Feature Articles

In the short, grey days of winter, it is important to remember that psychological factors can be as damaging as physical health and safety problems in the workplace. However, their effects can be assessed and controlled in the usual way, reports Jon Herbert.

Following employers in the city of New York being legally prevented from racially discriminating against employees due to their natural hair or certain hairstyles, UK employers may be questioning whether “hair discrimination” is occurring under their workplace dress codes.

Vaping has dramatically risen in popularity in recent years, and is increasingly seen as a viable aid to quitting cigarette smoking. Consequently, employers need to ensure they set out clear policies in order to deal with e-cigarettes in the workplace, particularly since official health advice now unequivocally states that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking. Vicky Powell examines the work-related health implications of these trends.

In this feature, Thoreya Swage, healthcare consultant, highlights the key points affecting primary care in the NHS Long-term Plan.

In April, new employment laws will force organisations to change how they work. There will be hikes in the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW), bigger pension contributions and a major overhaul to payslips. Listed below are the legal changes businesses need to know about, with advice on how to prepare for the upcoming changes. For professional advice on dealing with any HR or payroll matters, speak to a qualified consultant on our helpline on 0844 561 8149.

From 6 April 2019, the legal right to receive an itemised payslip will be extended to all workers, not just employees. The new right applies to payslips covering pay periods which begin on or after 6 April 2019. Furthermore, additional information must be shown on a payslip for workers whose pay varies depending on the number of hours that have been worked. Paul Tew, small business consultant and freelance advisor, looks at what employers need to do to plan for achieving compliance with these new statutory requirements.

According to NHS Digital, one in six people have been reported to have experienced a common mental health problem in any given week in the UK. On 7 February 2019, the UK acknowledges Time to Talk Day (TTTD) — a campaign created by the UK mental health charity, Time to Change.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has been in existence for over 50 years. There have been calls for change from various bodies, including the Patient Association. A new set of PHSO values has been formulated, new clinical standards published in August 2018 and a 2018/21 strategy defining the PHSO’s vision of being a model service. This is seen as one able to evolve and learn from best practice and improve organisational performance over ensuing years. While the PHSO Service Charter advises that the majority of people who go to the PHSO experience good service, there are instances where this is not the case and it recognises more needs to be done to address this. As an organisation, PHSO acknowledges achieving change will take time, but is aiming for demonstrable progress as soon as possible. Deborah Bellamy investigates.

Subscribers have asked us for more information on specific risk assessments, the cornerstone of health and safety management. Beverly Coleman advises on how to conduct assessments for how many defibrillators you might need, thermal comfort and mental ill health.

The early days of winter embrace Christmas and New Year, when people are generally happy and looking forward to celebrations. But in January on return to work, the mood changes. Life seems flat and the holidays months away. Harsh weather makes journeys to work unpleasant — and not surprisingly it is a time when illness peaks. Bob Patchett looks at how to manage winter problems in the workplace and beat the January blues.