Absence Management

25 03 2024

Sick people leave workforce at record highs | Consensus HR | Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Absence Management, Blog, General, Health & Safety #ConsenHR, #consensushr, #outsourcedemploymentlaw, #outsourcedhumanresources, #outsourcing, #sickness, Business, Business Owners, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's

The number of people in the UK leaving the workforce due to long term sickness has hit the highest level on record, according to Resolution Foundation analysis. The number of adults who are economically inactive due to ill-health climbed from 2.1m in July 2019 to 2.8m in October 2023, marking the “longest sustained rise” since 1994-1998, when records began. The rise in long-term sickness means the UK is the only G7 economy which has not returned to its pre-pandemic employment rate. Louise Murphy, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation, said Britain’s labour market is “finally returning to normal,” but warned that the pandemic “has left an alarming legacy of the longest sustained rise in sickness-related inactivity since the 1990s.”

She noted: “Younger and older people together account for nine-tenths of the rise in overall economic inactivity,” and warned that this could have “serious effects both on individuals’ living standards and career paths, as well as wider strains on the NHS and welfare spending if we fail to improve the nation’s health and reduce economic inactivity.” Shazia Ejaz at the Recruitment and Employment Federation, believes long NHS waiting lists “are a big factor for why not enough people are well enough to work,” adding “Better infrastructure around transport, childcare and social care will all help tackle the inactivity challenge the UK faces.”

BBC News

The Observer

Our HR Comment / Advice: Sick people leave workforce at record highs | Consensus HR | Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: – “This article which was shown on the BBC over the weekend demonstrates how difficult it still is for businesses within the UK, when dealing with sickness. The Pandemic may have officially finished but its repercussions as still dominant within the workforce. At Consensus HR, we work with our clients to ensure that the best HR Policies & Procedures are put in place to support the team and the business and that they are managed and implemented correctly. We are Partners with Breathe HR an IT system that makes it easy to manage correctly whilst ensuring the correct support and guidance is offered to the team member and management.

To view more about our range of HR & Employment Law Services

At Consensus HR, we are proud to offer a wide range of HR & Employment Law services to help our clients with all areas of best practice and Employment Law which can be found by clicking on the button:

Click Here

Are you concerned about your team and sickness within your business?

If you run a business with a team and are concerned about the latest news / statistics in relation to sickness and wish to ensure you have the best HR Policies and Procedures for the benefit of the team and business, give us a Call Now. Consensus HR | Your Outsourced Human Resources & Employment Law Department. | Helping companies take the pain out of managing people whilst Preventing People Problems – 01438 576750

Your Outsourced Human Resources (HR) Department.

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

13 03 2024

Workplace mental health service firm faces investigation | Consensus HR | Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Absence Management, Blog, General, Health & Safety, Investigations #bedfordshirebusiness, #consensushr, #hertfordshirebusinesses, #Mental health, #outsourcedemploymentlaw, #welfare, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

Claims about one of the UK’s biggest providers of workplace mental health services are to be investigated by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), it has said. BBC Radio 4’s File on 4 programmes has heard allegations that calls from vulnerable people to Health Assured were not always handled properly. Health Assured refutes these allegations. Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) are intended to help employees deal with personal problems that might affect their wellbeing and performance at work. According to the UK Employee Assistance Programme Association, three-quarters of the UK working population (almost 25 million people) have access to an EAP through their employer. File on 4 has spoken to 15 current and former employees of Health Assured, an EAP that provides support to 13 million workers in the UK and Ireland, and whose clients include NHS trusts, universities, and police forces. Counsellors and team managers at Health Assured described low morale, high staff turnover, and a frequent struggle to keep up with demand.

BBC News

Our HR Comments / Advice – Workplace mental health service firm faces investigation | Consensus HR | Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “When it comes to the welfare of your team, it is vital that you provide the best support available according to the situation. EAP’s – Employee Assistance Programs, are a great way to provide this service through an external provider, of which there are now many across the UK who provide this service as part of an insurance. At Consensus HR and part of our service, we will always go to the medical professionals for advice, if we have concerns about any members of our clients’ teams, if informed and will see the team members consent to write to their GP / Consultant for their advice on how we can support the team member. This can be a lengthy process and may also consider using our Occupational Health Providers to look at the best solutions in helping our team member and the business. Consensus HR also provides Mental Health development for managers and employees at our central office in Stevenage or at the clients offices together with a wide range of employee and management development workshops.

To view more about our range of HR & Employment Law Services

Click Here

Do you know how to correctly deal with managing your team when it comes to dealing with employee issues?

If you manage a team and are concerned for their welfare and would like to talk to us about the Policies, Procedures and development we can provide you, contact us now. Consensus HR | Your Outsourced Human Resources and Employment Law Department | “Helping companies take the pain our of managing people whilst Preventing People Problems – 01438 576750”.

Your Outsourced Human Resources (HR) Department.

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

12 02 2024

Britain has a bigger but sicker workforce than previously thought | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Absence Management, Blog, Employment Law, General #bedfordshirebusiness, #consensus hr, #consensushr, #hertfordshirebusinesses, #sickness, absence, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revised its estimates of the size and shape of the UK labour market showing that it has a bigger workforce, with employment up 170,000 compared to previous estimates.

However, the ONS has also highlighted that the number of people economically inactive due to long-term sickness has been revised up from its previous record high of 2.6 million to 2.8 million.

Independent think tank, the Resolution Foundation, explained that ONS’ reweighting of the labour force survey was to reflect the UK population growing faster than previously thought and it confirms that the labour market is bigger but weaker than previous estimates.

The ONS has also revised the shape of the UK population, with a slightly larger share of younger (aged 16–17 and 18–24) workers (up 0.2 and 0.1 percentage points respectively), and a smaller share of workers aged 25–34 and 50–64 (down 0.3 and 0.2 percentage points).

Hannah Slaughter, Senior Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “Britain has a bigger, but sicker, workforce than we previously thought. Of particular concern is that the fact that a record 2.8 million people in the country are currently inactive due to ill-health. Tackling rising ill-health is a huge social and economic challenge that we’ll be facing throughout the 2020s, as will getting the UK employment back up to and beyond pre-pandemic levels.”

Our HR Comment / Advice: – Britain has a bigger but sicker workforce than previously thought | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: There are some very interesting statistics within this article and interesting how it differs dependent of age. Sickness within the team can cause severe consequences within any business and is why we always ensure a suitable, proactive sickness Policy & Procedure I introduced with management taking the necessary action as requested. All employees regardless of length of service or sickness should have a return-to-work meeting arranged, to discuss their absence and identify if there is any action the company / employee can take to support them, whilst ensuring it does not become a regular occurrence. Failure to manage sickness appropriately can result in a demotivated team and drop in sales and customer service.”

To view more about our range of HR & Employment Law Services

Click Here

What is your Employment Status?

Do you get concerned about the legalities / best practice when it comes to employing a member of the team and do not know which way to turn? We offer a non-obligatory option to discuss. Give us a call now. We are an Outsourced HR & Employment Law company who work with businesses that wish to provide the resources of an HR Department with unlimited telephone and emails provided for a monthly retained fee. Consensus HR | Your Outsourced HR & Employment Law Department – “Helping companies take the pain out of managing people whilst Preventing People Problems – 01438 576750”.

Your Outsourced Human Resources (HR) Department.

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

08 01 2024

Businesses believe that hybrid working is here to stay |Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Absence Management, Blog, Employment Contracts, Employment Law, General #bedfordshirebusiness, #hertfordshirebusinesses, #hybridworking, #outsourcedemploymentlaw, #outsourcedhumanresources, #outsourcing, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

Fewer than 30% of firms expect their workforce to be fully in person at their offices and workplaces over the next five years while 16% expect them to be mostly remote and 8% fully remote.

These are the findings of new research by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Insights Unit and technology firm Cisco which covered over 1000 businesses, of which 96% were SMEs.

The research found a clear divide between different sectors, with business-to-business (B2B) services firms (such as the finance and legal sectors) more likely to expect remote working. Only 17% of B2B services organisations expect fully in person working, while the figure for manufacturers is 38% and 37% for business-to-consumer (B2C) services.

BCC Deputy Director Public Policy, Jane Gratton, said: “Our data shows that hybrid working is now part of the fabric of the modern workplace. For millions of people, logging in remotely for at least part of the working week is now routine. This flexibility is valued by employers and their teams. Less than 30% of firms expect staff to be working fully in person over the next five years.”

Employers still value regular face-to-face contact with staff, however, and the BCC findings show only 8% of businesses expect staff to be permanently working remotely.

Companies were also asked about the connectivity tools they use such as video calling and cloud security.

A quarter of firms (25%) say they are not confident they have the knowledge to make the right purchasing decisions, while 55% are relying on external experts when making decisions about adopting technology.

The survey also found that 65% of firms say connectivity tools are value for money.

“Flexible working makes good business sense,” Ms Gratton concluded. “In a tight labour market, where employers are competing for skilled workers, hybrid working, and flexible working more generally, has become an important part of staff benefit packages.”

To view our range of HR & Employment Law services, Click Here

At Consensus HR, we provide a range of Employment HR & Employment Law services for companies of all sizes and sectors.

Our HR Comment: Businesses believe that hybrid working is here to stay |Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “Some very interesting statistic here in relation to hybrid working and what employees wish for in today working environment. At Consensus HR, we have found that many employers where their sector allows this, that they allow their teams to work from home up to two days a week with the other three having to be in the office for meeting and team work / support. The Pandemic has definitely resulted in a change in the working environment and contracted hours / days”

Contact us now

If you run a successful company but are unsure of what legal law and best practice is required for your team, give us a call now for a non-obligatory chat about Outsourced HR and what we can provide you and your team for future success of your business. Consensus HR | Helping companies outsource and manage their HR and Employment Law and Prevent People Problems – 01438 576750

YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

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

02 01 2024

Happy New Year 2024 – Outsourced HR.

Matthew Chilcott Absence Management, Blog, Disciplinary & Grievance, Employment Contracts, Employment Law, General, Handbook, Investigations, Performance Management #2024, #bedfordshirebusinesses, #hertfordshirebusinesses, #networkinbeds, #outsourcedhumanresources, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

Consensus HR | Your outsourced HR Dept, Helping companies take the pain out of managing people whilst Preventing People Probles - 01438 576750

We hope you, your team and businesses, have a prosperous 2024. Consensus HR | Your Outsourced HR Dept, Helping companies take the pain away of managing people whilst Preventing People Problems.

About Us......

Why us?

Welcome to your Outsourced Human Resources Dept.

If you’re looking for straight-talking, flexible Outsourced Human Resources solutions, you’re in the right place!

At Consensus HR, we offer Outsourced Human Resources, HR support, HR com and advice tailored to your requirements. Our HR services are always practical and fully scalable to suit the changing needs of your business.

You’ll discover that we have a common goal: to prevent HR problems. We find a positive way forward that suits your business and your employees. Of course, we do this while ensuring you are fully compliant with your HR obligations.

Outsourced HR: A Positive Difference

Enjoy a flexible way to take the pain out of employee-based activities … one based on a unique blend of professional knowledge and experience. Outsourcing your HR requirements offers key strengths of speed, flexibility and reassurance. Our professional HR services are available to all businesses, of any size, structure or sector. Let’s increase your retention and make you an employer of choice.

To view our range of HR & Employment Law services, Click Here

At Consensus HR, we provide a range of Employment HR & Employment Law services for companies of all sizes and sectors.

Contact us now

YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

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

Round-up of all the legal changes in January 2024 | Consensus HR - Herts, Beds - 01438 576750

27 10 2023

Councils told not to adopt four-day working weeks | Consensus HR | Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Absence Management, Blog, Employment Contracts, Employment Law, General, Recruitment #4 day working week, #bedfordshirebusinesses, #councils, #flexibleworking, #hertfordshirebusinesses, #hybridworking, #outsourcedhumanresources, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

Ministers have formally warned councils in England against adopting four-day working weeks for staff. Government guidance says local authorities that have adopted the work pattern should end the practice immediately. While supporters of the four-day week argue that it improves staff wellbeing and productivity, the government believes that it does not represent value for money and is concerned service quality will decline. Lee Rowley, the Minister for Local Government, warned that councils which opt to disregard the guidance “are now on notice” that ministers “will take necessary steps” to ensure that the practice is ended within local government. Noting that more than nine in 10 councils are experiencing staff recruitment and retention difficulties, Pete Marland, chair of the Local Government Association’s resources board, said: “It is councils who know what works best for their community, workforce and in their wider labour market conditions.”

The Guardian

Our HR comment: – Councils told not to adopt four-day working weeks | Consensus HR | Herts, Beds

Matthew P Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “We have written a number of blogs of hybrid / flexible working and their pro’s / cons and this one in the ‘Guardian’ highlights the action that Government / Ministers are taking against local councils and them adopting a four-day week. It is a subject that has been spoken about many times in a lot of media since the Pandemic and is totally specific to each company and the service is offers. Unfortunately, / fortunately, there is no one policy that will suit all businesses and each business needs to thoroughly investigate the overall pros / cons of adapting this working practice and the working week and take the necessary action. All parties should be included in the decision so as to not create an environment where quality members of the team feel not listened to and only have the option of seeking alternative employment.

Contact us now

If your company is experiencing continual discussions / problems about changing the working week to less days but maybe with more hours per day and wish to fully consider how this would be managed and the action that needs to be taken, 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:

25 09 2023

UK office attendance at 40% as workers embrace flexibility | Consensus HR – Herts Beds

Matthew Chilcott Absence Management, Blog, Employment Contracts, Employment Law, General, Recruitment #flexibleworking, #hertfordshirebusinesses, #hybridworking, #outsourcing, #pandemic, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

A survey on working habits in the UK has revealed that just 40% of employees are currently working five days a week in the office. Commuting time, the cost of eating out for lunch and other expenses are the biggest barriers to working full time at the office, said researchers in the report from Ipsos Karian and Box. Younger staff members, in particular, have expressed concerns about missing out on skills development when working remotely. Nearly half of workers aged 18 to 24 said they “always” or “frequently” felt lonely if they spent half their working week at home. Additionally, they feared they were learning fewer “critical skills” necessary for career progression and promotions. The survey suggested that employees who spend three days a week in the office strike the right balance between office and remote work, enabling effective career development discussions and idea generation.

The Sunday Telegraph

Our HR comment: – UK office attendance at 40% as workers embrace flexibility | Consensus HR – Herts Beds

Matthew P Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “This is a subject we have written about many times since the end of the Pandemic and a few of our blogs can be seen below. Many companies are now getting their teams back into the workplace with many working Hybrid and in the office at least three days a week. We have found that many employers are stating that employees must be in the office Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and working from home Monday & Friday and some requiring all the team to return to the work place full-time. Many articles are also showing that many people are finding the new working regime hard to handle and this article in ‘The Sunday Telegraph’ shows the effect it is having on the younger 18 – 24 year olds. What is the answer? This is still unknown and the consequences going forward for the business, their teams and the younger generation.

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

Contact us now

If you wish to talk to somebody about getting your team back into the office or looking at suitable solutions such as hybrid working, 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:

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: –

Contact us now

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.

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

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

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:

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:

04 09 2023

Hundreds of council staff are ‘working from the beach’ | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

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

More than 1,350 requests to work from overseas have been granted to staff by town hall bosses over the past three years, figures show. The number jumped from 73 approvals in 2020/21, to 440 in 2021/22, to then surge to 700 last year. According to responses to Freedom of Information requests by the TaxPayers’ Alliance, one local authority granted nearly 300 requests over the three-year period. Croydon Council in south London allowed an employee to log on from abroad for 842 days, and a Wigan Council staff member has worked from France for two years. The phenomenon has been branded “working from the beach.” Separate figures from RSM in July showed that 33% of businesses are allowing employees to work remotely outside the UK. Conservative MPs have called for an investigation, describing the figures as “outrageous” and “absurd,” but councils argued the policies helped them attract and retain the right staff. Meanwhile, The Telegraph reports that Downing Street is poised to issue new guidance to all Whitehall departments in a bid to end the culture of ‘Tuesday to Thursday’ working which has developed since the pandemic. One option being considered is to enforce a set number of days that officials have to work in the office, which would probably be fixed at four per week. Jeremy Quin, the Paymaster General, will launch the push as part of efforts to boost public sector productivity, which has plummeted since Covid.

The Daily Telegraph

Daily Mail

Our HR Comment: – Hundreds of council staff are ‘working from the beach’

Matthew P Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “Latest recent news now seems to continually show the recent change in where people work and we have written a number of blogs on this subject which can be seen below and now with this latest in relation to local authorities and their teams, it seems to becoming even more the main employee relations subject since the Pandemic, when everything changed.

Here are some of our previous blogs on the subject:

Contact us now

If your company is currently finding it a problem with the team working from home and not in the office and you wish to investigate and implement a solution / way forward, 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:

27 07 2023

Presenteeism remains an entrenched feature of business culture.

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

BBC Work life reports that Covid-19 may have altered our attitudes towards our jobs and how we do them, but presenteeism remains one entrenched feature of business culture that’s proved tough – and in some cases impossible – to shift. “Without a clear physical separation between work and home, individuals may find it challenging to disconnect and set clear boundaries,” says Peter Brown, who leads PwC’s Global People and Organisation practice. “This lack of separation can lead – and in many cases did lead – to longer working hours, increased workloads and difficulty taking breaks or time off, all contributing to presenteeism.” Lucy Kallin, executive director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Catalyst, a workplace consultancy that focuses on gender equality, agrees. “The overnight switch to homeworking in the pandemic undoubtedly increased some people’s workloads, as they were unable to switch off metaphorically and literally. Instead of using the commute home to wind down from work people stayed ‘always on’.” Kallin says senior leaders need to recognise the ways in which pandemic-induced changes in the workplace may have exacerbated presenteeism. Even though leaders can’t see the behaviour because it’s happening remotely, she says, they need to spearhead changes so employees feel willing and able to turn off from work.

BBC News

Our HR Comment: – Presenteeism remains an entrenched feature of business culture.

Matthew P Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “This is another very interesting article from the BBC in relation to the Pandemic and Presenteeism and proves again the changes that have occurred since the Pandemic took place and how many people are finding it hard to switch off from work due to the boundaries changing since and during the Pandemic and it becoming more common for people to work from home in comparison to pre pandemic when people would travel to the office to work and when they got home, it was the end of the day and from work. Employees will have to change their behaviours to ensure they relax and unwind from the workplace whilst employers need to ensure that they manage their team and welfare appropriately with regular reviews and discussions around work requirements / load and quality of life”

Contact us now

Presenteeism issues can hit any business, of any size. Update from Consensus HR, expert outsourced HR services. Herts, Beds, Cambs Give us a call now if you wish to discuss.

YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

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

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.