… in brief

This week’s news in brief

Work-life balance

Just over half of UK workers believe they are able to maintain a healthy
work-life balance in their organisation, according to research by Mercer Human
Resource Consulting. The survey of 3,500 staff reveals that women’s perspective
on work is more positive than men’s, with 56 per cent believing they can
maintain a healthy balance, compared with 49 per cent of men.  www.mercerhr.com

Germans have it easy

Workers in Germany have the best work-life balance in the world – spending
just a sixth of their time at work, according to the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development. Germans work an average of 1,447 hours a year,
Americans 1,805, the Japanese 1,859, and Britons 1707. Koreans are the
workaholics with 2,447 hours.  www.oecd.org

Leaving leave alone

A third of Europe’s workers fail to take their full annual leave, with more
than a fifth of the UK’s employees not taking all their holidays. Online
recruiter Monster surveyed more than 1,000 Britons and found that 24 per cent
passed up holidays because they were too busy or felt the company needed them
too much.  www.monster.com

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Health warning

One of the largest Government employers in the North of England has issued
health warnings to staff after a deadly bacteria was found in drinking water.
The Inland Revenue offices in Newcastle-upon-Tyne had to close two water
dispensers after traces of the Legionella bacteria – which can cause
Legionnaires’ disease – were found. The HSE is investing.  www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk