Monthly Workplace Health Bulletin
October 24 bulletin
October 24 bulletin
October 24 bulletin: Focus upon Domestic abuse support at work.
September 24 bulletin: Focus upon menopause at work
September 24 bulletin.
August 24 bulletin: Focus on financial wellbeing
August 24 bulletin
Information about this winter’s Flu vaccination
Flu vaccination: who should have it this winter and why
This guidance explains how people can help protect themselves against flu this winter. It includes information for, eligible adults and pregnant women, and encourages people at increased risk from flu, or who care for someone vulnerable, to have their free vaccination.
Share this information with your workforce to help protect them and others, and reduce sickness absences.
Employees need to take breaks to avoid poor performance
Research published in the Journal of Business and Psychology (Dec 2022) reported that although heavy workloads make employees feel a greater need for a break, they may actually discourage employees from taking breaks at work despite causing high levels of stress, fatigue, and poor performance. Ensuring your employees have a realistic workload and take regular breaks is crucial to maintaining productivity.
Insecure employment is linked to poorer health outcomes
Insecure employment is linked to poorer health outcomes
Precarious employment and workplace health outcomes in Britain (Social Science and Medecine Vol 320 March 2023)
Workplaces with precarious employment arrangements, including zero hours contracts are significantly unhealthier. Those with the most insecure form of employment perform particularly worst. Precarious employment may become ever more prevalent as organisations contend with economic fallouts from shocks such as Brexit or Covid-19. This may lead to sub-standard health outcomes. The positive influence of trade unions on working conditions has largely been decimated and the workforce in Britain is ageing. These combinations may pose significant challenges to public health including mental health crises.
Sickness absence on the rise according to ONS
The number of working days lost to sickness in the UK hit a record high last year, according to official data. Minor illnesses were the main reason for people to take sickness absence, although COVID-19 was still a big factor, the Office for National Statistics said.
FT: UK lost record number of working days to sickness in 2022, says ONS (£)
Resilient line managers are a key workplace priority
Line management tends to be associated with increased responsibility and accountability in the workplace, and can be a challenging and high-pressure role. More resilient line managers are more likely to continue to perform despite work stressors. According to an article by IOSH magazine, line manager resilience tends to increase with increasing years of line management. Exercise, hobbies/interests and socialising are also significant predictors of resilience. For more information please visit https://www.ioshmagazine.com/2023/04/27/research-insights.
Higher obesity levels linked to lower productivity in England
A report by former government adviser Richard Sloggett, has found areas in England with the most overweight and obese people also have the lowest rates of productivity, showing “obesity is an economic as well as health timebomb”.
Guardian: Higher obesity levels linked to lower productivity in England, research shows
Health at Work Bid Pot
Government launches competition for small and medium sized businesses to bid for share of £1m to stimulate innovation in Occupational Health.
£1 million fund for fresh ideas to boost health at work - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
News from the Guardian on the recruitment of Happiness officers
News from the Guardian on the recruitment of Happiness officers: does every workplace need to hire someone to bring the joy?
A lawyer at a top London firm has suggested recruiting a chief happiness officer. Could this be the answer to mid-life burnout and the great resignation?
Are organisations doing enough to meet employee demand for flexible working?
The CIPD records an increase in requests for flexible working and there out of five workplaces already offer this, but there remains unmet demand. This CIPD report on Flexible and hybrid working practices in 2023 | CIPD explains more.
Health and Wellbeing Campaigns
Annual Campaigns
Plan your next campaign
Movember – November 2024
The leading charity changing the face of men’s health. To find out more about this campaign click here for further details.
Carers Rights Day – 21 November 2024
This years theme is ‘recognising your rights’ and the aim of the campaign is to help carers to recognise and understand their rights, and to access the support available to them, whenever they need it.
To find out more about this campaign click here for further details.
White Ribbon Day – 25 November 2024
Aims to prevent violence against women and men, this years theme is ‘it starts with men’, to find out more click here.