Turn HR chaos into calm

Emergency response when things go wrong. Smart prevention so they don't.

Expert HR support for small businesses in an emergency, or ongoing support to prevent one

HR emergency?

For HR issues you can’t (or shouldn’t) fix on your own.

Got an HR issue that’s keeping you up at night? Don’t be tempted with the DIY approach. I’ll guide you through whatever disaster you’re facing and get your business, and your sleep, back on track.

Decisive Dismissals and Appeals:
Handling misconduct, capability, and long-term ill health cases with diligence and fairness.

Thorough Investigations:
Acting as a neutral, third party to ensure a fair process is followed.

Strategic redundancy & restructure:
Expert HR support when you need it most.

Sexual harassment prevention:
Expert guidance on preventing sexual harassment in the workplace.

Resolving Conflicts:
Championing workplace mediation as a positive alternative to grievances.

Performance Management:
Tailored strategies to elevate individual and team performance.

I’m here for emergencies and for preventing them

Spot the problems and HR red flags before they become expensive disasters with a comprehensive health check.

Whether it’s my monthly Mayday Maintainer or pay-as-you-go advice, get expert HR support when you need it.

Get your managers confident and competent in handling people issues before they escalate.

“I’ve been working with Sarah for coming up to 2 years now and for the last 3 months as part of the Mayday Maintainer. She is a knowledgeable, reliable and relatable person who I really enjoy working with!

Chloe Flexman, Buff Motion

Let me introduce myself...

I’m Sarah May, the HR specialist behind Mayday HR.

I’m an Independent HR Consultant and workplace mediator, based in Brighton, East Sussex.

I’m a HR and employment law specialist by trade, but as your dedicated HR problem solver and ongoing source of support, I help you tackle the human side of HR and resolve those emergencies and headaches keeping you up at night.

From potentially expensive disasters to helping you prevent them happening in the first place, I offer years of experience and a down to earth attitude to help you navigate the human stuff, so you can focus on what matters most – your business.

why work with me?

CIPD qualified with a Level 7
certificate in employment law
Many years of experience working and advising on
complex employee issues – I’m pretty unshockable
OCN Accredited
Workplace Mediator
You get me as a dedicated case manager, rather than a big organisation
that you must explain your situation every time you contact them
As your dedicated HR expert, you will have a go-to
advisor who understands you and your business
Reasonable rates including a pay as you go service
- much cheaper than an employment lawyer
No judgement — however bad it is,
you’ll feel better after talking to me
Follows CIPD code of practice

Sarah is a grounded, thoughtful presence and an excellent partner for any business or leadership team. Highly recommended.

Hannah Keen, Ignite Growth

Want to work together?

HR disaster? Ongoing support? Or something else? Reach out with your HR queries and I’ll be in touch.

Client
Testimonials

Here’s what clients are saying

Mayday HR place picture
5.0
Based on 5 reviews
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Michael Cheetham profile picture
Michael Cheetham
17:34 27 Oct 25
Sarah recently supported me with new subcontractor agreements for my creative studio. She was precise, responsive, and brilliant at matching the tone and personality of my brand. Her HR expertise ensured everything was compliant, clear, and tailored to the way we work. I'm very happy with the results and would confidently recommend her to anyone needing HR guidance or a contract overview.
Chloe Flexman profile picture
Chloe Flexman
11:04 15 Sep 25
I've been working with Sarah for coming up to 2 years now and for the last 3 months as part of the Mayday Maintainer. The maintainer has been great as it helps us keep up momentum on our HR/people activities and in particular improving our processes (as well as knowing we have support to deal with any ad hoc issues). We've been working on a competency framework which I think will be a significant game changer when it comes to transparency and expectations with our team - assessing how people are performing and managing promotions. She is a knowledgable, reliable and relatable person who I really enjoy working with. I've also done and continue to do training with Sarah (one coming up later this month) and am looking forward to her kicking off some mentoring with one of our team in the near future. I continue to recommend Mayday HR to other small business owners who want to feel empowered and confident to employ and manage people the right way!
Daniel Stoner profile picture
Daniel Stoner
09:38 02 Sep 25
We recently worked with Sarah and Mayday HR on some urgent matters and were blown away by the professionalism, speed, and quality of her support. She handled everything with absolute clarity and reassurance, taking a huge weight off our shoulders at a critical time.

On top of that, we attended one of their training days for business owners and it was outstanding – practical, engaging, and packed with actionable insights that we were able to implement straight away. It’s rare to find an HR partner who delivers both expert advice and genuine value in training, but Sarah really does both to the highest standard.

Highly recommended to any business owner who needs responsive and second to none HR support!
Alex Ryan profile picture
Alex Ryan
06:34 20 Aug 25
I've been using Mayday for my contracts for the last 3 years and have always been incredibly well supported. Sarah and her associates and incredibly knowledgable and friendly and are great at thinking around the issue, rather than just ticking boxes. Can thoroughly recommend.
Zoe Kyle profile picture
Zoe Kyle
14:31 09 May 25
Sarah provided an excellent review of our employment contract, offering thorough and pragmatic guidance. Her practical advice helped us update the contract with the right flow and language. I would highly recommend Sarah to anyone seeking a knowledgeable and professional HR consultant.