European Safety Week – combatting stress and bullying
The week beginning Monday 14th October is European Safety Week. The theme for this year is work-related stress. Tuesday 15th October has been declared Ban Bullying Day by Amicus, The Work Foundation, The Andrea Adams Trust and IRS Eclipse Publications. Amicus National Secretary Chris Ball said, “The purpose of Ban Bullying Day is to raise […]
Smoking at work is increasingly unacceptable
A poll of more than 2,000 people, by independent researchers BMRB for anti-tobacco campaigners, Ash found that 85% were against smoking at work. 11% of people said smoking was freely allowed in all areas of their workplace. This would equate to more than three million people across the UK. According to the survey, almost two-thirds […]
Do you suffer from afternoon apathy syndrome?
Do you or your colleagues nod off in the afternoons? Or just slide with glazed eyes and fuddled brain through a long vague teatime of the soul? Well don’t worry, it’s not a culpable lack of attention or engagement any more, now it’s a syndrome!New research suggest that 12 million British workers (over 40% of […]
Socialising builds work relationships
According to new research by Office Angels, most employees (73%) rely on socialising with work colleagues for building positive working relationships.Workers who regularly socialise with their colleagues are likely to be happier at work, have stronger team working skills and stay in one job for a longer period of time. Those questioned felt that going […]
Employment Act – what businesses need to do
Russell Brown, employment law specialist at Manchester-based Glaisyers explains why he thinks it’s a bit of a mixed bag for businesses, but on the whole good news. One of the legacies of New Labour will undoubtedly be the raft of employment legislation and their so-called ‘family friendly’ policies they’ve introduced since being in power. The […]
Friday is jeans for genes day!
Friday is Jeans for Genes day. Go to work in jeans or casual clothes, and donate £1 to research into genetic disorders. The event is organised by four national charities, to raise funds for research into serious and often life-threatening genetic disorders affecting thousands of children. Funds also help to fund valuable advice and support […]
Workaholism: are you a victim? – feature
Professor Marc Buelens of the People and Organisation Competence Centre, Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School, looks at how attachment to work can become unhealthy. There is absolutely nothing wrong with loving your job or going that extra step to complete a project, but when going that extra step gets out of control, to the exclusion […]
Call for more attention to RSI
The TUC has called for new European Directives to prevent RSI which now affects half a million people at work (one in every fifty workers) every year.TUC health and safety specialist Owen Tudor said: “RSI is a global disease and Europe needs to take action to prevent future generations from suffering more epidemics of RSI. […]
Who’s afraid of flexible working?
According to a research report by Flexecutive, in spite of clear and present demand for flexible working practices (in all the myriad of forms that currently exist as well as those that have yet to be invented), the actual take-up is poor. This is especially true of middle and senior managers who are still disciples […]
New rights for fixed term employees
Over a million fixed-term employees have new rights to equal treatment on pay, pensions, holidays, sick pay and training, from 1st October. The new rights will also stop the practice of using successive fixed-term contracts in what are effectively permanent posts. Alan Johnson MP, Employment Relations Minister, said: "Fixed-term contracts can provide flexibility for both […]
Family responsibilities still restrict careers
According to research by the CIPD, combining work and raising children still forces parents to compromise their careers. 52% of respondents to the survey believe that becoming a parent has affected their career. Among women this rises to 72%. 28% of women had actively downgraded their career since having children, but only 9% of men […]
One in three fathers works over 48 hours a week
One or both parents in a majority of dual-income families are working hours outside the standard ‘nine to five’ – including almost one in three fathers whose employment routinely takes them over the 48 hours a week limit set by the European Working Time Directive, according to research published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation during […]
Good people management delivers best shareholder value
According to research by Watson Wyatt, companies with the best people management deliver nearly twice as much valueto shareholders as their average competitors. The research studied people management practices in over 600 companies from 16 countries across Europe and combined this with independent financial data. It showed a clear link between specific people management practices […]
Carers unaware of flexible working options
According to one of two pieces of research published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation during National Work–Life Balance Week, working parents with dependent children and staff who care for older relatives are often unaware of the flexible work arrangements that could help them, even when their employers have adopted a formal ‘work–life balance’ policy. Investigation […]
Should the state pension age be raised?
The Pensions Policy Institute is saying that raising the state pension age would solve the current pensions crisis. Their new report, “Raising State Pension Age: Are We Ready?” sets out the arguments in favour of this (fairly unpopular) move. Main points1. Raising State Pension Age is a legitimate and timely subject for proper debate – […]
Employees more willing to report fraud, finds survey
Research by YouGov for KPMG Forensic has revealed that 83 per cent of respondents would report their colleagues to their bosses for major incidents of fraud, while 44 per cent would report them for minor incidents like stealing office stationery. This is large rise comapred with past surveys. The survey also found that 94 per […]
It’s Work – Life Balance Week!
This week has been designated Work-Life Balance Week. You can find out more from the Work-Life Balance Trust. There will be events across the UK, starting in London in Bristol on Tuesday, Manchester on Wednesday and Edinburgh on Thursday. The DTI also has a Work-Life Balance area on its website.
Compulsory retirement under threat
The Employers’ Forum on Age has responded to a recent tribunal case which could allow employees working beyond retirement age the same rights as younger workers.The case was brought by law firm Charles Russell and the Islington Law Centre after two men, aged 71 and 74, claimed they had been unfairly dismissed from their jobs […]
How would people like to work?
A survey from learndirect has attempted to identify the UK's favourite dream team at work. Miss Moneypenny emerge as Britain’s overwhelming favourite “dream PA”, seeing off fierce opposition from Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears and Jennifer Aniston. Significantly, Moneypenny staked her claim as the most desirable dream secretary among women and men. Richard Branson topped the […]
It’s take your dog to work day!
Another special day on the calendar of odd commemorations and causes, it’s Take Your Dog to Work Day!Apparently one in eight workers in the UK already take their dog to work – that’s a massive 3.5million people (where do all these people work? They can’t all be shepherds). And according to the Blue Cross, it’s […]
