Navigating Employment Challenges the Right Way
Even the best employers and managers can get it wrong sometimes. Not because they’re careless or malicious — but because employment issues are emotional, complex, and often handled under pressure.
Over the years, I’ve helped individuals and businesses “on both sides of the fence” navigate difficult workplace situations including restructures, investigations, misunderstandings, and sometimes full-blown personal grievances. One recent case stood out for all the right reasons.
The person wrote afterward:
“I recently needed advice for a work-related issue… Steve was recommended to me as the man to call and I’m so glad I did! He was supportive, knowledgeable, and always at the end of the phone when I was struggling. From the first meeting to the end of the process, he knew exactly what to do and say — from dealing with legal people right through to negotiating the final outcome (which I’m very happy with). He’s helped me refocus and look forward rather than back. If you need advice for a business or work issue, I’d highly recommend Steve Barry at SAS Business — you won’t regret it.”
That feedback is great, not just because of the result, but because it highlights an important truth.
“Employment issues don’t have to turn into battles, but they often do because of poor handling early on.”
In my experience, things tend to go wrong when:
Decisions are made too quickly, without pausing to consider the human and legal implications.
Assumptions replace evidence, and “we’ve already decided” thinking exists.
External advice isn’t sought early enough, leaving both sides feeling trapped later.
Most of the time, these situations could have been prevented, or resolved quietly with some clear thinking, empathy, and structured guidance from someone who is experienced in this space.
At SAS Business, I have worked with both employers and employees to bring fairness, balance, and pragmatism to complex workplace challenges. Whether it’s untangling a misunderstanding, managing a restructure, or resolving a grievance, the goal is always the same, “a respectful, commercially sensible outcome that lets everyone move forward”.
If you’re facing a tough employment situation as an employee or as an employer, or if you just want to make sure your processes and decisions are on the right track, let’s have a chat. A calm, experienced voice early on can make all the difference.