news
Thursday, November 17th, 2011
Does employee wellness mean fewer lost work days?
Former Accenture head of talent and HR Consulting Peter Cheese says a wellness programme can cut the number of lost work days by up to 80%. More...
Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
‘Tis the season to manage staff absence
MANAGING staff absence and effective holiday planning is key to improving operational efficiency over the Christmas period, says Birmingham-based workforce management solution provider Auto Time Solutions. Many... More...
Thursday, September 15th, 2011
Half of employees will stay in pension scheme
ALMOST half of employees will stay in their organisation’s pension scheme according to research by Legal and General. Meanwhile 33 per cent said they would opt out of the auto-enrolment process. The... More...
Tuesday, September 13th, 2011
Jobs market showing worrying signs
A REPORT has shown that, despite a small increase in the number of workers gaining employment in August of this year, the overall figures of staff appointments mean that the jobs market is displaying... More...
Monday, September 5th, 2011
Astellas employees walk 500 million steps to reach corporate health milestone
Employees at Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. have given themselves a major summer health boost by walking more than 500 million steps – the equivalent of more than eight times around the equator – as part... More...
Thursday, August 25th, 2011
Female employees not expected to return to work after maternity leave
Nearly two-thirds of employers do not expect female employees to return to work after their maternity leave, according to research by Reabur. Almost 2,000 organisations surveyed... More...
Monday, August 22nd, 2011
More UK workers than ever are forced into part time positions
FIGURES released by the Office of National Statistics have revealed that more people than ever before are being left with no option but to seek part time employment because they find it impossible... More...
Tuesday, August 16th, 2011
Employers must deal with causes, not just effects
EMPLOYERS need to deal with the causes and not just the effects of employee wellbeing. This is according to Pamela Gellaty, chief executive of Healthcare RM, who argues that failure to deal with the... More...
Friday, August 12th, 2011
Former BT HR manager says there is another way to solve our problems
In increasingly desperate and uncertain financial times, a former BT HR manager says there is another way to solve our problems. Sandra Swan, a former manager... More...
Monday, August 8th, 2011
Half of public sector workers rather see pay cut than pension
ALMOST half of public sector workers would rather see their pay cut than their pension, according to research by recruiters Badenoch and Clark. The research polled over 1,000 public sector workers and... More...
Thursday, August 4th, 2011
Employees feeling the pressure of pay freezes
EMPLOYEES have been left feeling under more pressure than ever during the last 12 months, as it has been revealed that three in five have had their annual salary frozen in 2011. Research,... More...
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
Almost a third of organisations unaware of their legal obligations says PMI Health
ALMOST a third of organisations are unaware of their legal obligations to staff using display screen equipment (DSE) according to research commissioned by PMI Health Group. The research found that 28... More...
Tuesday, July 19th, 2011
Depressed employees lie to escape work
A SURVEY carried out by PwC in June of this year has found that one in three workers have admitted lying to their respective bosses to secure time off. It has been discovered that the... More...
Monday, July 11th, 2011
Managers harm employee happiness
OVER half of employees believe that management problems undermine their happiness at work. Fifty-five per cent believe that their line managers are not confident or competent enough to do their job... More...
Monday, July 4th, 2011
Employers must raise the quality of work experience
THE CIPD has warned that the quality of work experience in the UK needs to improve in order to increase the employability of young people. The Institute warning came as it teamed up with Jobcentre Plus... More...
Thursday, June 30th, 2011
Public sector employee assistance programme receives 40% increase in calls
With uncertainty mounting about job security in the public sector, a growing number of nurses are turning to unions such as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) for help and support. This has led to an... More...
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
Employers admit to making bad recruitment decisions
A RECENT survey which has been carried out by independent online HR consultancy firm, Reabur.com, has revealed that 74% of employers have said that they regret some of the decisions they have made... More...
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
Travel policies cause poor performance at work
FREQUENT flyers are more at risk of work stress than other workers. This is according to research conducted by Optima-Life and commissioned by Business Travel Markets (BTM). The findings showed that... More...
Tuesday, June 21st, 2011
Could stress be good for employee health?
A controversial new book which hit UK shelves this week claims stress can actually do you good. Rush: Why You Need and Love the Rat Race by American author Tod Buchholz, a former White House economic... More...
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
Jobs market “erratic” for older people
The jobs outlook for older people continues to be unsteady and mixed according to TAEN – The Age and Employment Network. Figures published today by the Office for National Statistics show that the... More...
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
Agriculture has worst safety record of any industry
AGRICULTURE has the worst safety record of any industry according to official figures. 98 members of the public are among nearly 750 people who have died in the last 16 years according to statistics... More...
Monday, June 13th, 2011
Job market growth at weakest level in seven months
THE RECENT Report on Jobs carried out by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG has revealed that the growth of employee appointments to permanent and temporary positions within... More...
Monday, May 9th, 2011
Absenteeism Costs Scotland £2.8 Billion A Year
A new survey has revealed that the high numbers of workers taking sick days is costing Scotland £2.8 billion a year. With employees taking an average of 10 days unscheduled leave per year, the UK is... More...
Tuesday, April 26th, 2011
Presenteeism costly to workers health
WORKING long hours may earn employees extra money but can cost them serious health issues. This is the view of Professor Cary Cooper who suggests that: “presenteeism is more costly... More...
Thursday, April 14th, 2011
Flexible Working Improves Productivity
A customer services survey made by the Executives Offices Group (EOG) has found that flexible working enhances productivity in the workplace. The majority of people asked said that it is beneficial... More...
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011
Skipping lunch bad for employee performance
BAD dietary habits in the workplace have a detrimental effect on employee performance. Research by private health firm Bupa has found that companies can lose up to a days worth of productivity due to... More...
Monday, April 11th, 2011
Vielife launches interactive lifestyle management programmes for employees
Health provider Vielife has launched a series of interactive online lifestyle management programmes for employees to help employers reduce the cost of sickness absence. The six-week programmes, which... More...
Friday, April 8th, 2011
New minimum wage approved
THE GOVERNMENT has made the decision to bring in an overall increase in the rates of the national minimum wage, this comes after recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission (LPC) These... More...
Wednesday, April 6th, 2011
Financial advice could aid employee health and wellbeing
Offering help and advice to deal with financial difficulties could boost employee health and wellbeing. According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), employee assistance... More...
Tuesday, April 5th, 2011
Removal of the default retirement age to have big impact
UK employers believe the removal of the default retirement age (DRA) will have a bigger impact on business than other legislative changes according to research by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. A... More...
Friday, April 1st, 2011
Over half of employers name health and wellbeing top priority
Over half of employers (61%) said their primary concern when an employee goes on long-term absence is the individual's health and wellbeing. This is according to Aviva UK Health’s 360 Degree Absence... More...
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
Employers favour employees of similar age
A SURVEY has found that more than one in six employees have said that they have experienced discrimination in their careers because some employers choose to hire people who are in the same age... More...
Monday, March 28th, 2011
Unemployment bad for wellbeing
Losing jobs and employee benefits can be detrimental to health and wellbeing, it has been suggested. Financial hardship, a lack of daily routine... More...
Friday, March 25th, 2011
Employment groups react to Chancellor’s budget
Employment groups have offered a mixed response to Wednesday’s Budget after Chancellor George Osborne unveiled a number of measures that will affect employers. Among the measures announced was confirmation... More...
Thursday, March 24th, 2011
New wind research base will create new jobs in Scotland
First Minister Alex Salmond has announced plans for a new wind research and development base which will create hundreds of new jobs in Scotland. The energy engineering giant Doossan systems is to locate... More...
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011
New government initiative to improve employee wellness
A NEW Government initiative has been met with a mixed response as a means to improve employee wellness. The Public Health Responsibility Deal asks employers, the voluntary sector, nongovernmental... More...
Monday, March 21st, 2011
Small businesses could improve employee wellbeing by offering flexible working conditions
Small businesses could improve employee health and cut costs significantly by offering more flexible working conditions to their staff. This is according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)... More...
Friday, March 18th, 2011
CIPD back Lord Hutton report on public sector pay
THE CHARTERED Institute of Personnel and Development have backed Lord Hutton’s controversial report on public sector pay. Lord Hutton’s recommendations would see millions of public... More...
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
New review reveals wage deductions in police pay
Police Officers are said to lose their additional pay and could have a reduction in their allowances, according to the first major review in police pay in more than 30 years. Independant Review of Police... More...
Monday, March 14th, 2011
Public sector employees should work for longer and receive smaller pensions
Millions of public sector employees should work for longer and receive smaller pensions according to a Government commissioned report. Former Labour pensions secretary Lord Hutton’s landmark... More...
Friday, March 11th, 2011
Workplace Wellbeing Ignored By Employers
HALF of British workers say their employer has ignored their mental and physical wellbeing during the recession. Healthcare provider Simplyhealth published the findings in the ‘Bothered... More...
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
Praise and recognition can work better than cash
THREE non-cash employee motivators could have a greater effect on the morale of a workforce than financial bonuses. A McKinsey survey suggests “employee motivation is sagging throughout... More...
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011
Adidas launch new voluntary benefits scheme for employees
SPORTSWEAR firm Adidas have launched a new voluntary benefits scheme. The new scheme is designed to align the company’s British and Irish existing benefits packages for their 1,200... More...
Friday, March 4th, 2011
Critical Software Technologies are commended on Workplace Health and Wellbeing
CRITICAL Software Technologies has been awarded a “Healthy Workplace Award”. The Southampton based firm received the award from healthcare provider Simplyhealth. The award was... More...
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011
Luminus given award for Employee Wellbeing
Luminus is again celebrating outstanding national recognition among The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work for 2011. It won the Special Award for Employee Wellbeing, it came first for Giving Something... More...
Monday, February 28th, 2011
Aetna Global Benefits launches international healthcare plans for globally mobile employees
Aetna Global Benefits (AGB) has launched a suite of International healthcare plans for organisations with globally mobile employees. Employers select from one of four base plans, and then choose from... More...
Friday, February 25th, 2011
Employee wellness schemes improve work-life balance
EMPLOYEE wellness schemes could improve worker’s work rate and home life according to findings. A poll by the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) found that nearly... More...
Thursday, February 24th, 2011
Britain to undergo a sickness absence review
Funding for government led health and work programmes will increase by £12 million as part of a review into Britain’s sickness absence system. The funding will go towards new and existing services... More...
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011
Managers lack confidence when dealing with under-performing employees
A recent survey carried out by XpertHR, which is known as their ‘managing underperformance survey’, has concluded that over half of employers do not think that their managers are confident and competent... More...
Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011
Health benefits costs rise
THE cost of providing healthcare and health-related benefits to employees in Europe rose by 3.3% in 2010 according to a new survey. Mercer's 2010 pan-European survey on employer health... More...
Monday, February 21st, 2011
David v Goliath – David wins
Small businesses are believed to have outperformed large businesses, new research suggests. According to research by management school Roffey Park, More...
Monday, February 21st, 2011
Simplyhealth for Redbridge
A private medical insurance provider has recognised a housing organisation for its commitment to positive employee engagement. Simplyhealth has issued Redbridge Community Housing with a Healthy Workplace... More...
Thursday, February 17th, 2011
Sterling Events To Host ‘Health and Wellbeing at Work day’ in Birmingham
Sterling Events have announced they will be hosting their fifth annual 'Health and Wellbeing at Work' day in Birmingham this year. The exhibition which has been a success four years running will take... More...
Tuesday, February 15th, 2011
Job losses set to rise sharply in the first quarter of 2011
Job losses are set to rise sharply in the first quarter of 2011 according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). This is due to the Government cuts which are set to bite hard. Results... More...
Friday, February 11th, 2011
Job placements see rapid increase
IT has been revealed that the number of permanent and temporary job placement appointments grew at a faster rate in January than they had done at any time in the previous seven months. The Report... More...
Friday, February 11th, 2011
Cycling to work improves employee health and engagement levels
Cycling to work improves employee health and engagement whilst also helping to reduce carbon emissions. This is the conclusion of a survey carried out by the Cycle to Work Alliance of almost 45 000... More...
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
Capitol One build gym to boost employee wellbeing
Credit card firm Capitol One has built a gym at it’s Nottingham headquarters. The gym was built as part of the employers commitment to address staff health and wellbeing. It is estimated that 60%... More...
Monday, February 7th, 2011
Gender pay gaps may be ignored in organisations
Gender pay gaps may be ignored in organisations, as only a third of employers have measures in place to monitor pay. According to The State of HR Survey by law firm Speechly Bircham and King’s College... More...
Friday, February 4th, 2011
Staff working hours on the increase
Employers face a sustained increase in workplace unrest according to the State of Human resources survey by Kings College London and law firm Speechly Bircham. The survey found that half of organisations... More...
Thursday, February 3rd, 2011
Informal Work Clothes Could Improve Staff Performance
The Burnley Express has revealed that Britain could see the end of wearing formal attire to work, according to new research. A survey among 1000 adults found that only one in three are wearing formal... More...
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011
Health care devolution too much too soon
THE Government’s proposed “Health and Social Care Bill” goes too far according to an employee health expert. Tony Massey, chief medical officer of consultancy firm Vielife, says plans to devolve... More...
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011
Sleep deprivation costs UK economy £1.6 billion per annum
Experts are warning businesses to recognise the damaging effect of sleep problems on employee wellbeing and productivity. The Great British Sleep Survey carried out by the Mental Health Foundation describes... More...
Monday, January 31st, 2011
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has been handed one of the first “BreatheEasy” awards
The award recognises achievements that have been made in helping staff kick the smoking habit and the work that has been done to promote a Smokefree environment. The city council was officially presented... More...
Friday, January 28th, 2011
Government publish plans for workplace dispute reform
THE Government has recently published details on plans to change the way in which disputes which occur within the workplace are resolved. An “employee charter” has also been... More...
Thursday, January 27th, 2011
Virgin trains to host wellbeing event for employers
VIRGIN Trains is to host a wellbeing event for employers. The day, which will take place at Virgin Trains’ Training Academy in Crewe on 28 January, will involve personal and corporate wellbeing activities. The... More...
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
Employees committed to getting fit in 2011
Nearly three-quarters of employees have committed to get fit in the New Year, according to research by Aviva UK health. However according to its 2011 New Year, New You report, 80 per cent admit past... More...
Tuesday, January 25th, 2011
Medical care direct launches small business healthcare funding scheme
Medical Care Direct (MCD) has announced it's launch for small businesses of as few as 100 employees to receive funding from its healthcare trust. The healthcare scheme offers benefits such as comprehensive... More...
Monday, January 24th, 2011
Voluntary sector workers at risk from work related mental health problems
A STUDY has found that 90 per cent of voluntary or community sector workers feel that their wellbeing is decreasing during the financial crisis. Research in Mind found that one in ten... More...
Friday, January 21st, 2011
Ultrasis enters into an agreement with employee wellness firm PPC Worldwide
Ultrasis plc has said that it has entered into a product development contract and strategic sales agreement with PPC Worldwide, a provider of an employee assistance programme or EAP and wellness services. The... More...
Tuesday, January 18th, 2011
Retirement age to be abolished
THE GOVERNMENT has announced that the Default Retirement Age (DRA) will begin to be phased out, starting from April of this year. This is despite some groups from within the business sector voicing concerns... More...
Monday, January 17th, 2011
Jobs security is more important to employee wellbeing
Jobs security is more important to employee wellbeing than salary new statistics have revealed. The survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) was conducted as part of an ongoing ‘national... More...
Wednesday, January 12th, 2011
Yorkshire-based employee wellness firm helps Edinburgh call centre workers
Yorkshire-based health and wellbeing company Let’s Get Healthy helped over 200 call centre workers at Sykes Global Services in Edinburgh to improve their overall health and reduce absence caused by sickness. The... More...
Thursday, December 23rd, 2010
Decreases In Wage Freezes Expected In Private Sector Companies 2011
Research has suggested some economic improvement in the UK with expected wage increases in 2011. Xpert HR Pay & Benefits Editor Sheila Attwood has revealed reductions in wage freezes ... More...
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010
Christmas to boost employee health
CHRISTMAS is the perfect time to boost employee morale according to a leading business consultant. Gareth Chick, Director of Spring Partnerships, says that employers should take the... More...
Tuesday, December 21st, 2010
Pay awards remain settled
PAY data released by XpertHR has revealed that pay awards remain at 2%, despite the Government imposing freezes within the public sector. This latest data, which is based on the details of 73 pay reviews... More...
Monday, December 20th, 2010
The nation’s well being hits a yearly low
In the same month that David Cameron announced plans for a national well being index the nation’s well being hit a yearly low according to new research. A monthly study by Marketing Week and 2CV showed... More...
Friday, December 17th, 2010
Government must delay scrapping the default retirement age
The Government must delay scrapping the default retirement age (DRA) until it has filled the “legislative void” the CBI has warned. The CBI feels that companies will face a greater risk of... More...
Thursday, December 16th, 2010
The British Heart Foundation: The Importance Of Mental Wellbeing At Work
The British Heart Foundation encourages maintaining a healthy mind to improve wellbeing in the workplace. The 'Health At Work' section on the BHF's online service promotes assessing your general health... More...
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010
UK employers leaving themselves open to disability discrimination claims
UK EMPLOYERS are leaving themselves wide open to disability discrimination claims because they are failing to take depression and stress in the workplace seriously, new research reveals. More... More...
Monday, December 13th, 2010
Employers urged to do more for employees with disabilities
Employers have been urged to do more to help employees with disabilities in the workplace. This follows a major study which was published by the Office of National statistics on Thursday which showed... More...
Friday, December 10th, 2010
Independent charity to help boost employee wellbeing
A new online tool launched by independent charity V may help employers boost employee well being and skills by offering volunteering opportunities. The new Volunteering Works tool makes it easier for... More...
Thursday, December 9th, 2010
Happiness not the only factor in wellbeing
THE Government’s Happiness Index does not do enough to show people’s wellbeing. This is according to Sabina Alkire from the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative. Ms Alkire has said... More...
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010
British employees are the most disengaged in Europe
BRITISH employees are the most disengaged in Europe according to a research from the Hay Group. The survey, entitled Engagement Matters, defined disengaged as “unwilling to go the extra mile... More...
Monday, December 6th, 2010
Employees’ Concern Over Fit Notes
A STUDY which has recently been carried out by XpertHR has found that employers support fit notes and their purpose, but do not believe that doctors are completing them correctly. The report was centred... More...
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
South Cheshire businessman follows governments happiness agenda
A SOUTH Cheshire businessman is joining the Government in asking ‘Just how happy are you?’ as he campaigns to put health and well-being high on the agenda for employers. Rick Carter, a director... More...
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
Bupa offer big discounts on new employee health insurance product
Bupa health care have brought in very flexible health cover to suit employers and their employees. The company health insurance, Bupa Select allows you to tailor your level of cover according to your... More...
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010
David Cameron’s Will For Wellness In Britain
Wellness in the workplace could improve thanks to the Conservatives and their plan to boost national health and wellbeing. Prime Minister David Cameron is launching a £2million scheme to assess Britain's... More...
Monday, November 29th, 2010
Nuffield Health takes over corporate wellbeing firm Bladerunner
Bladerunner Ltd has been acquired by private health charity Nuffield Health for an undisclosed fee. The merged companies will account for around seventeen per cent of the UK’s corporate wellbeing... More...
Friday, November 26th, 2010
Depression in the workforce
A leading UK mental health charity is urging employers to recognise and manage depression in the workforce before it becomes out of control. Comments from the Mental Health Foundation follow the release... More...
Thursday, November 25th, 2010
BITC launch free tool to improve emotional health and wellbeing of staff
Business In The Community have launched a new Human Resources tool to improve the emotional health and wellness of staff. The tool, which is free, has been test run by employers such as Aramark and... More...
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010
Encouraging employees to achieve goals is key to wellness
EMPLOYERS will benefit more from assisting workers to achieve company goals as opposed to trying to engage workers in them, according to a report which has been published by the Work Foundation. The... More...
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010
NHS launch new online employee health and wellbeing resource
The NHS has launched a new online resource to improve employee health and wellbeing. The resource, which is called ‘NHS well-being at work’, was developed by NHS Employers and is designed to support... More...
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010
Is workplace bullying an issue?
BULLYING is often associated with children and the 'social order' of school playgrounds, however it is also common in the workplace, often going unnoticed or even ignored. Coinciding with Anti-Bullying... More...
Monday, November 22nd, 2010
Santander to help working parents
SANTANDER has launched a new range of benefits tailored to the needs of working parents across its 24,000 strong workforce. The revised maternity and paternity provisions at the core... More...
Saturday, November 20th, 2010
Nampak Plastics wins employee engagement award
Nampak Plastics has won the employee engagement category prize and the prize of overall winner in this year’s CIPD People Management Award. Nampak was chosen because of their “comprehensive engagement... More...
Friday, November 19th, 2010
Food for thought: diet tips to prevent glazed eyes at work
Boots web MD has found the best foods to help maintain alertness and productivity in the workplace. Experts believe that staying on a healthy eating regime can not only help keep employees focused at... More...
Tuesday, November 16th, 2010
Public sector workers at risk
Public health organisations have failed to increase employee wellbeing schemes during the recession despite rising mental health problems. This is according to Jonathan Naess, director of the mental... More...
Monday, November 15th, 2010
Helping smokers quit has business benefits
Employers may benefit from offering help for smokers to give up as new research suggests fewer are quitting due to the tough financial climate. Recent figures from Cancer Research UK show that just... More...
Friday, November 12th, 2010
Work-related stress bigger concern than safety
Sam Whyte November 12 2010 IN the same week the Health and Safety Executive revealed 152 people were killed at work in 2009/10, a survey has shown incidents like this are not what is worrying Britain’s... More...
Thursday, November 11th, 2010
Work related stress on the rise because of the recession
Work related stress has risen dramatically during the economic downturn according to a British Academy report. The report, authored by Tarani Chandola from the University of Manchester, says that stress... More...
