Matthew Chilcott

About Matthew Chilcott

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21 09 2023

From automation to job creation: UK firms embrace AI and robotics | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Blog, Employment Contracts, General, Recruitment #AI, #hertfordshirebusinesses, #outsourcing, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

Research by the Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW), Imperial College London and Warwick Business school has found that the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and automated equipment has an overall positive impact on jobs. Of the more than 1,000 UK firms surveyed, over three-quarters said that use of the technology had created new roles within the company. Additionally, some 69% said they believed the technologies had improved job quality either a little or a lot. “This report not only highlights that the adoption of AI is well under way across UK firms, but also that it is possible for this tech transformation to lead to both net job creation, and more ‘good work’ – great news as we try to solve the UK’s productivity puzzle,” said Anna Thomas, director of IFOW.

The Guardian

Our HR comment: – From automation to job creation: UK firms embrace AI and robotics | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew P Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “This is a very interesting story in ‘The Guardian’ in relation to AI and we have written a few blogs on the subject which can be seen below. This article demonstrates that there could be a positive outcome from the introduction of AI with the creation of more jobs rather than what was originally thought. What are you thoughts? Are you using AI more in your workplace? As discussed prior we do not use AI currently and do not see a use for it but who knows, in the future? We believe all aspects of HR need a human to ensure its success but would be interested to know other professionals opinions.

Here are some of our previous blogs written on the subject:

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Retail union calls on Low Pay Commission to be ambitious on minimum wage rates | Consensus HR in Herts & Beds

20 09 2023

Union calls for answers over Wilko pension deficit | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Blog, Employment Contracts, Employment Law, General, Redundancy @sg1, #outsourcing, #pensions, #redundancy, #wilko, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

The union representing Wilko workers has called on MPs to question Lisa Wilkinson on how her family, which received almost £100m in dividends in the decade before the retailer’s collapse, will plug the company’s multimillion-pound pension fund deficit. Sir Steve Webb said the pensions regulator “will be all over this and looking very closely at what happened.” Wilkinson previously defended the pay-outs and pointed to its £100m worth of assets and a bank balance of £58m at the time. She told the Times that the board had “checked… there was sufficient cash, we went through the right governance, the auditors checked it off,” adding that what the family had taken out “really wouldn’t have made a difference.” Meanwhile, Wilko’s administrators, PwC, said on Tuesday that 111 more stores will close this week.

The Times

London Evening Standard

The Sun

Our HR comment and advice: – Union calls for answers over Wilko pension deficit | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew P Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “Since this was first announced in the news, we have followed this situation and a few of our blogs on the subject can be seen below. It is very sad when any business folds and especially when it is such a well know brand as Wilkos. As written throughout, a range of buyers were found but unfortunately for various reasons none were successful, and the business has been broken up and the name sold and now it has been published that there is a pension deficit! My thoughts are with the employees who many worked continually whilst a new buyer was found and who now are going to be made redundant with what I believe in the circumstances will only be statutory redundancy and now questions over their Pension. I wish all of them the best in finding a new role within retail with hopefully ‘The Range’ and other retailers who have already expressed an interest in parts of the business.”

Here are a few of our previous blogs written on the subject:

Wilko administrators urged to consider bids that save jobs | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds
Wilko collapses into administration | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds
Redundancy & Maternity Leave. What is the law?
Redundancy

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YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

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BP to review personal relationships following Looney departure | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

19 09 2023

Employers are seeing an increase in staff being off sick | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Absence Management, Blog, Employment Contracts, Employment Law, General, Health & Safety #outsourcing, absence, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

On the 18th of September 2023 our Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development wrote the following article on Employers are seeing an increase in staff being off sick which provides some interesting statistics. This is a subject we have written a number of blogs on in the past and full details can be seen at the bottom of the page.

Employers are seeing an increase in staff being off sick.

A quarter of employers have seen an increase in staff being off sick compared to a year ago, according to a new survey carried out by YouGov for Acas.

This found that while 9% had seen a decrease, 26% of employers had seen an increase in sickness absence.

Acas Chief Executive, Susan Clews, said: “Bosses that handle sickness absences effectively can help to reduce it, prevent any unnecessary disputes at work and stay within the law. Acas has advice and training for businesses on how to prevent sickness absences and address the causes.”

Reducing sickness absence

Acas advises employers to:

put in place an absence policy that is clear on what is expected of managers and their staff if they need time off work!
create a culture at work where staff feel supported and comfortable raising problems that they trust will be taken seriously!
deal with the causes of absence such as work-related stress or workers struggling to balance work and caring responsibilities.

Good work-life balance

To help staff, employers should:

encourage them to speak up if they feel they are under too much pressure at work.
train managers to spot signs of a poor work-life balance.
offer flexible working where possible!
encourage breaks from work, including during the day and making sure employees take holidays!
regularly review workloads.
lead by example as, if managers and senior leaders have a good work-life balance, this will create a culture for employees to follow.

Our HR comment: Employers are seeing an increase in staff being off sick.

Matthew P Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “This article from our Chartered Institute demonstrates some excellent examples of how to ensure your team are kept in work and enjoying what they are asked to do for their benefit / health but also for the benefit and success of the business. The Pandemic and recent years have thrown many obstacles at businesses and their success but businesses owners / managers always need to remember the welfare of their team. At Consensus HR we actively encourage all our clients to use these methods suggested by the CIPD and have clearly written and user friendly / legal Policies & Procedures to use when dealing with sick members of the team.”

Here are a few of our previous blogs written on the subject: –

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If you would like to discuss how you can manage the sickness within your team successfully through the use of a user friendly, best practice and legal policy whilst also using modern age IT to manage, give us a call now.

YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

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18 09 2023

BP to review personal relationships following Looney departure | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Blog, Disciplinary & Grievance, Employment Contracts, General #bp, #consensushr, #outsourcing, #personalrelationships, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

BP has launched a review of all personal relationships between its staff following the resignation of Bernard Looney on Tuesday. The former CEO of the oil and gas giant admitted he was “not fully transparent” about his past relationships with colleagues when questioned during an internal inquiry conducted in 2022. Another probe was conducted when further allegations were made. BP’s code of conduct does not forbid workplace relationships. However, it does state that relationships must be declared if there is any risk of a conflict of interest. The Telegraph reports that the board questioned Looney in 2019 ahead of his appointment as chief in 2020. The board has now appointed law firm Freshfields to conduct an investigation into Mr Looney’s conduct. The inquiry will also examine BP’s broader culture.

Our HR comment: – BP to review personal relationships following Looney departure

Matthew P Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, BA (Hons), Owner of Consensus HR comments: “This is an interesting article in the papers regarding personal relationships at work and one that does occur frequently in many businesses and has to be managed correctly. Past experience that I have had to manage shows that when this happens, if it is not managed and made transparent to the team and managers, it can cause problems and in some cases conflicts of interest if one of the people involved is a member of the management team. Companies need to ensure that they have a user friendly and best practice policy in place that encourages transparency whilst giving the managers the tools to manage accordingly.”

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If you wish to discuss the best way to manager personal relationships in the workplace for the benefit of the individuals concerned and the business, give us a call now.

YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

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15 09 2023

Home office plans to impose strict vetting on diversity training courses | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Blog, Employment Law, General #diversity, #equalityact2010, #equalityanddiversity, #outsourcing, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

The Home Office is planning to introduce stricter vetting for diversity training courses following criticism that the department has given in to “woke” culture. TheGuardian claims to have seen leaked documents that reveal that the department intends to halt courses that promote policies contrary to the Government’s stance, including critical race theory. Instead, senior managers will have the power to determine the compulsory or voluntary nature of diversity and inclusion courses, as well as whether they can be attended during work hours. The proposals have raised concerns among Whitehall insiders, who believe they contradict the department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion training. The proposals suggest that diversity training should align with home Office priorities, such as reducing crime and strengthening homeland security. The move follows recent headlines accusing the Home Office of being influenced by progressive politics.

The Guardian

Matthew P Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “What an interesting article when it comes to training for the team and in this case diversity and inclusion training. In this scenario and with this topic everyone within the team should be required to attend and all work to best practice and the law which in this case would be The Equality Act 2010. Recent news and many of the blogs we have written have involved diversity and it surprises me how the Home Office can put the onus on the management team to decide if it is voluntary or compulsory rather than the Home Office as a whole ensuring everyone is trained in the vital area.”

Here are a few of our previously written blogs on the subject:

Contact us now

If you have long term sickness within your business and would like to talk to somebody about the best way to manage it to best practice and the law, give us a call now.

YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

For further information on any of the HR subjects we provide, please click the heading below:

14 09 2023

New report warns of costly impact of illness on UK economy | Consensus HR- Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Absence Management, Blog, Employment Law, General, Health & Safety @sg1, #Health&Safety, #illness, #outsourcing, #sickness, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

The level of illness among the UK population is costing lives and harming the economy, according to a new report. An additional 491,433 people were off work due to their health in the three months to July, reaching a record high. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) warns that the issue has become a “serious fiscal threat” to the UK. The think tank attributed the rise in illness to long NHS waiting lists and other barriers to accessing treatment. The IPPR report also highlighted the decline in the quality of healthcare in the UK compared to other European countries, and called for urgent reforms to improve healthcare services and save taxpayers up to £205bn over a decade. Lord Bethell, former health minister and commissioner, emphasized the need for action to reduce demand for healthcare through prevention. Downing Street has acknowledged the need for improvements in tackling long-term sickness and announced a £3.5bn package of measures to support people with disabilities or health conditions to enter the workforce. However, concerns have been raised that these reforms could force people into jobs when they are not well enough.

Sky News

Our HR comment: – New report warns of costly impact of illness on UK economy

Matthew P Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “This is a very worrying article on Sky News and we wrote about this a while ago when a similar article was published in the press. Long term sick is a problem for many companies and must be managed correctly with the use of medical professionals. This process can be very time consuming but employers need to ensure that they manage it properly for the benefit of the employee and the business along with healthy working practices helping to ensure that when the team are working, it is in a healthy environment. At Consensus HR, we have managed many ill health cases at work through the use of good practice and our Occupational Health providers to get workers back into work the best way for them and their health and the success of the business”

Contact us now

If you have long term sickness within your business and would like to talk to somebody about the best way to manage it to best practice and the law, give us a call now.

YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

For further information on any of the HR subjects we provide, please click the heading below:

13 09 2023

Wages outstrip inflation for the first time in over a year | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Blog, Employment Contracts, Employment Law, General, Payrol #outsourcing, #payroll, #wages, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

Wage growth has caught up with rising prices for the first time in nearly two years, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. Regular pay, excluding bonuses, rose by 7.8% year-on-year in May to July, matching the inflation rate for the period. Darren Morgan, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said earnings continued to increase at record rates, while inflation has started to come down, meaning that real pay is no longer falling. Separate ONS data shows that the headline unemployment rate in the May-to-July period climbed to 4.3%, up from 3.8% in the previous three-month period. The number out of work is now just below 1.5m. At the same time, the number of job vacancies has dropped below 1m. Reacting to the ONS figures, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: “It’s heartening to see the number of employees on payroll is still close to record highs and that our unemployment rate remains below many of our international peers.” He added that while wage growth “remains high,” for real wages to grow sustainably “we must stick to our plan to halve inflation.”

BBC News

Daily Mail

The Times

Our HR Comment: – Wages outstrip inflation for the first time in over a year.

Matthew P Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “Some very interesting statistics in this article and the fact that ONS data shows regular pay increasing by 7.8% whilst unemployment is still very low and job vacancies dropping.

Contact us now

If you wish to talk to a HR professional about your salaries within your business and carry out pay reviews to best practice, give us a call now.

YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

For further information on any of the HR subjects we provide, please click the heading below:

12 09 2023

Female surgeons sexually assaulted while operating | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Blog, Disciplinary & Grievance, Employment Law, General, Investigations #bbc, #NHS, #outsourcing, #sexual harassment, bedford, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

Female surgeons say they are being sexually harassed, assaulted and in some cases raped by colleagues, according to a major analysis of NHS staff by the University of Exeter, the University of Surrey and the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery that has been shared exclusively with BBC News, which has spoken to women who were sexually assaulted in the operating theatre while surgery took place. The study’s authors say there is a pattern of female trainees being abused by senior male surgeons, and this is happening now, in NHS hospitals. The Royal College of Surgeons said the findings were “truly shocking.” Nearly two-thirds of women surgeons that responded to the researchers said they had been the target of sexual harassment and a third had been sexually assaulted by colleagues in the past five years. Women say they fear reporting incidents will damage their careers and they lack confidence the NHS will take action. Surgical training relies on learning from senior colleagues in the operating theatre and women have told BBC News it is risky to speak out about those who have power and influence over their future careers. The report, which is being published in theBritish Journal of Surgery, is the first attempt to get a sense of the scale of the problem.

BBC News

Our HR comment: Female surgeons sexually assaulted while operating | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds.

Matthew P Chilcott – FCIPD, ACEL, Owner comments: “What is going on? This news on the BBC today is extremely worrying to say the least and how can anybody be expected to go to work and be treated this way? This should definitely be investigated by the relevant line manager and the appropriate action taken which if proved could be instant dismissal.”

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If you wish to discuss any work conduct issues and how to deal with them to best practice and law, give us a call now.

YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

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08 09 2023

Jobs market starts to cool | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Blog, Employment Contracts, General, Recruitment #jobsmarket, #outsourcing, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Recruitment, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

Britain’s jobs market is cooling, with hiring down and wage growth slowing, easing pressure on the Bank of England to push on with interest rate rises. Research by KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) found that permanent placements have contracted at the quickest pace since June 2020, with the employment index down last month to 38.9 from 42.4. The number of temporary positions has fallen for the first time since July 2020. Official data shows that unemployment is at a historic low of 4.2% and pay growth has reached a record high of 7.8%. The Bank thinks these factors will keep inflation elevated. KPMG and the REC say wages are still growing but the pace of expansion for permanent hires is down to its lowest level since March 2021.

The Daily Telegraph

The Times

Our HR Comment: Jobs market starts to cool.

Matthew P Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “We have written several blogs on this subject in the past, with a few of those shown below with their links. Hopefully, this news will be good for inflation but with high pay growth of 7.8% and unemployment at a historic low whilst Gen Z having different priorities when it comes to employment such as low loyalty / service, is it going to be harder for employers to retain staff? What are your thoughts?

Here are some of our previous blogs written on the subject

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If you currently employ a team and wish to ensure that you recruit and retain the best team, give us a call for a non-obligatory conversation on how we can help you.

YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

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Latest construction campaign to prevent ill health from moving and handling materials - Consensus HR

Anti-Slavery Day | Consensus HR in Herts & Beds.

07 09 2023

Young workers prioritise diversity initiatives | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Blog, Disciplinary & Grievance, Employment Contracts, General, Investigations, Recruitment, Redundancy, Training & Development #equality, #equalityact2010, #GenZ, #outsourcing, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage, Training

Almost three-quarters of the youngest workers want their employer to prioritise diversity initiatives, according to a global study by Ernst & Young. The study surveyed 5,000 adults aged between 18 and 26 years old across the US, UK, Germany, Singapore, and India. It revealed that while most baby-boomers don’t consider a company’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) when applying for jobs, almost three-quarters of Gen Z workers want their employer to prioritise it. The survey highlighted some of the broader concerns about organisational cultures: 94% of employees said that there was some level of inequity within their workplace amid concerns over equitable pay, performance evaluation and work assignments. Karyn Twaronite, global vice chair of diversity, equity, and inclusiveness for EY, emphasized the importance of DE&I in today’s political and economic climate, stating that it remains a key workplace expectation and a competitive advantage for businesses.

Bloomberg

Our HR comment:- Young workers prioritise diversity initiatives.

Matthew P Chilcott – FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “When I read this article today, it was great to see that the report demonstrates that the younger generation are fully considering diversity, equity and inclusion when applying for jobs and the importance they see in it, in today’s organisations / business. We have written many blogs / HR updates on this subject and ensure all our clients are kept up to date at all times of current legislation and cases that have been won and Precedents set and ensure they work to best practice and the law. Some recent examples is the Menopause and Flexible Working and the new legislation that has now gained approval through the Government and soon to be launched. At Consensus HR, we like to be on top of law changes and implement as soon as possible through our Contracts, Employee Handbooks and use of our Partnering IT product, Breathe HR.

Here are just a few of our written blogs on the subject

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If you need support on Diversity training for your team, give us a call today.

YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

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07 09 2023

Latest construction campaign to prevent ill health from moving and handling materials – Consensus HR

Matthew Chilcott Blog, General, Health & Safety #construction, #Health&Safety, #ill health, #prevention, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

Moving and handling heavy or bulky objects on construction sites is needlessly harming the health of tens of thousands of workers every year.

Working in construction is a physically demanding job and many construction workers’ health is suffering due to pain in muscles, bones, joints and nerves that affect every aspect of their lives and in many cases their ability to work and earn a living.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning construction workers that the long-term impact on their health can leave them struggling to stand, walk, or sit down.

From 4 September 2023, HSE inspectors will be carrying out inspections of construction sites, focusing on the health risks of moving and handling materials on site.

Supporting the inspections initiative is HSE’s communications campaign ‘Work Right Construction. Your health. Your future’, to raise awareness of the risks when moving and handling materials on site and provide advice for employers and workers.

Inspections in 2022 found widespread methods that can protect workers such as the use of mechanical equipment to handle large glazing panes, using small inexpensive air bags to help to position heavy doors when being installed, and the use of all-terrain pallet trucks to move blocks and brick-lifters to carry bricks around site.

However, inspectors also found many examples of poor practice, some of which resulted in enforcement action, such as a worker lifting an 80kg kerb on his own without any assistance from machinery, lifting aids or colleagues, and a 110kg floor saw that had to be moved into and out of a work van by two operatives at a street works site.

The law requires employers to control the risks of ill health of their workers, which includes pain in muscles, bones, joints and nerves that can develop over time, known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). However, in the most recent period an estimated 42,000 people in the construction industry suffered from a work-related musculoskeletal disorder, which can cause years of agonising aches and pains. This amounts to 53% of all ill health in the construction sector.

If moving and lifting is managed properly, a physical job on a building site should not disrupt every part of workers’ lives.

Before work starts, moving and handling risks should be considered and prevented where possible at the design stage. Once on site, employers should talk to workers about controlling existing risks and make sure appropriate measures are in place, such as the right training, aids and equipment.

Matt Birtles, principal ergonomist at HSE, said: “It is important that the issue of manual handling is not downplayed. Serious aches, pains and strains should not be accepted as routine when working in construction. These can dramatically affect every part of someone’s life – with sufferers struggling to get themselves dressed and undressed, and unable to pick up their children or grandchildren.

“The culture of a site may mean many people feel uncomfortable talking about these issues but if your back has gone or if you’re in agony whenever you move your arms, measures need to be put in place to address the causes.”

HSE’s Acting Head of Construction Division Mike Thomas said:

“MSDs affect the lives of tens of thousands of construction workers and can lead to a lifetime of suffering. However, there are simple measures that can be taken to prevent this.

“Everyone involved in construction has a role to play in keeping people safe and healthy. We want everyone in the industry, from designers to contractors and their workers, to be aware of the risks associated with any moving or lifting task and put appropriate measures in place.

“The health of workers must be considered when planning construction work so that they can carry out their jobs without fear of injuring themselves or developing aches, pains and strains, including being provided with the correct equipment to lift and move materials safely.”

Contact us now

We always like to keep our clients up to date on Health & Safety and if there is anything we or our associates can do for you, contact us now.

YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

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06 09 2023

Mentally ill to be told to work from home in benefits shake-up. | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Absence Management, Blog, Disciplinary & Grievance, Employment Contracts, Employment Law, General, Health & Safety, Performance Management, Recruitment #employeehealth, #Health&Safety, #mentallyill, #outsourcing, #workingfromhome, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

Ministers are to consult on a change to the rules for benefit claimants meaning that those with mobility and mental health problems will be told to look for work they can do from home. The move comes as the government looks for ways to fill job vacancies and cut the benefits bill. The reforms, proposed by Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, come as the proportion of those assessed for incapacity benefits and classed as unable to work has tripled to 65% since 2011, costing the taxpayer £26bn a year. Mr Stride said this was “holding back the labour market and the economy but perhaps most important of all, it is holding back human potential.” But disability campaigners said the changes would cause “huge anxiety” and amounted to a “cynical” attempt to reduce benefit payments. The changes would not come into force until 2025, however, due to “the need to make changes to regulations and ensure appropriate training for health assessors,” Mr Stride said.

Our HR comment – Mentally ill to be told to work from home in benefits shake-up.

Matthew P Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “This is an interesting article and suggestion by the Government and whether it solves the problem it is seeking to solve, is the question. It one context it will help but is people with a mobility or mental health problem working from home the right answer. Should they not be in the workplace working and communicating / mixing with fellow workers? Could flexible working be the answer, where they work 3 days in the office and two days at home? Obviously I am not the medical professional but the HR one and as with us when we have to deal with anything medical, I always say, we must go to the professionals who have the qualifications and experience to answer these questions through the use of Occupational Health of GP reports so that we can make the necessary reasonable adjustments or a phased return to get them back into the workplace. Believe me, this is never easy for both the company or the member of the team involved.”

What are your views?

Contact us now

If your company is having problems with high sickness or mental health within the workplace and would like to talk to somebody on how to get them back into the workplace, give us a call now.

YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

For further information on any of the HR subjects we provide, please click the heading below:

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