Body odour is cited as the biggest bugbear for 70% of employees. So what should HR do to tackle this awkward and personal situation? In the first instance, you should not ignore the situation. Sitting next to, talking to and working with a colleague who has consistent objectionable personal hygiene can be an intricate concern for employers to deal with. You should consider the hefty impact this may have on relationships between colleagues, clients, and customers. For example, working with a colleague who has body odour…
As temperatures rise this summer, what can you do to keep your employees cool in the summer heat? And what does the law say on employees’ rights in hot weather? The regulations place a legal obligation on employers to provide a “reasonable” temperature in the workplace. However, while there is a minimum working temperature there is no statutory upper limit. Staff absences tend to rise dramatically during extreme weather instances due to the effects of the heat, stomach bugs, heat strokes/sunburn, and hay fever. So…
How should employers and HR managers handle unplanned absence during the current challenges facing British travellers and holiday makers during the summer months? After two years of COVID restrictions, the UK public are looking forward to taking summer holidays abroad again. However, several issues are making travel this summer a huge challenge for holiday makers, including lengthy airport queues, cancelled and delayed flights and even trains and other transportation affected by strikes and staff shortages. Recent reports state national transport unions and airports have told anyone…
Ever been pleased to receive a gift card, then left it lying in a drawer, semi forgotten for months? A workplace benefits package is often a focus when we join an organisation, but like that Boots card from your aunt, it’s only a win-win for everyone if you can make the most of it. With rising costs, labour shortages, pressure on wages, rising Covid rates and political upheaval, it’s never been more critical for employers to leave no stone unturned in the quest to maximise…
Last month, Sir Lindsay Hoyle signed a pledge vowing to make the House of Commons “menopause friendly” for staff. Possible adjustments include well-ventilated rooms and fans, flexible working and breathable uniforms. The Commons Speaker said he wants to create a culture of openness and “break the taboo” around the subject. The announcement comes after the largest survey of menopausal women in the UK last month showed that 80% of respondents said their employer hasn’t shared information, trained staff, or put in place a menopause absence…
Workers who speak up about discrimination run the risk that their employer might retaliate. Of course, an employer may dispute what a worker complains about - deeming it untrue or inaccurate. But without appropriate safeguards in place, the very protection a worker enjoys in accordance with the Equality Act, to not be discriminated against, would be entirely undermined. Let’s take a look at what victimisation actually is by exploring the law that governs it, and examples of it in the workplace today. We’ll also share…
With inflation at a 40-year high and household bills continuing to rise, many employees are worried about their finances and are looking to their employers for support. A recent poll conducted by the CIPD found financial insecurity is having a knock-on effect on performance at work. More than a quarter of respondents said money problems were affecting their job performance and a fifth found money worries affected their sleep. When you combine the lasting impact of the pandemic, a turbulent economy and rising costs for…
Eastenders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, made history in 2021 as the first deaf contestant to take part in the celebrity dance competition Strictly Come Dancing. Alongside her professional dance partner, Giovanni Pernice, she was crowned the winner, despite only being able to hear parts of the music and keeping time by counting beats. So, what can employers learn from Rose Ayling-Ellis’s Strictly Come Dancing win? The Strictly win demonstrates there may be a huge pool of untapped talent which businesses shouldn’t ignore. Particularly in view of…
Are you guilty of assuming older workers are less likely to be interested in training or even career progression? If so, you may need to re-think your assumptions. People are living longer, more healthy lives and expect to be able to continue to work for longer. Whilst around a third of people currently in work are between the ages of 50 and 64, with a further 1.2 million being over 65, there are still almost one million people over 50 who want to work but…
Supporting your trans and nonbinary employees, in conversation with Cayce Marshall, Head of Pricing at Zellis. Watch the video below for the highlights and read on for the full interview. If you're not sure what all of the terms mean in this interview, feel free to read our article on the definitions used in LGBTQIA+ community first, and come back. How can employers give a warm welcome to trans employees in their business? When you’re thinking about how to make trans and nonbinary people feel…
