UN International Day of Happiness – what does it mean to be happy at work?
Did you know there’s a dedicated word in the Scandinavian languages for the concept of being happy at work? In Danish, the word is: arbejdsglaede. Wonder what this says about the working culture of the Danes that they have such a word and we don’t? Today is the United Nations International Day of Happiness, an […]
Mental illness at work – a manager’s guide
Mental health literacy is the extent to which lay people are able to recognise mental illnesses in people that they meet in daily life. Whilst we know that people are pretty good at spotting stress or even depression they are much less able to recognize schizophrenia or identify a personality disorder in a colleague. Improving […]
Eight strategies to improve quality and balance in life
Regularly we read news stories about how many hours staff work beyond those they are contracted for. It’s claimed that one in five employees in the UK regularly worked unpaid overtime last year, worth over £33bn pounds to the economy. There’s even a day dedicated to working your proper hours, which this year was February […]
Wellbeing at work – new report looks at how far we’ve come and where we’re going
What are leading companies doing on employee well-being and health at work? What have been the key developments in the last year on important topics such as employee engagement and mental health? These questions are answered in the latest report from Good Day at Work, who each year compile in-depth analysis and insight from some […]
Global business growth jeopardised by lack of adaptability
The results of Deloitte’s Global Human Capital Trends 2014 were just released. The main finding is a significant gap between the talent and leadership challenges that organisations face and their readiness and ability to respond. A majority (86%) of the 2500 business and HR leaders surveyed recognised the need to take action on critical issues […]
Workplace harmony – how to improve it
Disharmony at work can be an unfortunate fact of life. Whilst every organisation will vary, as an overview, the key causes are: Poor communication and consultation Absence of shared vision (in the big picture or within a team or project) Mistrust leading to interpersonal conflict Poor leadership Lack of emotional intelligence If you’re looking to […]
Mental health in women – greater incidence or more likely to report problems?
“Mental health is inextricably linked to our status in society.” New figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre suggest that women – and especially those under 50 – are the group at the greatest risk of suffering from mental health problems. But is this a case of greater reporting of problems by women, […]
Take regular walks at work – but don’t relax
Who is Dan Pallotta? Dan rose to prominence after an highly-viewed TED talk criticising the fact that charity donors pile pressure on charities to give 100% of their donation to the cause, which prevents them building essential infrastructure to be more effective. Harvard Business Review is carrying an interesting story from Dan Pallotta. Dan advocates […]
There are three types of burnout. Which one affects you?
New research suggests there are three different types of burnout, each of which is related to a specific detrimental coping strategy. Overload burnout – the ‘always-on’ employee who never gives up and works toward success until they become exhausted. The coping strategy is emotional venting. These people will complain about organisational hierarchy, inefficient processes etc […]
How can I support my partner when they’re stressed with work?
Work stress can affect our personal lives and our relationships, particularly if both partners are under significant stress. But learning to support each other in productive ways can strengthen the relationship, reduce stress and improve mood. Research suggests that couples who actively manage stress together improve their relationship durability over time. Listen and support: Questioning, […]
State of wellbeing and productivity in the financial sector
New research produced by the Bank Workers Charity in partnership with Robertson Cooper has identified that the financial sector need to recognise and prioritise the impact that non-work pressures are having on employees and in turn on the organisations themselves. The findings show that financial worries, caring responsibilities and concerns about the future are all […]
Night work ‘throws body into chaos’
Researchers have warned that night shifts throw the body ‘into chaos’ and could cause long-term damage. Scientists at the Sleep Research Centre in Surrey said that the scale, speed and severity of damage caused by wakefulness at night was a surprise. They said that night work has profound effects on the body, altering everything from […]
29 tips to help keep staff healthy in 2014
When it comes to making healthy choices, there are many habits that busy individuals fall into over the years. We make decisions on how best to get through each day, but just because these decisions are appropriate at a specific time doesn’t mean they’re the choices that bring us optimum performance for the long-term. Think […]
Companies cannot ‘unquestioningly’ accept OH if they say a worker isn’t disabled
A judgment this week from the Court of Appeal in the case of Gallop v Newport City Council held that employers cannot simply ‘unquestioningly’ accept the opinion of an occupational health practitioner that an employee is not disabled. This case reminds employers that, although at the end of the day only an Employment Tribunal can […]
Guide to anxiety in the workplace for HR
We have been working with mental health charity Mind on a series of articles exploring mental health in the workplace. Take a look at the full content series today to get insight and advice on how to improve mental wellbeing throughout your organisation. Right now, one in six workers is experiencing stress, anxiety or depression. […]
“We are robots,” says undercover Amazon worker
A BBC investigation at a UK-based Amazon warehouse has revealed working conditions that a stress expert said could cause “mental and physical illness.” Undercover reporter Adam Littler, 23, got a job collecting and processing orders in the company’s 800,000 sq ft warehouse. In a video filmed secretly by Littler as part of a Panorama investigation, […]
What does ‘duty of care’ mean at a global startup?
When I started my career in HR, I was taught about the concept of the ‘duty of care’ that an employer had towards its employees – the legal requirement to take all reasonably possible steps to ensure the health, safety and well-being of employees. We recognised that it had strong business benefits too, but I […]
Top tips to get the best from your occupational health provider
Employers often find themselves in a situation where medical information is needed to determine an employee’s fitness to return to work, their fitness to continue in their present role, or their ability to attend a meeting. Specialist occupational health (OH) practitioners are often the first port of call for employers seeking guidance. But whilst referrals […]
Stress in the workplace – who takes responsibility?
This article has been written to tie in with National Stress Awareness Day (NSAD) on November 6th. This year will be the 15th annual NSAD. The recent CIPD Absence Management report revealed that stress is on the increase. This is despite the fact that more organisations than ever are investing in comprehensive employee wellbeing strategies. […]
Six steps to build cast-iron resilience
Personal resilience – simply expressed as our ability to deal with everyday challenges and maintain a positive state of resourcefulness – is influenced by two factors: how we feel physically and how we feel mentally. The issue for many people is that their approach to maintaining a resilient state is reactive rather than proactive. We’re […]