If you’re not part of the LGBTQIA+ community and want to learn more, whether for yourself or to be a better employer, it can be difficult to know where to begin. In a recent survey with our colleagues, 41% said they are currently trying to educate themselves about LGBTQ+ issues and 19% said they haven’t started yet but intend to soon. So, where to begin? Well, a great place to start is to learn what the LGBTQIA+ community consists of and what are the correct…
Lockdown restrictions have ended and, despite the odd snow shower, spring is here. So employees who are on a period of maternity, adoption or shared parental leave will probably be relishing the chance to get out and about with the family and enjoy the sunshine. Unless they are nearly ready to return, they probably aren’t thinking too much about work. But actually, as anyone who has taken an extended break from work knows, it can be daunting to return and pick up the reins as…
Across the world, people have been horrified by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and by footage of Ukrainians, especially women and children, crossing the country’s borders. The latest figures suggest an exodus of around four million people from the country. For Europeans particularly, a war on the continent has been shocking and led to an outpouring of offers of help, aid and homes. Although the UK has so far issued only 26,000 visas to Ukrainians fleeing the war, the anticipation of the arrival of the…
The Chief Executive of P&O Ferries said he stands by his decision on the mass-redundancy over video call. In the wake of P&O Ferries' termination of some 800 employees jobs, there has been a lot of negative press coverage, government involvement and likely future claims from ‘sacked’ staff. Despite this, Peter Hebblethwaite, Chief Executive of P&O Ferries, claimed that he would make the same decision again because it had saved the business. Hebblethwaite stated the reason for this was to save on staffing costs, as…
Summer is around the corner and as more countries begin to open their boarders to tourism, are we ready to start thinking about holidays again? For almost two years, the Covid-19 pandemic has put a stop to most types of holidays, especially long-haul travel. This has been devastating for the travel industry in particular, which relies on everyone enjoying a summer holiday or two. The government has set out the “Living with Covid-19” plan and as part of this the need to self-isolate has been…
Allowing staff to take unlimited paid time off work might seem like a fantastic benefit to improve employee wellbeing. But does this perk do more harm than good? What is unlimited holiday The trend of unlimited holiday started in Silicon Valley in the US, and is now being taken up by some companies in the UK - with a 148% rise on Indeed between 2017 and 2021, and 1% of jobs on the site offering it. When it began, unlimited holiday was heralded as being a…
Data shows that nearly two thirds of UK businesses offer maternity pay above the statutory minimum, and three-fifths offer enhanced paternity pay. But would it be effective – and cost effective - in your business? Families have faced many challenges in the past few years, with childcare labelled the leading cause of stress by people working from home during the pandemic. And during this, many businesses are facing recruitment and retention issues as employees look for stable roles with better benefits. Supporting colleagues taking maternity and…
Many organisations can face challenging times where employee reductions are inevitable, once all other options are exhausted. When it affects those on maternity leave, things can get complicated. We advise how to manage this effectively and sensitively, and how to avoid any potential discrimination claims. The introduction of the Equality Act 2010 meant that pregnancy and maternity became a protected characteristic – rather than having to raise claims under “sex discrimination”, which happened prior to 2010. This means that any woman who is treated differently…
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many employees to revaluate their values and priorities. This has led to employees switching jobs in droves. I’m sure you’ll agree that the skills, knowledge, expertise and experience of your employees is your most valuable asset. Losing your top employees is likely to have a detrimental impact on your organisation’s growth. So, what can you do to retain your talent? Offering more money may seem the obvious way to prevent resignations. However, in a post-pandemic world where values and priorities…
With one in 15 people in the UK affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD), it should be a priority when it comes to managing mental health in the workplace. Here's how you can help staff affected by SAD as an employer. What is SAD? NHS defines seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. It's sometimes known as "winter depression" because the symptoms are usually more apparent and severe during the winter between September to April,…
