News: Starbucks’ move to cut staff benefits sparks fresh concern
Starbucks has cut paid lunch breaks, sick leave and maternity benefits for approximately 7,000 UK staff, sparking concerns that employees are subsidizing the company’s potential tax bill increase. The changes coincide with parliamentary criticism of the chain’s tax avoidance practices, with workers claiming the reductions feel designed to offset planned tax payments.
News: First employers accredited under London Healthy Workplace Charter
Fourteen employers have been accredited under the London Healthy Workplace Charter, a new initiative designed to improve employee health and well-being through measures like subsidised gym memberships, fresh fruit, and workplace wellness programs.
Ask the Expert: How can I keep my job with an undiagnosed disability?
A teacher with an undiagnosed disability was sent home despite working three months with reasonable adjustments agreed by Access to Work. Legal guidance explains disability rights under the Equality Act and recommends requesting an occupational health assessment to resolve the workplace dispute.
Case Study: Staff wellbeing measures cut sickness absence at Julia’s House
Julia’s House, Dorset’s only children’s hospice, reduced sickness absence from six to three-and-a-half days per employee annually through staff wellbeing measures. Key initiatives included improved manager coaching, flat organizational structures, annual staff surveys, and confidential counselling services—boosting engagement and operational capacity.
Fit for Work: Tackling sickness absence by early intervention
Early intervention services can reduce sickness absence by up to 40% and help people return to work faster. The Fit for Work program provides free case management from NHS professionals to support employees struggling with health issues, preventing long-term absence that harms businesses, individuals, and the economy.
Talking Point: Do you know how best to help an employee through divorce?
Divorce can deeply impact employees, yet workplace support often falls short. HR professionals should encourage emotional processing, offer practical resources like legal guidance, and avoid unhelpful clichés that interrupt healing during this significant life transition.
News: Employers flout discrimination law for migraine sufferers
A charity warns that many employers are failing to make reasonable adjustments for migraine sufferers, potentially breaching disability discrimination laws. A Migraine Trust survey found three-quarters of working sufferers received no workplace accommodations, with many facing unfair treatment, disciplinary action, or job loss due to their condition.
Blog: Five ways to ‘master the moment’
Discover five key strategies for mastering critical moments in communication and leadership. Learn how your actions and words shape others’ perceptions, credibility, and relationships, with practical tips for navigating high-stakes situations successfully.
News: British workers on verge of ‘burn-out’
British workers are approaching burnout, with studies showing over one-third experience excessive workplace pressure and 47% feel stress levels are unmanageable. Following job cuts and increased workloads, employees report working longer hours with little support from leadership for health and wellbeing.
News: Employers unaware of fitness-to-drive responsibilities
A survey reveals that 57% of employers mistakenly believe employees alone are responsible for fitness to drive. Under UK law, employers share a duty of care to ensure workers driving for business purposes meet eyesight requirements, but many lack awareness of these obligations.
News: Fit note system fails to cut sickness absence rates
HR professionals report that the fit note system has failed to reduce sickness absence rates, with nearly two-thirds saying it hasn’t helped cut absences. GPs are underutilizing the system’s features, rarely using the “may-be-fit-for-work” option and providing insufficient guidance to support employee return-to-work decisions.
Ask the Expert: What holiday pay are staff entitled to if off sick?
Recent legal rulings require employers to allow holiday pay to accrue during long-term sick leave and permit employees to reschedule holiday if they fall ill during booked time off. These requirements apply to statutory entitlements, though employers paying above statutory rates may face questions about how the rulings affect contractual sick pay provisions.
Talking Point: If we are what we eat, what kind of workforce have you got?
Employee nutrition directly impacts workplace productivity and morale. Research shows that staff with poor diet quality take 21% more sick days and demonstrate 11% lower productivity than healthier colleagues, making workplace nutrition programs a smart investment for employers.
News: National Stress Awareness Day – 1 in 3 take “stress day” since recession
One in three UK workers has taken sick leave due to stress, with money, work, and relationships cited as the primary causes. Nearly half of workers have felt increased stress since the 2008 financial crisis, with job security concerns rising to 49%.
Blog: National Stress Awareness Day – How to deal with stress in the workplace
Stress and mental illness are leading causes of workplace absence. On National Stress Awareness Day, HR professionals can help employees recognize stress symptoms and build resilience through support, training, and coaching to improve wellbeing and productivity.
Ask the Expert: Do staff have to attend grievance appeals if off sick?
Employees on sick leave may still be required to attend grievance appeal hearings, unless a GP confirms they’re medically unfit. Employers should seek medical evidence to verify fitness to attend, and can proceed in the employee’s absence if they refuse without valid medical grounds.
News: Smokers cost employers £1.4bn in absence and lost productivity
Smokers cost employers £1.4 billion annually in sickness absence and lost productivity, taking an average of 2.7 more days off sick than non-smokers and being 33% more likely to miss work, according to research published in the journal Addiction.
News: BBC to investigate harassment claims after journalist’s suicide
The BBC has appointed an independent investigator to examine whether it properly handled sexual harassment complaints made by journalist Russell Joslin, who died by suicide in October. His family claims the broadcaster failed to act on his harassment allegations, which Joslin himself blamed for his mental health deterioration before his death.
Legal Insight: Working with the Working Time Regulations
The Working Time Regulations set maximum 48-hour weeks and mandate rest breaks and holidays, but austerity measures have pressured employers to find cost-cutting alternatives like on-call shifts and reduced staffing. Recent European case law on sick leave accrual and holiday entitlements has further complicated compliance for businesses managing tight budgets.
News: Eight ways to cope with the clocks going back
As the clocks go back this Sunday, millions of workers face the winter blues and disrupted sleep patterns. Monster.co.uk offers eight practical tips to cope with the time change, including personalizing your workspace, maintaining a healthy breakfast routine, managing workload effectively, building support networks, rewarding yourself, and focusing on workplace positives.
