Blog Archives - Page 5 of 16

2019 HR News: Brexit, Statutory Rate Changes, Itemised Pay, Sexual Harassment, Domestic Abuse
January 8^th, 2019 in Blog
Brexit and Employment There will continue to be uncertainty and speculation over the coming months regarding the employment challenges of Brexit. Please read my Brexit, Business and Employment Predictions Article for some early insights. National Living Wage, National Minimum Wage and Statutory Rate Increases (April 2019) The National Living Wage will increase to £8.21 p/hr; the NMW for 21-24 year olds will increase to £7.70; for 18 to 20 year…
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Brexit, Business and Employment Predictions 2019
January 7^th, 2019 in Blog
Brexit Brexit and EU uncertainties will continue to challenge and unsettle employers and their people. It will be important to equip managers and their staff with the skills and strength to cope in such changing and unpredictable times. Supportive well-being programmes and resilience training integrated into overarching people strategies will benefit not just employees, but the productivity of whole organisations. The UK government has stressed…
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Depression is not a Dirty Word
January 4^th, 2019 in Blog
What is Depression? The Mental Health Foundation broadly defines depression as: “A common mental disorder that causes people to experience depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy and poor concentration.” The more specific term of dysthymia is used to describe mild, but long-term depression, usually lasting two years or more. How Common is it? At any one time…
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Workplace Happiness
December 3^rd, 2018 in Blog
There’s been a lot of debate recently about the relevance of happiness at work: is it a fad, does it actually link with engagement levels and can it influence business productivity? Firstly, it’s important to clarify what kind of happiness is being debated. This isn’t the quick-fix superficial kind associated with momentary amusement, pleasure or even ‘what’s-in-it-for-me’ type attitudes, but the healthier kind that comes from…
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Workplace Bullying
November 14^th, 2018 in Blog
The theme of this year’s Anti-Bullying Week is ‘Choose Respect’. Although the focus on the week is aimed at children and adolescents, the message is equally relevant within today’s workplaces. If more organisations concentrated their efforts on establishing and maintaining supportive and respectful cultures, the risks of bullying going on unchecked, or even happening in the first place, would be significantly reduced. What is…
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Workplace Loneliness
October 30^th, 2018 in Blog
What is Loneliness? Throughout evolution, social bonds have been essential to human survival. Loneliness is an important natural emotion to help make people seek out the company of others. Loneliness occurs when there’s a discrepancy between the quantity and quality of social relationships desired and those actually possessed. However, it also carries a stigma in the modern world, preventing people from talking openly about loneliness and…
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Wellbeing, Mental Health at Work, Childcare Vouchers and the Gender Pay Gap
October 1^st, 2018 in Blog
CIPD’s Shropshire Branch Well-being Event & Exhibition (10th October 2018) This Event is being held in response to an increased demand from local businesses for more information and practical support to help improve the health and well-being of their workforce. There will be an opportunity to hear from top speakers and take part in a series of well-being themed workshops. Kay’s comment: The Event is open to members and non-members of…
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Technology, Long Hours and Well-being at Work
September 13^th, 2018 in Blog
We live in a fast-paced, ‘always-on’ culture where modern communications preside over the way we live our lives both at work and at home, affecting our health and well-being. The increased use of communication technologies is blurring the lines between work and non-work hours and making it harder to switch off from work. Research is also showing a clear link between technology, longer work hours and health problems. People’s access to too…
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Small Businesses HR News: GDPR, Childcare Vouchers, Wellbeing Event and IR35
July 23^rd, 2018 in Blog
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Compliance The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is unlikely to impose its biggest fines on small businesses. However, a reported data breach could cause reputational damage to a company’s brand and the ICO has regulatory authority to suspend or shut down data processing activities, if deemed particularly dangerous or unsafe, causing potential operational problems. Kay’s comment: It is most…
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World Cup 2018 Employee Engagement
June 12^th, 2018 in Blog
For small businesses, World Cup 2018 can either be an opportunity for employee engagement and motivation or a scheduling headache creating tension and bad feeling. For a positive experience, avoid introducing lots of new rules and overly prescriptive absence management policies for your die-hard football fans. Instead, invest some time in a bit of forward planning and good communications, to help avoid a lot of problems and make the most of…
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