ChatGPT has dominated headlines recently, bringing AI to the forefront of many people's minds. And companies around the world are looking for ways to incorporate AI into their work. But, one AI platform is ahead of the curve, as Peninsula this week celebrates one whole year of BrAInbox.

When BrAInbox launched back in April 2022, it signified the dawn of a new age for HR. The tool combines powerful A.I. with over 30 years' employment law and HR experience and is designed to get smarter the more it is used. Containing answers to over 9,000* questions, BrAInbox has proved invaluable to business owners across the UK.

In fact, 232,271* questions have been put to BrAInbox, everything from how to handle train strikes to managing redundancies.

The date with the most usage was 12 September 2022. 10,300 questions were asked to the platform that day alone, with users seeking advice on how to manage the Queen's death within their workplaces and the additional bank holiday.

The most asked question of the year was "If an employee works on the day of the Queen's funeral, do I have to pay them extra?"

Following this, the most asked questions over the last year are:

• What are the National Minimum Wage rates changing to?

• Do employees have a right to period leave?

• Will there be a bank holiday for the Coronation of King Charles III?

• What is SSP?

• Do employees get a day off when their child's school is closed because of teacher strikes?

BrAInbox can answer any HR question including those HR professionals may be reluctant to ask, such as:

• Are Rangers FC fans protected by the Equality Act?

• How do I deal with an employee who smells?

• Is it fair to dismiss an employee for being boring?

• Can I fire someone for having an affair?

• Do employees get bereavement leave if their dog dies?

Kate Palmer, HR Advice and Consultancy Director at Peninsula, says:

"For over a year now, BrAInbox has been making the lives of small business owners easier. As HR professionals, we know the importance of getting reliable advice quickly, and just how costly it can be to get the wrong advice.

"The technology used to develop and run BrAInbox means that even with ever-changing legislation, business owners will always have reliable, accurate and free advice, anytime they need it.

"Seeing the reaction to BrAInbox has been fantastic, and it's wonderful to be recognised for our commitment to building better businesses. We were thrilled to win the ‘HR Technology' Award at the Personnel Today Awards 2022, as well as receiving ‘Highly Commended' in the European Contact Centre & Customer Service Awards.

"Now, to celebrate its one-year anniversary, we are rolling out BrAInbox free of charge to the entire business community, not just our clients. These are challenging economic times for employers, so we want to give back to the community and ensure all businesses are able to access accurate answers to their most pressing HR questions. We've also launched a collection of videos on the platform, featuring extended advice from Peninsula experts on the most commonly asked subjects."

So how does it work?

Users simply enter their questions into the search engine to get instant, practical answers. High-risk enquiries are flagged up to Peninsula's expert advisers and individuals are guided to complex case handlers to discuss specific cases, guaranteeing that they always get the correct response. Users can also rate the usefulness and relevance of the answers they receive, continuously improving the functionality of the search engine every time it is used.