The pandemic effect: Salary tops employee priority list as UK workers focus on self-preservation
As businesses attempt to stay afloat amid the fluctuating circumstances in the UK, research finds that UK employees are increasingly placing salary packages as the most important factor when it comes to career management. The research by HR and Payroll Specialist, SD Worx, examined what employees in Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom consider important in the context of their work. On the topic of wages,...
Zurich UK introduces fully paid emergency ‘lockdown leave’ for parents and carers
In response to the latest national lockdown restrictions, Zurich UK is offering two weeks paid leave for parents who face childcare emergencies following the closure of schools. With the UK plunged into a third lockdown, the insurer is offering fully paid time off for employees to help them balance work and childcare commitments or other caring responsibilities. This will benefit more than one in five of Zurich’s 4,500 UK...
Why we have always worn a mask at work
(And how Covid-19 has further shaped them) By Thom Dennis, CEO at Serenity in Leadership Wearing a mask has never been more important and is saving lives globally, but in business, at home and socially we already wear a number of masks according to the multiple roles that we play in modern day life, from lawyer to mother to wife to cleaner to runner. Positive future leadership calls for much greater levels of...
Covid creating ‘career lockdown’ for workers under 30
With many continuing to work remotely for the foreseeable future, new insights[1] reveal that a significant number of European office workers are concerned for their career prospects, with over half (51%) anxious about issues such as keeping skills up to date, lack of training and career opportunities when thinking long term about the future of work[2].These insights from Sharp, combined with expert analysis from a leading academic,...
Can my employer make me get a Covid-19 vaccine?
by Sarah Calderwood, Human Resources and Employment Lawyer at Slater Heelis This week has brought exciting advancements in the treatment of Covid-19 as the first Briton received the Pfizer vaccination. As the first 800,000 doses of the vaccine are rolled out in the coming weeks, the UK public is beginning to ask about their rights and whether their employer can force them to be immunised. Sarah Calderwood is a Human Resources and...
Managing the challenges of ‘hybrid-working’ post pandemic
COVID-19 has accelerated workplace trends of working from home as well as a ‘hybrid-working’ – a combination of home and office working, which is set to continue in 2021. However Adrian Lewis from Activ Absence warns employers need robust policies and tools in place to ensure this is managed successfully. This comes as a new survey from Resilience First[i] highlighted that more than half of remote workers are now suffering from...
How not to underestimate the cost of employee absence to your business
A new survey into sickness absence rates and costs highlights an upward trend in the number of sick days an employee typical takes, with many employers underestimating the cost of absenteeism, something Adrian Lewis from Activ Absence is urging employers to address. The research from XpertHR[i] shows that the UK’s median absence rate has risen slightly from 2.5% of working time in 2018, to 2.7% – translating to 6.4 days’...
Pandemic has reduced the stigma of unemployment
The global pandemic is helping to break the stigma of unemployment, according to new research from LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network. While 82% of HR professionals believe there was stigma surrounding unemployment before COVID-19, nearly half (47%) say it has reduced since the pandemic. Just over a quarter (26%) believe it has stayed the same, and a fifth (21%) think it has increased. The study of 250+ HR...
Legal worries and mental health concerns mount as business leaders brace for redundancies
Despite the last-minute extension of the furlough scheme, new research conducted among UK business leaders has revealed that great concern remains around making redundancies and in particular the legal risk. Over a third (34%) say they worry about not following a fair and compliant process, potentially resulting in unfair dismissal or discrimination claims. This is greater than the 28% who said their biggest concern is breaking bad...
Carrier bags, nappies and socks: The weird things used instead of masks
Because wearing a regular face mask is just boring Some people are ignoring safety advice drummed into them since childhood and are wearing plastic bags over their heads as Covid-19 face masks. They don’t even how to wear tote bags correctly? Since wearing one has become law in a bid to combat the virus, face masks have become just as essential as making sure you wear underwear when you leave the house, one health and safety...
The employee engagement lessons we must all learn from the Covid pandemic
By Peakon Chief People Officer Rick Kershaw The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the modern workplace upside down. But there are positives to come out of this turbulent period. One big surprise for organisations is that, during this time, many employees started to feel more engaged at work. This was the primary finding of Peakon’s latest report: The impact of COVID-19 on employee engagement. We analysed more than 10 million Peakon...
How HR departments must adapt to the second lockdown
Shelley Frosdick, Managing Director and Director of Culture at The PHA Group The pandemic has had a seismic effect on the business world forcing large swathes of the working population to work remotely. After many businesses and workers had started to restore confidence in returning to offices, an order for many to work from home again and close physical stores or offices has been disheartening. So, what can businesses do to adapt to...
Employers must be prepared for ‘long Covid’ and the impact on their workforce
Towergate Health & Protection is seeing an increase in employers asking about how they can support employees with ‘long Covid’1 and this is set to continue. In the UK, 300,000 people have reported Covid symptoms lasting longer than a month2. The condition is only just beginning to be understood, and as cases of Covid-19 increase, this is likely to have a knock-on effect on the number of cases of ‘long Covid’. As such, all...
Three quarters of workers across the globe struggle as lockdown mental health pressures hinder work productivity
With lockdown restrictions being re-imposed across many countries, new insights from four major global markets, have revealed the significant impact they have had on office worker performance and productivity already. According to the new research over 4,000 office workers across UK, USA, Singapore and UAE, commissioned by Aetna International, a leading provider of health and wellness benefits and population health solutions...
4 things CEOs must consider to ‘COVID secure’ their organisation
With the UK lockdown scheduled to end in a matter of weeks, many businesses across the country are looking how to futureproof themselves in the lead up to Christmas. Many organisations have struggled and floundered during the initial peak of the virus. Yet business leaders continue to face unprecedented challenges. Even those who have weathered the storm so far have now discovered the critical importance of taking decisive, proactive...
