News: Low income NHS staff “not paid properly” since transfer to outsourcer
Low income, non-medical staff at a hospital in Brighton have not been paid properly since they were transferred to a private outsourcing company, according to a union. The GMB told the BBC that the workers who include cleaners, porters and caterers at the Royal Sussex County Hospital have experienced payment problems since being taken on […]
Blog: What to do when 2012 anxieties becomes 2013 stress
2013 is now well and truly underway. The Christmas trees are down, New Year’s resolutions have already been broken, and employees are back at work. But, after the hype of the festive season, and when faced with hundreds of emails to sift through, it can be difficult for employees to settle back in – particularly […]
Ask the Expert: Should we allow a sick employee to return to work?
The question One of our sales staff has recently returned to work after an operation on their ankle. Pins were removed and they were told that they could drive after one week. Three weeks later, however, they were still unable to do so as it was too painful. We advised them to go back […]
Blog: Boosting employee energy for 2013
"Managing your energy is more important than managing your time." (AG Lafley, former CEO of Procter & Gamble). Whilst a great many organisations now run excellent health and wellbeing programmes for their staff, the elephant slumped in the corner of the room is employee energy. The simple fact is that after four tough years, […]
Talent Spot: Community blogger, Will Mitchell
Lifelong learning and development is something that Will Mitchell, director of consulting at talent management specialists, A&DC, wholeheartedly believes in. His love of learning was developed on taking a gap year after graduation, when he went to Australia with the Outward Bound Trust, an educational charity that focuses on learning out-of-doors. Mitchell loved it […]
Legal Insight: When the (Christmas) party’s over…
As the festive season takes hold, workplaces around the country have been hanging up the tinsel, sending out corporate Christmas cards and thinking about the end of year knees-up. But both HR departments and the wider workforce should be aware that, just because a Christmas party takes place outside of work hours and in rented […]
News: Christmas party hangovers to cost employers £740m this year
Hungover staff will cost employers a huge £740 million in lost productivity this year, with seven out of 10 expecting to party for at least two nights over the next 10 days. According to a survey among 2,000 workers conducted by hotel chain, Travelodge, three times more UK companies (75%) plan to host a […]
Blog: Four tips to help stressed out HR pros relax
Stress is common in the workplace and it negatively impacts the performance of employees. HR managers of small businesses often wear many hats and are placed in the position of recruiter, benefits administrator, payroll processor and more. Stress in the workplace makes a big impact. In fact, stress was the most common cause of […]
Blog: How to avoid a Christmas bust-up
It’s official now, the Christmas season has started. The city is decorated, sparkling and illuminated. It is chilly, people have started sipping mulled wine, and pulling and wearing paper hats at Christmas parties. One of my colleagues is even planning her Christmas-tree decoration using a new app on her iPad. So, what’s the spirit […]
Blog: The rising challenge of presenteeism
The recent Chartered Management Institute/Simplyhealth report, “The Quality of Working Life 2012” surveyed over 1,000 managers in 2007 and 2012 and showed the impact of the recession on UK workplaces. In 2012, managers are now working longer hours due to larger workloads; increasingly they are suffering from ill health including stress and depression; and they […]
Blog: Workers to burn out unless something gives soon…
HR professionals will have seen more than anyone the ongoing challenges being faced by both employers and workers as the seemingly never-ending economic crisis rolls on. Some may be claiming that the green shoots of recovery are now visible but others are telling us to prepare for a triple dip recession. Whatever future difficulties […]
News: Starbucks’ move to cut staff benefits sparks fresh concern
Starbucks’ decision to cut paid lunch breaks, sick leave and maternity benefits has sparked concern among staff that they are being forced to help subsidise the coffee chain’s potential tax bill increase. According to the Guardian, on the same day last week that the House of Commons’ public accounts committee branded the firm’s tax avoidance […]
News: First employers accredited under London Healthy Workplace Charter
Fourteen employers have been accredited under the London Healthy Workplace Charter, which is intended to set standards for improving employee health and well-being in the capital. The initiative grew out of the Workplace Well-being Charter that was developed by NHS Primary Care Trust in Liverpool and endorsed by the cross-government Health, Work and Well-being board. […]
Ask the Expert: How can I keep my job with an undiagnosed disability?
The question I have developed a disability that requires a few reasonable adjustments in the workplace. Access to Work has agreed to fund an assistant for me, which would be the most expensive. But at the end of April, I was sent home from work after several meetings between my union and employer, […]
Case Study: Staff wellbeing measures cut sickness absence at Julia’s House
Julia's House is Dorset’s only hospice for children with life-threatening illnesses. It opened in 2006 and staff numbers have since grown from an initial 40-odd to 125 today. Despite the harrowing nature of the work, its employees are highly-engaged and, last year, it was awarded top slot in the charity and public sector category of […]
Fit for Work: Tackling sickness absence by early intervention
The successful management of sickness absence in the workplace can contribute significantly to overall business productivity. But a balance must be struck between dissuading people who are tempted to ‘play the system’ and providing the best possible support for those with genuine health difficulties who are struggling to avoid being off work long-term. Long-term […]
Talking Point: Do you know how best to help an employee through divorce?
Unlike death, people experience divorce as a failure. But the level of compassion and understanding given to someone who is going through the process isn’t always as apparent as it is for someone who is in mourning. Nonetheless, divorce is one of those ‘crises’ that can completely knock an employee down. Colleagues may try […]
News: Employers flout discrimination law for migraine sufferers
Employers may be flouting disability discrimination legislation by failing to make reasonable workplace adjustments for employees who suffer from migraines, a charity has warned. According to a survey conducted by the Migraine Trust, a worrying three out of sufferers who work said that their employer had not made any changes to try and ease their […]
Blog: Five ways to ‘master the moment’
In an instant, you can change your mind. You change the impression you had of someone, or you decide something is not a good idea after all. Politics is full of these moments. General David Patraeus had to resign after being caught in an extra-marital affair. In a moment, questions arose about his military judgment. If […]
News: British workers on verge of ‘burn-out’
Two separate studies have revealed that UK workers are coming to the end of their respective tethers and feel that they can’t handle the stress of their jobs much longer. A survey among 32,000 employees across the world conducted by professional services firm, Towers Watson, indicated that just over one in three UK staff are […]
