OHBM At The CIPD Conference, Manchester

Posted on by Allison Caine

At Occupational Health Business Management, we were proud to exhibit at the CIPD Conference in Manchester on the 5th and 6th November.

The conference was a real success and we met some very interesting people there. Take a look at some of the images of our stand below:

CIPD conference CIPD conference

Thank you to all who attended CIPD Manchester

We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who came to visit us at our stand, we’ll be seeing some of you again very soo. We’d also like to announce the winner of our prize draw.

Without further ado, let’s give a huge congratulations to…

Jessica Hannon, of Flint Bishop Solicitors

She has won an overnight stay at the Lakeside Hotel and Spa, on Lake Windermere, including a full English breakfast. Congratulations to her,  thank you to everyone who came to our stand and entered the draw.

Stay posted for information on our next conference.

 

 

What Is Sickness Absence Policy And How Can It Benefit Your Business?

Posted on by Allison Caine

Sickness absence policy

When you run a business you’ll know that from time to time you’ll have to deal with absent staff for one reason or another. When staff go off sick, you’ll need the right procedures in place to manage the gap in the workplace, and ensure employees are supported in their return to work. This forms your sickness absence policy.

Sickness costs the UK economy around £17 billion every year, when businesses have to hire temporary cover, when work falls behind schedule and when employee morale is damaged by the extra workload.

Your sickness absence policy needn’t be difficult to implement but in order to keep sickness and absence to a minimum and ensure business continues to operate effectively, there are essential steps to take.

These include:

Monitoring sickness absence levels

Your sickness absence policy needs to enable you to record and monitor the amount of workplace absenteeism in order for you to determine how much it is costing your business. Understanding which employees are taking time off and why can help you to find ways to boost employee health – physically and mentally – and reduce time off.

Make sickness absence policy clear to all staff

Employees need to understand the appropriate methods of informing senior staff of their sickness. For example, they may be required to personally phone in, as opposed to emailing or getting a friend or relative to do it on their behalf.

Return to work interviews and instances whereby number of periods of sickness trigger disciplinary action need to be made clear to staff.

Consider workplace health and well-being

In addition to helping staff return to work, your policy should delve into the reason why staff are taking time off sick. This might highlight ways you can reduce stress levels or encourage screen breaks to protect your employees and your business.

Employee absence has a damaging effect on profitability, morale and success. Proactive, effective management is essential to this. A good occupational health service can help you implement your sickness absence policy with ease and speed.

Talk to the team at OHBM about your sickness absence policy today.

Stress Management In The Workplace

Posted on by Allison Caine

40% of workers worry about declaring mental health problems due to fears it could impact their career – but mental health problems can be caused by workplace stress.

As an employer, how do you address the problem of stress management in the workplace before it causes issues such as absenteeism and loss of productivity, and costs your business cash?

Where mental health issues cause disability employers must take reasonable action to minimise stress on the workforce.

At OHBM our Stress Management Services help businesses identify potential areas of workplace stress, helping you to create a healthier, happy, more productive workforce.

Watch our video to find our more.

Employees Worry About Declaring Mental Health Problems At Work

Posted on by Allison Caine

Nearly half of employees experience mental health conditions but choose not to tell their employer according to a Friends Life survey.

Two thousand participants from across a variety of industries were surveyed, with 40% stating that they had experienced conditions such as stress, anxiety and depression. However they chose not to disclose the information due to concerns that it might impact upon their career prospects.

An “excessive workload” was the most common cause of stress, followed by “frustration with poor management and working hours” and notably, it was younger workers who are feeling the strain more than the older generation. Nearly two thirds of 18 to 24-year-olds said that they had been stressed, anxious or depressed within the last year, with the rate of incident decreasing gradually among older age groups.

Employees worrying about the impact of telling an employer about their mental health is understandable but it is important to know that a person may have legal protection if they are suffering mental health conditions at their workplace.

Under the Equality Act 2010 a mental illness can be classified as a disability if a person has a physical or mental impairment, and if the impairment has a substantial and long-term effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Conditions are deemed to be long term if they last for 12 months or longer.

In the event of a disability, employers are required to take reasonable action in order to support their work force. For example, changing shift patterns, working hours or adjusting other factors such as long distance travelling and computer usage can be implemented in order to support employees experiencing problems. If an employer is unreasonable or dismisses a person on the grounds of disability, then they could leave themselves open to a disability discrimination claim or unfair dismissal.

It is important that workers tell their employer if they are experiencing a mental health problem, as it will enable the opportunity for support and adjustments to be provided. In the long run this will increase productivity and lead to a happier, healthier workforce.

Meet OHBM At The CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition Stand 425

Posted on by Allison Caine

At OHBM we’re pleased to announce we’ll be exhibiting at the CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition. The event will take place on the 5th and 6th November 2014 at Manchester Central (formerly the GMEX). You’ll find us at stand 425 – and we’d love to meet you there.

If you’re developing a business, looking for ways to retain your talented workforce or get more of the right people on board, the CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition is a must-visit event.

Event details:

Manchester Central (formerly GMEX), Petersfield, Manchester, M2 3GX

Wednesday 5 November: 09:00 – 17:00
Thursday 6 November: 09:00 – 16:30

Book your place at this esteemed HR industry event here.

In addition to the chance to meet the OHBM team and find out more about enhancing your occupational health strategy to make your business more productive, you’ll be treated to a number of illuminating speakers, including.

  • Adam Grant, from Wharton School of Business, Professor, and Author, ‘Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success
  • Google’s Aimee O’Malley, Learning & Development Business Partner, Europe, Mid-East & Africa.
  • Alan Ovens, New Markets Director of CIPD
  • Amongst many others.

There will also be a series of seminars addressing key industry questions and issues, like “Creating Impact and Additional Revenue Through HR” and “Implementing Greater Performance Through Transformational Employee Engagement.”
It will certainly be a worthwhile day for developing businesses. We hope to see you there.

Is Your Business Doing Enough To Promote Screen Breaks?

Posted on by Allison Caine

Using screens in the workplace is associated with a wealth of problems, from neck, shoulder, arm and back pain to fatigue and eye strain. A high proportion of people who use display screen equipment in the workplace report aches, pains and general discomfort, and while the HSE says most of these conditions don’t indicate a serious problem, it makes sense to avoid them.

Employees who are taken care of and feel comfortable during the working day are much more likely to be productive. The key to working comfortably at a desk or in front of a screen lies in taking regular breaks, making staff change their posture rather than sitting in the same position day in day out.

A simple plan of action funded by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health could be an answer to this problem.

The industry body teamed up with Derby University academics to explore options that would encourage workers to take more breaks. They found that planning for breaks made the biggest change in screen workers’ behaviour.

During the study 195 people were split into groups. Group one was simply asked to take more breaks, group two told to draw up a plan for taking breaks, group three was given an hourly prompt from a buzzing device, while group four had a buzzer in addition to a formal break plan.

While the study found the buzzer didn’t increase break-taking by a significant amount, participants reported that the simple act of wearing the device encouraged them to get up more.

The key to enhanced break-taking seems to be the simple task of advanced planning. However, there were additional increases in taking postural breaks in offices where employees understood the benefits and were backed by senior management. There were also improvements when management made changes to the environment to support increased breaks.

If you like further information on break-taking and the benefits for screen workers, the OHBM team can help. Small changes to your workplace can lead to big improvements for your business.

Is Smartphone Use Causing Stress Within An “Always On” Culture?

Posted on by Allison Caine

Every year, 400,000 people in the UK claim work related stress is making them ill, according to Dr Alasdair Emslie, president of the Society of Occupational Medicine, as reported by the BBC. He says changes in technology are contributing to this stress. It’s not a surprise when you consider the “always-on” state many of us currently exist in, both in our work and personal lives.

Smartphones are a fantastic invention in many ways. They allow us to stay connected, do business from anywhere and everywhere and in theory increase our level of productivity. But is this “always connected” approach to business causing the work-life balance to go awry? Some experts think it is; that the increased demands of smartphone connectivity is making employees feel as though they’re unable to cope.

Increasing smartphone use

Ofcom reports that the amount of time we spend connected to media is rising. In fact, smartphones have caused our daily total media consumption to grow from 8 hours 48 minutes in 2010 to over 11 hours in 2014.

Many of us check our smartphones first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Three quarters of people are even reported to take their phones into the loo with them. Literally the only break from smartphones is sleep. Checking work emails and calls at all hours of the day isn’t giving employees the time and space they require to switch off, or spend time with their families or pursuing other interests.

Plus, according to a PwC report called The Future of Work – A Journey To 2022, we’re not working more productively even despite all of this extra data and connectivity.

The business consequences

If employees are expected to be constantly connected to their smartphones for work purposes, companies may well witness an increase in stress levels. Stress goes hand in hand with increased employee absenteeism, as well as unhealthy practices like drinking, smoking, and eating junk food.

On top of this, there is the problem of overworking. The European Working Time Directive caps the working week at 48 hours with an 11 hour break within every 24 hours. Employees won’t be operating under this legislation if they’re glued to their smartphones morning, noon and night.

Legislation and occupational health surrounding smartphone use is a serious issue for modern businesses – have you considered it carefully enough?

OHBM is a professional Manchester-based occupational health advisor. Please do get in touch with us for a free overview of your business’ occupational health.

 

A Professional Occupational Health Advisor For Manchester Businesses

Posted on by Allison Caine

If you’re concerned about the wellbeing of your staff but not sure how to implement an occupational health plan, rest assured at OHBM we offer a straightforward approach. Our occupational health advisors operate in the Manchester area and beyond, helping boost the productivity of your workforce.

It’s quite simple really, poor health and wellbeing amongst the workforce leads to staff that lack the motivation to do the job properly. They will have a lower level of output than happy, healthy staff and take more time off sick. Health problems like stress can cause severe issues in your business, and mental problems can lead to unhealthy practices such as binge drinking and overeating. Altogether, this can have a severe implications on your business’ bottom line.

At OHBM we make it our mission to help you tackle this problem. Our occupational health advisors have been operating in the field for many years, providing an expert approach to improving employee health and wellbeing.

We offer a variety of services, including:

  • Clear advice about how your business can work within government guidelines to improve employee health.
  • Ad-hoc information for senior management within office hours – just give us a call.
  • Stress management, sickness absence management, drug and alcohol screening and more.

Start the ball rolling today with a complimentary review of your workplace. Get in touch with an OBHM occupational health advisor here.

Are Your Employees Drinking Too Much Alcohol?

Posted on by Allison Caine

Alcohol is estimated to cause 3-5% of all absences from work; about 8 to 14 million lost working days in the UK each year. This comes at a cost of £7.3 billion per year to the UK economy and is the cause of 40% of accidents in the workplace.

The obvious causes of alcohol misuse is the hangover, whereby employees take sick days due to drinking too much the night before but there are also other implications to the workplace, as well as the lives of employees. For example, for 25 to 59 year olds, excessive drinking is the world’s primary risk factor for ill heath and premature death.

The problems lie in the fact that it isn’t always obvious when co-workers or staff are suffering due to alcohol misuse. There are actually more than 60 different medical conditions caused by alcohol misuse ranging from liver cirrhosis to throat cancer, as well as the problems associated with safety when employees in certain work environments turn in drunk or hungover.

What can your business do to help employees?

There is suggestion that the same approach used in GP’s surgeries and hospitals may also be effective in the workplace. This involves using a risk assessment sheet, on which employees answer a number of questions about their drinking habits. A five to ten minute session including feedback and advice on the assessment’s results is then given.

The evidence that making drinkers aware of health implications has positive effects is extensive and NICE recommends this approach to the medical environment. A number of organisations are now implementing this practice in the work environment to help lower individuals’ alcohol intake.

If you would like further advice and assistance on reducing the risk of alcohol on your workforce’s health and wellbeing speak to OHBM today.

OHBM: A Trusted Occupational Health Service In Manchester

Posted on by Allison Caine

At OHBM we understand that as a company your staff are your most important asset. That’s why it just makes sense to take good care of them and their health and wellbeing. We help business and other organisations in the Greater Manchester area to boost the health and wellbeing of their employees, largely by focusing on prevention rather than cure.

Healthy, valued employees are proven to achieve more and show a greater level of loyalty to your business – plus, they are easier to manage than those who feel taken advantage of or uncared for by your organisation. This all affects your bottom line.

A US study found that factors as common as being overweight can have a detrimental affect on your workforce. On average a normal-weight man will miss an average of 3 days a year due to illness or injury, while an overweight or obese man will miss around 5 days. Absences increase as employees gain more weight.

Another survey found that “77% of employees stated “health and wellness programs positively impact the culture at work.”

When employees are healthy and cared for, they are more motivated in the work environment and less likely to take time off due to physical and mental health issues.

If you’re currently considering whether you can afford to invest in occupational health services, we would ask you to consider whether you can afford not to. The cost savings through a positive attitude to workforce health can be extremely great.

For further information about how OHBM has helped businesses large and small, in the Manchester area and beyond, take a look at our testimonials. Or contact OHBM directly to discuss how we can help promote health and productivity within your workforce.