Sickness absence
Managing sickness absence is a key issue for employers. Employee absence is a significant cost to the majority of businesses in the UK.
In addition to the direct costs of employee absence (paying sick pay and paying someone else to perform the absent employee’s work), high levels of absence can demotivate those employees who have to take on the absent employee’s work, cause all-round disruption to productivity and adversely affect an employer’s continuity of service to its clients.
Statutory sick pay uplift criticised as ‘miserly’
Unions have criticised the government for increasing statutory sick pay by a ‘miserly’ 50p per week.
Security manager told to ‘grow up’ during cancer treatment
An employment tribunal in Birmingham ruled that Steve Pointon was subject to disability discrimination and constructive dismissal.
Workplace Covid testing extended to smaller employers
From 6 April, smaller employers in England will be able to access lateral flow tests. They must register by 12 April and the kits are free up until 30 June.
Survey exposes burnout ‘epidemic’ among managers
Only a fifth of managers who have experienced feelings of burnout since the pandemic hit have sought medical support, a...
Workers with recurring conditions take 17 days off sick a year
The average employee with a recurring medical condition, such as a chronic pain condition, takes 17 days of sick leave...
Sickness absence rate at record low
Covid-19 may have led to additional sickness absence, measures such as furlough, social distancing, shielding and working from home appear to have helped reduce other causes of absence.
Top 10 HR questions February 2021: Vaccination and IR35
Can employers insist their staff have a coronavirus vaccination? What is IR35? Last month's big HR questions answered by XpertHR...
Tube driver injured at work was unfairly dismissed
Lisa Stewart was accused by London Underground of dishonestly claiming she had been injured at work.
Who’s helping HR in the stress pandemic?
HR has been on the front line of helping employees to cope, but who looks after HR as the stress mounts?
Pay care workers in full when sick, urges union
Care workers are resorting to taking annual leave if they fall sick rather than be paid £96 a week statutory sick pay.
Covid tests save firms thousands of working days
Workplace Covid-test scheme garners encouraging results at John Lewis and Tata Steel.
Risk of hospital readmission high among discharged Covid-19 patients
People discharged from hospital following Covid-19 face a high risk of readmission and multiple organ dysfunction, according to research.
Almost...
Government could pay £500 to all employees testing positive
The government is considering a universal payment of £500 to everyone in England who tests positive for Covid-19 and needs...
January blues? How to help employees speak up
Blue Monday might be a myth, but that doesn't mean employees' mental wellbeing should go off the radar, particularly with the pandemic challenges organisations continue to face.
Three-quarters will take Covid vaccine, but reluctance highest among BAME and low income
More than three-quarters of people (76%) say they will agree to be vaccinated against Covid-19 when their turn comes, as...
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