Even before Coronavirus flipped most working models on their head - from office-based to home-based/remote - for the majority of knowledge workers at least, there has been an increasing trend for work-from-home (WFH) and work-from-anywhere (WFA) offerings as employers look to increase their appeal to the global talent pool.
As things begin to return to ‘normal’ across the globe, an enormous appetite for at least some flexibility on how much time employees spend working from the office every week remains.
Though on a small-scale basis this may not have provided too much of an issue, en masse it can become a big compliance headache if not managed effectively.
So just what are these compliance challenges, and what can L&D do to ensure that not only are remote workers kept safe, but that the business complies with relevant regulations too?
A wider view of employee wellbeing
Let’s start with a few statistics. The charity Versus Arthritis recently conducted a survey of people working remotely and found that 81% of respondents were experiencing some back, neck or shoulder pain, while 48% were less physically active than they were before lockdown. Another study, by the Health Foundation, discovered that more than two-thirds of adults in the UK feel somewhat or very worried about the effects that Covid-19 is having on their lives. A further survey undertaken by the RSA reported that from over 1,100 workers’ responses, four in 10 had worked within 10 days of a positive Covid-19 test result, while over 10% said they’d been ordered on-site when they could have worked easily and safely from home.
I’ve brought these statistics together because they touch on the physical, mental, occupational and social pressures being exerted on people during this extraordinary chapter – and suggest the need to look at employee wellbeing holistically. The pandemic’s effects have reached into all areas of our lives, not least our work situations. There’s surely never been a period of such flux in modern times, featuring so many changes to the fabric of the work environment including the shift to remote working, the need for altered workplaces when that’s not possible, as well as the furlough scheme. So there are naturally many tests and tasks to overcome on the road ahead.
For many employers, there is no choice but to have staff physically at work rather than working from home. In some instances, it can be a significant proportion of the workforce. From construction and manufacturing to transport, logistics and food production – there are a variety of sectors having to make significant steps to stay on top of the workplace Covid-19 risk. The good news is that there is practical help available.
- Topic:
- Construction
Since December 2014 restaurants, and other foodservice businesses, have been required by law to provide information on 14 allergens that appear in ingredients used in the dishes they serve.
- Topic:
- Hospitality
Whilst the onset of increased homeworking was undoubtedly a novelty for many, almost six months down the line the benefits are rapidly being overshadowed by the growing health and safety concerns.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has this week announced their concerns that businesses could be facing financial disaster if they don’t properly plan and manage for their staff being eased back into the physical workplace.
RoSPA’s occupation safety and health policy adviser, Dr Karen McDonnell, warned that rushed, inappropriate or ill-thought-out return to work actions could be the downfall of many organisations.
As the world of warehousing, e-commerce and fulfilment continues to grow – from the likes of the US giants to the familiar doorstep deliveries such as Ocado – more of the UK workforce are involved than ever.
These large distribution sites can be overlooked due to their locations, and their 24/7/365 packing and distribution services are taken for granted by 87% of us who buy goods online.
As the sector grows, and with increased media focus and scrutiny, what are some of the issues?
Will the new ISO 45001 standard improve health and safety?
Organisations have until March 2021 to migrate to the new standard, which is raising questions from organisations about what this means for them and what benefits it will bring.
Here’s exactly how ISO 45001 will improve health and safety in all businesses.
A highly engaged and motivated workforce is an outcome that every organisation across industry, size and location endeavours to achieve. There has been considerable research around the benefits of achieving this, and the positive impact it has on business performance. The nurturing of employee wellbeing is now central to achieving positive business outcomes.
In the current landscape, organisations aspiring to stay ahead of the curve should be offering a wellbeing strategy which encompasses much more than physical health.
Forward thinking organisations, therefore, have now introduced independent wellbeing strategies which include the strands of physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Becoming much clearer on the business benefits of wellbeing strategies and also seeing the value it can add from a competition point of view, organisations are now more willing than ever to make investments in this space.
- Topic:
- Human Resources
Fire safety in construction is an ongoing topic of concern, especially since the Grenfell Tower disaster on 14th June 2017.
Grenfell has been heralded as one of the UK’s worst modern disasters and the devastating chain of events involved has led to calls for change across the industry and for legislation governing high rise buildings.
The responsibility of leading this investigation fell to Dame Judith Hackitt, who since releasing her findings has worked tirelessly to be as vocal and open about the findings as possible, including being involved in a number of public webinars and events to shine a spotlight on the issues at hand.
I was fortunate enough to sit in on one of these webinars and have summed up the 40-minute briefing here. It specifically focuses on building regulations and fire safety in high rise buildings in the aftermath of the Grenfell tower disaster.
- Topic:
- Construction
