Opinion – Page 11
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Can you put a price on mental health support?
As we move past Blue Monday (20 January) and on towards Time to Talk Day on 6 February, the issue of mental health remains firmly at the top of the agenda for many. Of course, this issue is not confined to the winter months, but the role of such events ...
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OpinionKim Field: Employers must go above and beyond with inclusive benefits for carers
There is no doubt that maternity leave has progressed. Employed new mothers can take up to 52 weeks of maternity leave, and 39 weeks of statutory maternity pay. However, polices around paternity leave are lagging, with fathers and same-sex partners only able to take two weeks of leave. This archaic ...
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OpinionHarriet Calver: Prioritising employee wellbeing in the workplace
Work-related stress and anxiety are at a record high, and this is one of the top causes of long-term absence in the workplace, yet few organisations are taking steps to properly address the issue.The top priority for most employers is maximising profit; to achieve this, employers need their staff performing ...
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OpinionEmma Mamo: Recognition must be one part of a comprehensive wellbeing approach
In 2018, Mind surveyed more than 44,000 employees across upwards of 100 employers for our annual Workplace wellbeing index. We found that the key drivers for mental health were not just things like pace of work, workload and the physical environment, but motivation and relationships with managers. Employees need to ...
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OpinionEugene Farrell: Tackling stress head on - a business priority for 2020
We are at a critical moment in the nation’s mental health. Statistics published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in October 2019 revealed that in Great Britain, work-related stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 44% of work-related ill health and 54% of working days lost in 2018 and 2019.It ...
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OpinionMichael Whitmore: Organisational practices can support mental wellbeing
Much of the mental health support provided by employers focuses on individual staff members, but it is equally important to consider how an organisation itself may need to change to effectively support employees.Evidence, found in Management of psychosocial risks at work: An analysis of the findings of the European Survey ...
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OpinionKaren Thomson: Fostering diversity and inclusion in the year ahead
Moving into the new year is a fantastic opportunity for organisations to continue building on the progress they have made in 2019, but also start new initiatives, and come up with new solutions.For employers to get on the right path to deliver tangible results in diversity and inclusion, they should ...
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OpinionCarol Shaw: A change to recording daily working time?
Earlier this year, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) found that employers must record workers’ daily working time to ensure compliance with the Working Time Directive, EU legislation guaranteeing certain rights for workers and setting out requirements relating to working hours, rest breaks and annual leave.The WTD is implemented in ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: The most wonderful time of the year...?
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… or is it? While many of us, myself included, are now fully embracing the festive season, decorating our homes, shopping for gifts and making plans to spend time with family and friends, for others, this can be a time of year to ...
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OpinionPam Whelan: Addressing the problem of work-related stress
Stress affects us all. In the simplest way, it is the body’s response to pressure from situations or our surroundings. In many cases, stress can be helpful; for example, in public speaking, where the stress is short-lived and we can quickly reset to normal. Sometimes, though, stress becomes problematic, and ...
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OpinionSteven Day: Creating a carbon conscious business culture
Last month, Pure Planet did something that, as far as we know, no other business in the UK has ever done: gave all staff a carbon-free commute to and from work.We achieved this by carbon offsetting every one of our 80 staff members’ individual journeys, saving 480 metric tonnes of ...
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OpinionSally Orton: Protecting the mental health of staff in the construction industry
At surface repair and restoration organisation Plastic Surgeon, employee-focused initiatives are at the heart of our organisational culture, to ensure all staff are aware of the various methods of help available to them, both during and outside of work hours.Our philosophy is to support employees without them feeling like they ...
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OpinionPhilomena Price: Employment law changes to watch out for from April 2020
April 2020 sees some key changes coming into force that employers need to be aware of. As with any employment law matter, it is beneficial if employers start thinking about how these changes may affect their businesses now, and plan accordingly, rather than waiting.First, all workers, including employees starting work ...
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OpinionKatharine Moxham: Group risk benefits can encourage better health behaviours
The group risk industry has long understood the importance, not only of early interventions, but also of preventative measures and encouraging better health behaviours in the first place. That is why group risk products, such as employer-sponsored life assurance, income protection and critical illness benefits, are focused on so much ...
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OpinionVideo: Social wellbeing in the workplace
Thomsons Online Benefits’ new video sees Jack Curzon, Consulting Director, talk through what social wellbeing is and how employers can support social wellbeing in the workplace with breakfasts, drinks and frequent success celebrations. At a time where flexible working and work-life balance are dominating conversations, employers must ...
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OpinionMartha How: The impact of diversity and inclusion on employee experience
An organisation that develops a positive employee experience is well placed to attract and retain talent; its approach to diversity and inclusion is a key component of this. But, to avoid good intentions backfiring, employers must ensure they take a considered approach to implementing diversity and inclusion policies in the ...
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OpinionDaniel Parker: The commuting gap - a long way from equality
Research from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) titled The commuting gap: Men account for 65% of commutes lasting more than an hour, published in November 2018, provides an important insight for employers entering what may be their fourth annual round of gender pay gap reporting.The ONS looked at the ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Should workplace fertility support be a statutory right?
Starting a family is typically looked upon as an exciting, joyous time. For many, however, achieving a successful pregnancy will not be straightforward and may follow an extremely stressful period in their lives.According to NHS figures, one in seven couples will have difficulty conceiving. This translates to a significant proportion ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Committing to change around mental health
This week, 30 well-known organisations including Barclays, E.On UK, John Lewis Partnership, National Grid, Royal Mail, Proctor and Gamble, Santander UK, Unilever UK and Ireland, and Virgin Money, became the first to sign the Mental Health at Work Commitment.The commitment, which was developed by mental health charities in conjunction with ...
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OpinionJayne Harrison: How to mitigate strike action
Union strikes have a significant impact on business performance and reputation. The walkout by British Airways pilots in September 2019, for example, cost the organisation up to £100 million, affected almost 200,000 passengers and grounded the majority of British Airways' flights around the world. Striking is a type of industrial ...