Question 1

What is Phronesis and how does it help UK SMEs?

Accepted Answer

Phronesis is an AI-powered HR support platform built exclusively for UK employers. It gives teams instant, ACAS-aligned answers to everyday employment law questions — disciplinary, absence, redundancy, contracts and more — so managers can act confidently without waiting for a helpline. When situations get complex, Phronesis connects you to qualified HR professionals.

Question 2

How much does Phronesis cost?

Accepted Answer

Plans start from £30/month (Starter, for teams up to ~15 employees). Growth is £99/month for teams of 15–50, and Professional is £249/month for teams of 50–150. Enterprise and partner licensing is available on request. There are no long-term contracts.

Question 3

Is Phronesis a replacement for legal advice?

Accepted Answer

No. Phronesis provides general HR guidance, not formal legal advice. When situations require judgement or nuance — such as potential dismissal, discrimination or redundancy — Phronesis recommends escalation and connects you to qualified HR professionals via our sister company, SME HR Consultancy.

Question 4

Can HR consultancies and accountancy firms license Phronesis?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Phronesis offers white-label, co-branded and referral partnership models so HR consultancies, accountancy firms and business service providers can offer AI-powered HR support under their own brand.

Question 5

Is my data secure with Phronesis?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All data is encrypted in transit (TLS) and at rest (AES-256). Your queries are not shared with third parties or used to train other AI models. The customer organisation remains the Data Controller under UK GDPR.

Question 6

What types of HR questions can Phronesis handle?

Accepted Answer

Phronesis can handle everyday HR questions including leave and holiday queries, sick pay and absence management, policies and procedures, general workplace questions, disciplinary procedures, redundancy basics, employment contracts, flexible working, and statutory entitlements.

Question 7

How quickly does Phronesis provide answers?

Accepted Answer

Phronesis provides instant answers to HR questions, typically within seconds. This is much faster than traditional HR helplines which often require waiting hours or days for a response.

Question 8

Does Phronesis provide an audit trail of responses?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Phronesis maintains a full audit trail of all questions asked and guidance provided. This supports consistency, internal documentation, and compliance — and gives you a clear record if you ever need to demonstrate the basis for an HR decision.

Question 9

How does Phronesis ensure accuracy of its guidance?

Accepted Answer

Phronesis has been built with multiple layers of safeguards to ensure responses remain consistent, accurate and focused on UK HR and employment matters. It is designed to operate within clearly defined boundaries rather than simply generating answers. Every response includes confidence ratings and source transparency.

Question 10

What happens if a situation is too complex for Phronesis?

Accepted Answer

When situations require judgement or nuance — such as potential dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, or redundancy — Phronesis recommends seeking professional human support. Escalation is handled through our sister company, SME HR Consultancy, with experienced CIPD-qualified HR professionals.

Question 11

Is Phronesis different from using ChatGPT for HR questions?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Phronesis is purpose-built exclusively for UK employment law and HR guidance. Unlike generic AI tools, it operates within carefully defined boundaries, is grounded in current UK legislation and ACAS codes, includes confidence ratings and source transparency, and has built-in escalation triggers for complex issues.

Question 12

Can Phronesis invent legislation or case law?

Accepted Answer

No. Phronesis is specifically instructed never to invent legislation, case law, statistics, or references. If information cannot be verified, it says so. This is a critical safeguard that generic AI tools lack.

Question 13

How is Phronesis kept up to date with UK employment law changes?

Accepted Answer

Phronesis is regularly updated to reflect legislative changes, new case law, and updated ACAS guidance. Key employment law changes typically occur in April and October each year, and Phronesis is updated accordingly to ensure you receive current guidance.

Question 14

Does Phronesis show where its answers come from?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Phronesis provides source transparency by referencing the legislation, ACAS guidance, case law, or HR best practice that underpins each response. You can see the basis for the guidance rather than relying on a 'black box' answer.

Question 15

What is included in every Phronesis plan?

Accepted Answer

All plans include instant HR answers for your team (24/7), guidance aligned with UK employment frameworks, consistent and structured responses, secure and auditable interaction history, easy deployment via portal or website, and email support.

Question 16

Can I use Phronesis on my company's website or portal?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Phronesis can be deployed via your own portal or integrated into your company website. This allows employees to access HR guidance directly through your existing systems.

Question 17

Does Phronesis require a long-term contract?

Accepted Answer

No. Phronesis plans are month-to-month with no long-term contract requirements. You can cancel anytime.

Question 18

How does Phronesis compare to traditional HR helplines?

Accepted Answer

Traditional HR helplines require you to email or call and wait hours or days for a response, with every query handled manually and significant costs. Phronesis provides instant answers 24/7, consistent structured guidance, built-in expert escalation, and is typically more cost-effective.

Question 19

Who is Phronesis backed by?

Accepted Answer

Phronesis is backed by SME HR Consultancy, an established UK HR consultancy with CIPD-qualified professionals. This means when escalation is needed, your organisation has access to real HR expertise.

Question 20

Can I trust Phronesis with important HR decisions?

Accepted Answer

Phronesis is designed to support managers, HR professionals and business owners by providing consistent first-line guidance. For particularly complex, high-risk or sensitive situations, we always recommend obtaining professional advice. Phronesis includes clear escalation triggers for these situations.

Disciplinary & Fair Dismissal

Disciplinary Procedures

What is a disciplinary procedure?

What is gross misconduct?

Fair Dismissal

What is a fair dismissal?

What are the five fair reasons for dismissal?

What is unfair dismissal?

What is constructive dismissal?

Need specific guidance?