At a glance: reward and benefits headlines this week 10-16 May 2019
The headlines you might have missed between 10-16 May.
Government highlights issues around paid travel time for workers
HR Review: Many workers are unaware that time spent travelling between assignments for their job should be counted as working time, a poll has revealed. Read Story.
HR staff sixth most likely to take time off work for their mental health
Onrec: A recent UK study has revealed which sectors are the most likely to need to take time off work for their mental wellbeing, with healthcare topping the list (26%) followed by those working in the media (23%) and those working in education (21%). Read Story.
Employer taboo surrounds mental health discussions in the workplace
Onrec: With Mental Health Awareness Week just around the corner, Barnett Waddingham reminds UK employers of the importance of their employees’ mental health and urges them to take positive and proactive action to improve employee wellbeing strategies. Read Story.
UK – nearly half of vegans feel discrimination by employers
Staffing Industry: Nearly half of vegan employees in the UK, 45%, said they have felt discriminated against by employers, according to a survey by employment law firm Crossland Employment Solicitors in Abingdon, England. Read Story.
People with mental health conditions waiting too long for workplace support
HR Review: Some people with mental health conditions could be waiting for over a year for employers to put in place much needed workplace adjustments, new findings published today show. Read Story.
Mind the mental health gap: Employees are THREE times more likely to discuss physical ailments over mental health issues at work
Onrec: The disparity in physical and mental health at work is laid bare in new research from the ‘Where’s Your Head At?’ campaign, as it launches its new Workplace Manifesto1 ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May 2019). Read Story.
Majority of Brits prioritise work and money over a social/love life
Onrec: Brand new research from CV-Library, the UK’s leading independent job board, reveals that the majority of Brits (54.7%) feel work is the most important thing in their life right now, with only 13.8% prioritising their social life and 12.3% their love life. Read Story.
Employees leaving high-pressure jobs need support
HR Magazine: People working in high-pressure environments often experience issues when they leave these ‘comfort zones’, according to a panel speaking at an 87% launch event. Read Story.
Most workers won’t discuss mental health issues with managers, study suggests
ITV.com: Employers are being urged to do more to tackle mental health issues at work after studies warned of lost productivity and a reluctance to discuss problems. Read Story.
Investor group warns almost 100 firms over lack of gender diversity
The Guardian: Lloyds Banking Group, Foxtons and Paddy Power are among almost 100 firms that have been singled out this year by an influential investor group for failing to boost the number of women on their boards. Read Story.
De Bois: Employers must educate legislators on flexible working
HR Magazine: Former MP Nick de Bois called on employers to pressure the government on matters beyond Brexit, while a panel explored strategic wellbeing and happiness at work. Read Story.
Two in five employers train existing staff to fill jobs
Personnel Today: Forty-three per cent of employers are upskilling existing staff to plug hard-to-fill vacancies and a similar proportion (41%) say it has become more difficult to recruit in the past year. Read Story.
Four in 10 mothers would work longer hours if childcare costs were lower
Employee Benefits: Almost four in 10 (38%) women with children would choose to work longer hours if childcare was cheaper, according to research by The People’s Pension. Read Story.
Average life expectancy ‘could pass 100 years by 2025’
Health Insurance & Protection: Life expectancy of more than 100 years could soon become common thanks to advances in technology, a report suggests. The Bank of America report predicts that death-delaying technologies will be one of the biggest investment areas over the next decade. Read Story.
Support for mental health ‘easier to access than employers realise’
Health Insurance & Protection: Supporting employees’ mental health may not be as difficult as many businesses think, according to group risk industry body GRiD. Read Story.
Aviva Survey Reveals Importance Of Location And Transport For Employees.
The Global Recruiter: A survey from Aviva has sought to find the benefits that are truly valuable in 2019 through an in-depth survey of 2,000 employees and 500 employers from various industries and business sizes in the UK. Read Story.
Workers ‘too busy’ for regular dental checks
Corporate Adviser: Nine out of 10 employees claim that having bad teeth negatively affect their confidence in both the workplace and social situations, according to new research. Read Story.
'Crucial' role for advisers on money-related mental health issues – Quilter
Professional Adviser: Advisers should use their expertise to help people cope with the mental health issues that can stem from financial concerns, according to Quilter tax and financial planning expert Rachael Griffin. Read Story.
Employees face many financial wellbeing barriers
HR Magazine: A panel at the Delivering Financial Wellbeing in the Workplace: What Works? conference discussed the many challenges to implementing financial wellbeing at work. Read Story.
Distressed employees ineffective for eight days per month due to lost productivity
Onrec: Distressed employees spend more than one third of their time at work being unproductive and average one full day off sick per month. Read Story.
Workers now look for ‘perfect match’ with employers based on values
Onrec: Today’s workforce is more united than ever in its demand for a seismic change in the way we all conduct business in the future. It’s no longer enough to measure just financial success, with employees from across the generations calling on businesses to be a force for good and drive positive change in the world. Read Story.
Internal communications is a one-way street at majority of organisations
Onrec: Internal communication in the workplace remains one-way, despite advances in collaboration technology, according to new research from workplace help platform, Rungway. Read Story.
40% of employees struggle discussing mental health at work
HR Grapevine: New research from Breathe has revealed that 40% of employees are uncomfortable telling managers that they need time off to deal with mental health. Read Story.
TPR in new crackdown on AE refuseniks
Corporate Adviser: The Pension Regulator has announced a new crackdown on employers who are flouting their auto enrolment pension duties. Read Story.
Men account for 55% of all EAP counselling calls
HR Magazine: The number of men accessing support for their mental health has risen dramatically in the past year, according to Personal Group. Read Story.
Employers ‘failing to take pregnant workers’ health seriously’
Personnel Today: Employers need to do “far more” to protect the health and wellbeing of pregnant staff, with travel commitments and irregular hours among the factors creating unnecessary risk. Read Story.
‘Overtime culture’ is causing employees to drive while tired, insurer claims
Personnel Today: Almost one in 10 staff who drive for work have fallen asleep or nearly fallen asleep at the wheel as a direct result of work pressures, long hours and demands, risking their safety. Read Story.
Mental Health Costs British Business £16bn a year
Onrec: Mental health issues can impact people from any walk of life at any time, anywhere. When British businesses fail to take that into account, they can end up carrying the cost, to the tune of £16bn a year. Read Story.
UK economy worse off by £270bn per year due to workplace discrimination
HR Review: UK economy worse off by £270bn per year due to workplace discrimination and failure to address social mobility. Read Story.
Over-45s feel discriminated against at work, finds survey
People Management: Employers have been warned they risk labour and talent shortages if they refuse to take action on age discrimination, after a survey found more than a third of over-45s believed it was a problem in their workplace. Read Story.
One-in-five Brits would expect to be sacked if they admitted to an alcohol or drug addiction
HR News: A new report, released by addiction help and support service Port of Call, reveals that one-in-five (22%) people in the UK believe their employer would terminate their contract if they admitted to a drug or alcohol problem. Read Story.
Phone fear affects over half of UK office workers
HR News: Face for Business, one of the UK’s leading telephone answering services, has uncovered staggering statistics on the degree of call anxiety exhibited by UK office workers. Read Story.
Lawyers warn that tackling workplace stress is not a ‘one size fits all’ fix
HR News: The way employers deal with workplace stress is in serious need of change, a leading law firm has warned. Read Story.
Flexibility rather than salary biggest draw for jobseekers, research suggests
HR News: Flexible working hours are the biggest draw for jobseekers in 2019, according to new research from Sheffield based recruitment agency Glu Recruit. Read Story.