Five workplace challenges for pressured HR teams to handle
As we get into the next financial year, HR is bracing itself to manage fresh challenges in the wake of the pandemic. The pandemic has had a huge impact on the workplace, not least the rise in remote working and growing concerns around mental health. As businesses start to get back to normal there are several challenges with the potential to overwhelm HR teams. 1. Managing the ‘hybrid’ worker...
Why every business needs a community to support employee mental health
This year, Stress Awareness Month[i] (April) is focused on the theme of community which Adrian Lewis, Commercial Director at Activ People HR says is critical for managing stress at work and says employers can encourage their workforce community to become a network of support for employees. The Stress Management Society who are behind the awareness day say they chose the community theme because a lack support can cause loneliness and...
Activ People HR marks St David’s Day launching new Welsh language HR software
Bridgend based Activ People HR is marking St David’s Day with the launch of a Welsh version of its Activ People HR Software. This is the 10th language version of its suite of flexible online HR solutions and the company wants to support Welsh businesses and enable their staff to use the technology in their preferred or native language. Research last year by language app Preply predicts the number of Welsh language speakers to increase...
58% of UK employees say their job is the main source of their mental health challenges
Two years into the pandemic, the majority of employed people in the UK (58%) say their job is the main source of their mental health challenges. While flexible work is often cited as an antidote to burnout, not everyone agrees on what ‘flexible work’ means. New research from Qualtrics (Nasdaq: XM) shows that more employees in the UK would prioritize the ability to choose which hours of the day they work (55%) and what days of the week...
One fifth of managers say employee mental health is not a priority this year
As much of the nation returns to hybrid working, new research reveals that than one fifth (21%) of managers say that supporting employee mental health is not a priority for their company this year1. The research commissioned by the South Westminster Business Alliance finds that over three quarters (78%) of managers admit they struggle to spot the signs of poor mental health amongst employees. In a corresponding survey amongst...
Why National Sickie Day is an opportunity for businesses to step up mental health support
Research tells us that more ‘sickies’ are likely to be pulled on Monday 7th February, commonly known as ‘National Sickie Day,’ than any time of the year. While people are typically more ill during the winter months, Adrian Lewis, Director at Activ People HR says employers should be vigilant and monitor whether sickies are signs of more serious employee mental health issues, as this is a growing concern for businesses. Mental health...
Encouraging the mental health conversation in the workplace
By Sarah Carter, Head of Account Management at Onebright People are being encouraged to talk about mental health on Thursday 3rd February by starting conversations with colleagues, friends, and family. Encouraging employees who may struggle to have these conversations in the workplace, can make everyone feel more comfortable talking to colleagues at work about problems they may be facing. For most, feelings of anxiety are...
Tips for helping workers combat the January blues
Blue Monday’, 17 January – billed as the most depressing day of the year – Adrian Lewis, Commercial Director at Activ People HR stresses the importance of employers looking out for mental health issues amongst employees, after almost two years of Covid-19. Lewis says, “Although Blue Monday is unofficially seen as the most depressing day of the year, it’s a useful marker for reminding employers to keep an eye on people’s mental...
2 in 5 employees lack confidence that their employer will prioritise staff mental health
A new survey from Aetna International has asked global workers to rate their employer’s response to mental and physical health challenges in the workplace, to understand if corporate commitments to employee health and well-being have been put into practice over the last 12 months. Employees in four global markets (UAE, UK, US, Singapore) were asked about what their employer said, versus what they actually did, to support workplace...
Looking after employees mental health is vital in 2022 says Activ People HR
A new report by GoodShape[i] has revealed that mental health issues were the main reason for people taking time off work this year – with people taking on average 18.8 days off. They also highlight that over half of workers (54%) o who take two or more mental health-related absences, will go on to leave their jobs. Given these statistics, Adrian Lewis, Commercial Director at Activ People HR says it’s more important than ever for...
Why rewarding staff is more important than ever this year
With more than three quarters (76.4%) of UK professionals intending to look for a new job in 2022 according to a new survey by CV-Library[i], Adrian Lewis, Commercial Director at Activ People HR advises that rewarding staff and showing appreciation could be key to retention and has never been more important this festive season. This follows a warning from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG[ii] in...
Hybrid working is here to stay, but how do businesses manage that effectively?
After the lifting of COVID-19 there is still reluctance by some workers to return to the office and a growing need for firms to offer flexibility in working patterns to retain and recruit staff, says Adrian Lewis, Director at Activ People HR. New data from XpertHR has revealed that 97% of UK organisations have deployed some form of hybrid working, and, despite the trend for employers to call for return to a largely office-based future...
Mental Health Issues in UK Students
In the United Kingdom, 1 in every 3 university students are said to have suffered from a mental health issue for which they believe requires help from a professional. Most of these students suffer from anxiety, breakdowns, and depression. There are even students contemplating suicide, and this is worrying a lot of school administrators and health care professionals. According to the NHS, these mental health issues are not rare among...
Two fifths of employers say men postpone health issues which causes workplace disruption
Two fifths of employers (39%) say that their male employees wait until a health problem becomes severe before talking to their line manager or HR department, which in turn leads to team or workplace disruption, according to new research from Peppy, the digital health platform. Related to this is the fact that 37% of employers say that one of the main issues when trying to manage men’s health issues in the workplace is their...
Mental health in the workplace – recognising that everyone has ‘something’
Laura Benton, COO, Reassured Most of us know what it feels like to be stressed, with 79% of adults admitting to feeling stressed at least once a month, but, left unchecked, it can take its toll on employee wellbeing, leading to mental health problems including depression, anxiety and burnout. Campaigns like International Stress Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day offer businesses a great opportunity to kickstart conversations...
