Falling unemployment for the third consecutive month and news that the number of young people claiming unemployment benefit is down for the fourth month in a row were given cautious welcome by Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper today, however she warned that it was crucial to continue investing to support jobs in the recovery.
New [...]

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has announced it is challenging employers to promote staff well-being through "good work".
It stated that workplace managers should not only prevent their employees from becoming ill, but should also actively promote positive health and well-being.
The comments come after the release of the TUC’s In Sickness and in Health? report, which [...]

Employees suffering from musculoskeletal disorders must receive more support from their employers, it has been urged.
Leading policymakers and employers have joined forces with the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance to ensure positive reinforcement is used to help such people retain their jobs.
Launching its new Charter for Work, the alliance has called for a greater commitment to [...]

The TUC has called on employers to work closely with unions to ensure that the Government’s soon to be introduced ‘fit notes’ work to the benefit of the thousands of workers in the UK who are made ill or injured every year as a result of their jobs.
The challenge to employers comes as the TUC [...]

People off work sick will get the support they need to get back to work earlier, as new guidance is launched this week.
The introduction of the fit note, in place of the traditional sick note, is set to cut the cost of sick leave for employers. It is expected to benefit the British economy by [...]

The new year may be a time of an absence management headache for many HR professionals – particularly with snow currently covering much of the country – and it has been revealed as the time when workers are most likely to call in sick.
According to the Institute of Payroll Professionals (IPP), in January 2008, 13 [...]

How pro-active management can reduce stress levels and sickness absence.
by Clive James, Training Development Manager, St John Ambulance.
The nation’s stress levels have continued to increase this year with the tough economic climate being a major factor. In Britain work-related stress, depression or anxiety already accounts for approximately 11.4 million reported lost working days per year [...]

The Government intends to launch a new ‘fit note’ next April. Replacing the current ‘sick note’ the new form will support employers to respond more flexibly to sickness absence and take a more positive role in the health of their workforce.
How the new fit note can help employers tackle sickness absence better and improve productivity
 
 
The [...]

Recent figures detailing the problem of stress in the workplace are just the "tip of the iceberg", according to one sector commentator – and could be causing major problems in terms of absence management.
Research by consultancy firm Mercer revealed that sick leave amongst women is 24 per cent higher than amongst men, while the rates [...]

More than a third of all workplace absenteeism in the UK occurs on a Monday, new research has revealed – which could present HR departments with an absence management dilemma.
The study by Mercer has revealed that the first day of the working week is the one most likely to see people phoning in sick.
Further findings [...]