changes to the business in that time or or their lack of organisation to plan around me is their problem. (I also dont seem to overlap with anyone, probably because I dont have kids) spent enough of my life in an industry that tried its best to dictate when i could and couldnt take time off, and let them do it. learnt my lesson after I got nothing to show for my "flexibility". so now its my time is my time end of discussion. they dont like it also their problem, I can go anywhere and they know it. though to be fair, my current employer are verry good at honouring time off.
I take vacation after clearing it well in advance. If the boss later rescinds his permission, I let him know that I'm going on vacation; and whether I come back to work or not is the only thing he has any control over.
Hi your video was really useful , I just started a new job on 3rd of June. Based on working 24 hours across 5 days Monday to Friday. Unfortunately because it’s a small charity they haven’t been able to work out what my holiday entitlement is , they offer 25 days annual leave, plus bank holiday. My understanding is that I work the same hours and days every week, so I would have the same entitlement as someone working full time, the only difference is I work less hours . So my understanding is working holiday out according to hours is not necessary in this case, is that right? The only other thing is I started on 3rd of June and the charity’s holiday year started in April. So presumably that’s 2 days off in April and then 2 days in May, 4 days that I lose. So my leave in that case would be still 21 days plus bank holidays ? Have I understood that correctly. Thank you
Yes, you’ve pretty much summed it up. As you work 5 days you’ll be entitled to the same holiday days as full timer. The difference will be reflected in pay, you’ll get your normal pay and they’ll get theirs.
It can be a first step, yes. However, for it to be formal it must be in writing so I find it a bit weird calling it verbal. It’s also unnecessary to comply with the ACAS code.
Although I am not an employer, it is rather unfair to the company and those whose job cannot accommodate flexi work hours. So the best is for All employees to be paid according to hours worked in the company and working at home will be at a lower rate as employees salary is based on 191 hours thereabouts before flexi hours was introduced.
Thank you this was very helpful. I run a small bakery and all of my employees are on 0 hour or minimum hour contracts (usually working above the contracted hours) and this way I can make sure that with every payslip they get the right amount of holiday pay. Good bless you :)
Great video. I start my first day tomorrow as an HR Coordinator. I’m coming from an orientation trainer role so this is new to me. I am in school for HR but this will be my first official role in HR. Wish me luck!
I left my 18 yr career in airport operations to move into HR. I supported the airports HR team for 12 months as a ad hoc HR. 7 months ago I left the airport started my officer role in a different industry. I’m really struggling with imposter syndrome despite having a lovely supportive team. I should have probably looked for another assistant role and gained more experience.
