Matthew Line-Hayward
Human Risk Strategist and Coach
I help organisations and individuals handle workplace decisions clearly and confidently, whether they are managing complex people matters or rebuilding direction after change.
Where People Risk Starts
Most workplace issues do not begin as major problems. They start with unclear expectations, inconsistent conversations or decisions that are postponed because the next step feels uncertain. Over time, small inconsistencies build. Conversations drift, standards vary and patterns go unexamined. Risk develops quietly until it surfaces as formal cases, grievances or unexpected exits, by which point the available options are often narrower than they needed to be
What I've seen first hand
I’ve spent my career working alongside leaders and managers through real employee relations situations. What I’ve seen repeatedly is that escalation rarely comes from bad intent. It comes from uncertainty. Conversations that feel awkward are avoided. Standards are applied slightly differently between managers. Decisions are made without enough space to think them through.
New managers are expected to run formal processes without much guidance. Small businesses carry risk without HR support. Senior leaders make high-impact decisions without an independent sounding board. The issues are usually manageable. The structure around them is what’s missing.
What I do
I help organisations strengthen how employee relations is handled in practice,.This includes supporting sound ER decision-making, building manager capability in real situations and identifying where human risk may be developing across teams. I work alongside the people responsible for decisions, providing structure and clarity rather than distance or generic advice.
How I help Organisations
I provide structured ER support for workplace matters across performance, conduct, grievance, absence, redundancy, TUPE and disciplinary processes. I work alongside HR teams where they exist, and I act as external ER support for organisations that do not have in-house HR capability.
Managers are supported to prepare for important conversations, clarify process stages and ensure decisions are proportionate and defensible. Cases are reviewed for consistency, fairness and procedural integrity before action is taken.
Alongside case support, I strengthen management capability. This includes targeted one-to-one work with new or developing managers who are building confidence in handling people issues, as well as senior leaders managing complex or sensitive situations. The focus is on improving judgement and reducing repeat issues across teams.
Where organisations want deeper insight, I design and conduct independent exit and stay interviews. This creates a safe environment for honest feedback and generates structured analysis across workload, management capability, culture and change. Insight is translated into clear, prioritised action rather than retrospective reporting
For individuals
I also work directly with individuals navigating workplace change or responsibility. This includes managers developing confidence, professionals who have survived redundancy and are recalibrating their direction, and individuals whose judgement or stability has been affected by organisational change. Support is structured, practical and work-focused. It is time-bound and designed to restore clarity, strengthen decision-making and rebuild confidence.
Is this you?
Feedback, exits or complaints suggest deeper themes that are not being addressed early enough
Managers are stepping into responsibility without structured ER guidance.
Your organisation does not have dedicated HR capability but needs structured support.
Feedback, exits or complaints suggest deeper themes that are not being addressed early enough
Don't worry, we can help, Book a Discovery Call Today!
The People Risk Check is a short organisational self-review designed to highlight where people risk may be building. It examines decision consistency, management capability, repeat issues and early warning signals that are often missed when teams are focused on day-to-day delivery.
What People Say
Finding Matt and the support he offered me changed my mindset completely and the path I was taking. Starting my journey with Matt was scary at first, stepping into the unknown and like many others, those questions circulated my head. Is this really going to work? What can I learn about myself? From the first session, I knew Matt was the right person to help me through a very stressful time both in and out of work. His approach, knowledge and passion shone through and I have every trust in Matt to support me through any challenge now or in the future.
Matt was an amazing and profound help to me. He was patient, kind but assertive enough to give me feedback when I needed it. He has some amazing techniques to help me gain clarity on my thoughts and understand what’s stopping me – in both my personal and professional life. Immediately after the sessions, I felt uplifted and like a weight was off my shoulders I can’t believe I was missing out on this for so long. Would recommend to anyone who isn’t feeling 100% fulfilled or who just wants more from life.”
I am so glad I reached out to Matt to help with some major life struggles.He has helped me to focus better on the goals I wish to achieve and per-sue different avenues in relation to my career I was dealing with very low mood and burn out and needed to find the real me again.Matt's coaching allowed me to address my anxieties utilise the right tools to get me back on track. Mental health in men is so important and Matt is doing great work to break the taboo in asking for and receiving help
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