Last week, the Employment Appeal Tribunal made a significant ruling about overtime and how it affects holiday pay.
In other news, banking is under review. And there’s news that stress is the main cause of absence at work - we look at how your business can support your staff and reduce time off.
Top news stories
Overtime should count in holiday pay
Workers have won a ground-breaking case at the Employment Appeal Tribunal. The ruling means some people working overtime could claim for additional holiday pay. (Read our update on how this could affect your business).
Small business lending up 55% to a record £1.25 billion
A surge in new lenders has led to small businesses receiving record levels of funding.
Inquiry into small business lending could lead to bank break-ups
The probe, which was first proposed in July, has now been confirmed by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Ofcom launches small business support
Small businesses can use a new online portal to access information and advice to help them make the most of communications services.
Stress and mental health issues are the main causes of absence
48% of businesses and employees say stress and mental ill health are the main cause of absence. It accounts for 41% of mid-term absences.
Key dates for your diary
No important dates this week.
Handling stress in your business
With stress being reported as the main cause of absence, what can you do to keep your teams and your business healthy?
Even with the best processes in place, there will be times that work will be stressful. But when that stress is constant or excessive, it can take its toll on people’s health. We look at some of the causes and how you can help to reduce it, making your workplace a better place.
What causes stress?
According to the HSE, the main causes of work related stress are:
Each of these can be addressed with the right approach.
How to spot if your team is stressed
There are a few common warning signs that may indicate that your team is under too much pressure. Look out for:
- Changes in temperament - this might be extreme reactions or emotional blankness
- Loss of motivation or confidence
- Poor memory
- Missing breaks or lunch
- Increased absenteeism and sickness
- More errors in their work
- Sending emails late at night or other signs of working at home
- Working late in the office on a regular basis
- An increase in number of complaints or grievances
Minimising stress in the workplace
You have a number of legal duties to minimise the amount of stress in the workplace:
- Under health and safety law, you have duties to assess and take measures to control risks from work-related stress
- Under common law, you have a duty to take reasonable care to protect your employees
So how can you help to minimise stress in the workplace:
1. Address the common causes of stress: look at the main causes detailed above and try to identify ways that you can address these. This may include more regular communications or changing management style.
2. Build a culture of openness: raising concerns about work related stress can be problematic for some people. They may worry that you will think they can’t do their job or they will be punished in some way. It’s important that your employees feel they can approach you if they need to, so try to build a culture where information is shared and solutions are found when issues are raised.
3. Give your staff the opportunity to talk: your managers should be giving staff regular opportunities to discuss work and raise any issues. It’s important that these things are handled sympathetically and your staff are supportive and listen to any issues raised.
4. Work together to find a solution: once the issue is understood, try to identify ways in which it can be addressed. There may be a number of solutions, so look for the one that works best for the employee and the business.
If you can do this, you should be able to reduce the amount of stress in the workplace, improving your employees’ health and minimising the amount of absence taken.