As the school holidays approach, working parents cross their fingers that their childcare plans hold. In this article I look at what employers need to consider when it comes to flexibility for working parents.
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OctSCE Solicitors Welcomes you to our new Well-Being Room
This year on Mental Health Awareness Day (10 October19), we marked the occasion by launching our new Wellbeing Room. The purpose of this room is to provide a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the working day. The room is painted in pastel colours and features candles and reed diffusers for visitors and colleagues to relax with aromatherapy. There are also soft furnishings to wind down on whilst listening to soothing music. Or alternatively, games and jigsaws are available to provide mental stimulus.
This room is not just of use to SCE employees but open to businesses in the local area. Please contact us if you would like to use this facility.
Launch Day
We had day packed with talks from a variety of speakers:
- Barbara Nixon – Leadership Coach: Building Confidence
- Javed Bobat of ‘F=@#! Mental Health CIC’: Implementing well-being policies
- Sam Leigh of ‘Sleigh Services Ltd’: Mental Health First Aid
- Samira Cakali of ‘SCE Solicitors’: The legal implications of dealing with employees with poor mental health
- Hannah Dudley of W Fitness: Exercise and well-being
- Marianne Smith of ‘Doo Marketing’: Marketing to build a better team
- Charli Brunning of Leeds Mind
We also held a raffle and raised a grand total of £346 for Leeds Mind! All raffle prize winners have now been contacted.
Thank you to all our guest speakers and everyone who visited us during the day.
We will be continuing our fundraising for Leeds Mind so keep an eye out in our newsletters and across our social media to see how you can get involved.
Tips to Manage Employees Mental Health in the Workplace
Below are our six top tips to help you effectively manage and support workplace mental wellbeing.
Encourage people to talk
Increase awareness among employees of mental health and aim to create an open environment where your employees feel they are able to talk about their wellbeing.
Make it an organisational priority
Don’t just flirt around the issue of mental health as staff must believe that you’re taking the issue seriously. If there isn’t an overall acceptance from the top-down that mental health needs to be tackled, then any initiatives will simply fall flat.
Promote a ‘stress-less’ environment
Recognise that stress can bring on mental health issues and so ensure this is dealt with by championing a calm and positive working environment. As part of this, endorse a good work-life balance in which long hours and ‘out of office’ emails are discouraged. You must also make staff feel appreciated and recognised for the effort they put in and ensure that your leadership culture is one of mentorship, advocacy and empowerment rather than control and power.
Provide mental health training
Train your leadership team on how to approach employees if they think they may be struggling with mental health issues. You should also provide guidance on how they can manage staff who may be absent due to mental health problems.
Communicate which mental health services are available
Make sure that there is clear communication about which mental health services are available to employees, so they know how they can seek help. Also ensure there are options for employees to seek help anonymously.
Reasonable adjustments
You should be prepared to make reasonable adjustments as mental health issues can amount to a disability in the eyes of the law. Reasonable adjustments can help the employee cope at work, such as extra rest breaks or daily help with assessing work priories.
If you need help and advice regarding mental health in the workplace, please do not hesitate to contact the employment team on 0113 350 4030 or at hello@scesolicitors.co.uk. If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter please subscribe here.
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OctStress At Work
In this article, we will look at what amounts to stress at work, how stress shows in an employee, why employers should take steps to prevent stress and what can be done to help prevent stress.
Read More4
OctThe 4 Day Working Week
The talk of a 4 day working week has been on the cards for many years. With work life balance being top of the agenda as well as good mental health, the possibility maybe sooner than you think.
Read More27
SepRestrictive Covenants and Garden Leave
If you are an employee you may or may not be aware of a common clause within employment contracts titled ‘Restrictive Covenants.’ Many employees sign employment contracts without fully understanding what this means.
Read More20
SepSCE Solicitors are Fundraising for Leeds Mind!
SCE Solicitors are proud to announce our new collaboration with Leeds Mind. This is an exciting time for us, and we would like to get our clients and local businesses involved as much as possible.
We are looking for raffle prizes and donations for our first fundraiser so if you can help in any way, please get in touch with Jennifer at Jennifer.Hoult@scesolicitors.co.uk
Read More13
SepWhat Are The Statutory Sick Pay Guidelines?
Statutory sick pay (‘SSP’) is a universal payment all employers must pay, should their employees be signed off from work due to sickness. Some companies offer contractual sick pay – i.e. full pay for a period however more companies rely on government SSP guidelines.
If SSP applies, then the first question to be asked is – does the employee earn more than the lower earnings limit? The current rate for 2019 – 2020 is £118 per week. If the employee earns less than this then the employee would need to claim sick pay from the job centre. There is a SSP1 form online for the employer to complete. The employer does not pay anything during this period (unless contractual sick pay is available).
Read More6
SepUnderstanding A Fit Note
What Is A Fit Note?
A fit note is a statement of fitness for work. It is given by a GP or hospital doctor stating that the employee is unfit for work or if temporary workplace adjustments are needed.
A fit note will give details of the illness and recommended dates of how long to remain off work.
It is important to note that the sick dates are guidance, this does not necessarily mean that the employee needs to wait until the expiry date to return back to work. Medical experts suggest employees should be able to return back to work when they are ready as it may help with their recovery period.
Read More30
AugShareholder Disputes
Shareholder disputes can be extremely disruptive to the running of the business. A shareholder is vital for the making of important decisions, in the event a dispute arises, strategic business decisions cannot be implemented until the dispute has resolved.
Read More23
AugWhat You Need To Know About Settlement Agreements
Settlement Agreement
Settlement agreements are legally binding contracts that are used to end an employment relationship between the employer and employee. They came into effect in 2013 and they are used to stop individuals bringing a claim to a court or an employment tribunal.
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AugCan The Cost Of An Employment Tribunal Damage Your Business?
If an employer is unsuccessful at an employment tribunal, the amount they must pay-out can be very large and have a significant impact on the business. The compensation paid to the claimant can run into millions of pounds and for a lot of cases there is no limit.
Read More