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work-related ill-health stats

HSE publishes latest work-related ill-health statistics

In their latest published statistics, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates there are approximately 1.8 million workers in Great Britain suffering from a work-related illness. Stress, depression, or anxiety make up 914,000 of these cases, an increase in over 90,000 from last year. The impact on the country’s economic performance is enormous, with 30.8 million working days lost due to work-related ill-health, and an estimated £11.2 billion in annual costs of new cases of work-related ill-health in 2019/20 (excluding long

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1st December 2022
work christmas party

What every employer should know as we approach the Christmas party season

The Christmas party season is now well and truly upon us. Following the disruption caused by the pandemic which meant parties were held virtually or put on hold, this year employers are now returning to more traditional celebrations. The annual Christmas bash is a great way to reward staff and boost morale. However, if not managed correctly these social occasions can often present risks for employers, with alcohol induced absences and inappropriate behaviour. Here are some tips for avoiding a

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28th November 2022
tackling HR issues during the world cup

How to tackle HR issues during the FIFA World Cup 2022

The FIFA World Cup 2022 has been surrounded with controversy with regards to host Qatar’s poor human rights and LGBTQA record, but although there are some people who may boycott the tournament altogether, there will be many who will still be watching to cheer their team along. As the tournament kicks off, employers might find themselves with an influx of holiday or time off requests and there may well be an increase in sickness or unauthorised absence. So how do

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21st November 2022
recruitment and retention trends for 2023

5 HR Trends for 2023 to improve recruitment and boost staff retention

HR has changed significantly in recent years, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, which presented new challenges and caused a major shift in organisational cultures as HR teams had to quickly adapt and evolve. As more and more people evaluate their work-life balance, what does the future hold for HR as we head into 2023? In this article, we have lined up 5 HR trends which will improve recruitment and boost staff retention. 1. Flexibility is here to stay

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3rd November 2022
bullying and harassment working from home

Tackling workplace bullying in the remote era

We have seen a rapid increase in digital communication with channels such as Whats App, Slack and Teams offering valuable opportunities for employees to collaborate and maintain contact while working from home. However, with the escalation of home working our working environments have become less formal and the boundaries between our professional and private lives have become blurred. Communication lines are now easier to cross, particularly when these apps have previously been used more for social interaction. Bullying claims are

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17th October 2022
risk assessments

There’s more to risk assessments than just slips, trips and falls!

Employers are required by law to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all their employees. Risk assessments are just a small part of this process to create a safe working environment. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) describes risk assessments as a ‘step-by-step process for controlling Health & Safety risks caused by hazards in the workplace’. Risk assessments identify potential health and safety hazards to employees and contractors/visitors. They analyse and evaluate associated risks and determine steps to eliminate

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10th October 2022
suicide awareness, world mental health day 2022

EML supporting suicide awareness

Mental health is a topic that has become more of a priority than ever before, yet there is still a stigma associated with suicide as people struggle to understand it, let alone talk about it. In 2021 there were 5219 registered suicides in England, which is 307 more than in 2020. Around three-quarters of these were male suicides which is consistent with long-term trends. To highlight the importance of suicide awareness ahead of World Mental Health Day on Monday 10

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6th October 2022
shipping container fatal accident

Inadequate night shift supervision led to fatality as employee crushed between shipping containers

A cargo handling company has been fined £200,000 after an employee was fatally crushed between shipping containers while working in a container park in Portsmouth. On 25 August 2017, the employee was working a night shift for Portico Shipping Ltd. His job was to connect refrigerated container units to electrical supplies which the forklift operator had placed into position using a container stacker vehicle. It was during one of these manoeuvres that the employee was fatally crushed between two containers.

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22nd September 2022
cost of living crisis

Will the cost-of-living crisis see a return to the office?

As the cost-of-living crisis deepens with soaring energy prices and inflation at its highest rate in 40 years, some home workers are considering a return to the workplace as they look for ways to reduce their energy bills. The coronavirus pandemic re-shaped the working landscape as the hybrid working model became a popular choice for employees. However, those working from home are now having to weigh up the savings in commuting costs, against the rising costs of heating their homes.

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15th September 2022
extra bank holiday for Queen Elizabeth's funeral

The Queen’s funeral: Preparing for the extra bank holiday

With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II has come the announcement that an extra bank holiday will be granted for her funeral on Monday, 19 September. However, as the nation comes together to mark this sad occasion, have you considered how the extra bank holiday may affect your business? Who is entitled to this extra bank holiday? Employers aren’t legally obliged to give their workers time off just because an extra bank holiday has been announced. There is actually no

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12th September 2022
WORK EXPERIENCE

Not so scary after all. How my work experience with EML showed me HR in a new light!

University student Phoebe was introduced to the world of HR and Employment Law with Employee Management Ltd during the summer. She has written a blog on her time spent with us. During my summer break from university, I was lucky to secure a work experience placement opportunity with Employee Management Ltd (EML), allowing me to participate in all aspects of the HR consultancy service they offer to clients. As a young person who has worked in retail and hospitality, company

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23rd August 2022

Annual leave entitlement decision confirmed in the Supreme Court

On the 20 July 2022, the Supreme Court in Harpur Trust v Brazel (2022) confirmed the decision previously reached by the Court of Appeal in 2019. Whilst this was no real surprise in employment law terms, it may have left many scratching their heads at the now formalised implications of the judicial decision. What was the crux of the case? Ms Brazel was a music teacher and was employed on a part-year basis (i.e. during term-time). She was also working

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18th August 2022

The Great Resignation is not over!

‘The Great Resignation’ became a new buzz phrase last year, as an unprecedented number of people quit their jobs following an extended period of working from home during the pandemic. The revolution is not abating, with one in five workers in the UK planning to quit their jobs this year, citing pay as a key reason, with job fulfilment also high on the agenda. However, the Great Resignation has given organisations an opportunity to fill employment gaps as we now

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18th August 2022
managing long covid in the workplace

Managing long-COVID in the workplace

The vast majority of those who become infected with COVID-19 go on to make a full recovery. However, there are some individuals who develop symptoms which continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis. This is known as ‘post COVID-19 syndrome’ and is more commonly referred to as ‘long-COVID’. The most reported symptoms of long-COVID include fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of smell and muscle ache, and the effects are a growing concern for

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11th August 2022

Are employers nervous about increased claims for Trade Union recognition?

The effects of industrial action have been impossible to escape in recent weeks, and whilst such action is far more common in the public sector, the effects of the rising cost of living on real wages may be leaving some private sector employers worried about an increased appetite for union recognition among workers in non-unionised workplaces.  Here we take a brief look at what this involves, and how employers might head-off potential Trade Union challenges. What are the implications of

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8th August 2022