The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a report that shows the stark reality of the cost of mental illness on businesses. The study estimates that 12 billion working days – equivalent to 50 million years – will be lost between now and 2030. The WHO has also found that failing to effectively treat mental disorders such as depression and…
read moreNew research shows that the UK is missing out on up to £170bn worth of economic benefits by not having enough females in employment. PwC’s annual Women in Work Index shows that the UK could boost its GDP by 9% (£170 billion) if it could increase the number of women in work to match that of Sweden, the highest performing…
read moreSince 1911 when the first International Women’s Day was held, women all around the world have both celebrated their economic, political and social achievements and campaigned for parity. Now, more than 100 years on and as we prepare to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March – what exactly has changed and what is the psychology of the female worker…
read moreHappy workers are productive workers. A vital element of a well-performing workplace is a positive atmosphere. Staff who feel valued, give more – simples! Ensuring a motivated and positive environment is challenging because the modern office is made up of a diverse array of personality types, a rich mixture of cultures and genders, complicated by hierarchies, work politics and rules. It comes from the top. If those…
read moreFrance is set to give workers the ‘right to disconnect’ from work emails outside of their contracted hours in a bid to ease pressure and offer a better work-life balance. Workers will be able to ignore telephone calls and emails from their bosses during evenings and weekends in an attempt to help them have more of a social life outside…
read moreQatar Airways will introduce two additional frequencies between Doha and Manchester from 2nd May 2016, providing customers with even more convenient connections when transferring onto services to Asia, Australia and beyond via Doha’s state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport. The additional flights will be operated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, one of the most modern aircraft in the skies. The new inbound QR21…
read moreOver 1,000 more hotel rooms are expected to be built in Belfast before 2018, as demand to visit the city outstrips current supply. The Northern Ireland Hotels Federation is predicting an additional 1,074 hotel rooms are due to be built over the next three years. Visitors to Belfast can also expect to see a boom in premium accommodation, as…
read moreThe UK’s poor productivity figures are a real challenge for companies, with business leaders worrying that the festive season will bring a further slump to output. The UK is lagging behind In comparison to other major global players, with Japan the only G7 country performing worse than the UK last year in terms of output per hour worked. However, by…
read moreAs employees’ thoughts turn to the Christmas season and a gradual wind-down towards the end of 2015, many are also gearing up for a brand new working year starting 4 January 2016 and thinking about what they want employers to provide beyond salaries and bonuses. According to independent research amongst UK employees undertaken by specialist recruitment firm Robert Half, there…
read moreLondon’s economy generates around 30% of the UK’s GDP, making it one of the pre-eminent financial centres of the world, vying with New York City as the most important location for international finance. With this in mind, here’s PA Life’s October round-up of 6 of London’s best venues for those all important work meetings: Hush Tucked away in a hidden courtyard…
read moreWhether passing through an airport for business or pleasure, you are being taken for a ride financially. Airport retailers have recently come under fire after it emerged that they are pocketing millions in VAT discounts on duty free items by making passengers show their boarding passes at the checkout for scanning before paying for their purchases – without passing…
read moreWe all know friends or colleagues who have exaggerated cold and flu symptoms to get a day off work. But it appears when it comes to pulling off a convincingly believable sickie; women have been found to be far more convincing than men. A survey carried out by Kaloba Syrup of 10,000 adults, found that one in 10 have been…
read moreThe demand for higher-level skills in British industry is set to grow in the years ahead, with sectors central to future growth, including manufacturing and construction, particularly hard-pressed. That?s according to this year?s CBI/Pearson Education and Skills survey published today. The survey of 310 companies, which together employ over one million people, underlines the skills challenge facing the UK.…
read moreOne of the first workplace casualties of a recession is often the staff incentive scheme. But, says incentives expert the Grass Roots Group, companies are now realising that cancelling rewards and bonus programmes to save money is a false economy. It’s a temptation for companies to see an incentive scheme as a luxury, something that could be easily shed as…
read moreAccording to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, 2013 saw the most sustained and severe decrease in wages since World War II. With experts reporting that the UK’s economy is beginning to improve, now is the time to ask for a pay rise. Here are some points to keep in mind to ensure your request is heard and hopefully…
read moreI like to get out and about, as regular readers of this blog will know, but usually I confine my travels to zones 1-6 of the TFL network. Last week, however, I was invited by the lovely people at Malaysia Airlines to jet off to Kuala Lumpur with a select group of other lucky PAs. We were fortunate enough to…
read moreThe downturn in the UK’s economy over the past few years has led to companies shedding staff, with the knock-on effect that PAs have had to assume new duties and chief among these is corporate event planning. In fact, an overwhelming 96% of office professionals now have responsibility for planning their companies’ functions, according to a survey by Late Night…
read moreAre you a lifelong, dyed-in-the-wool, career PA? Then it’s time to get the recognition you deserve this year at the Office show, which will reward the dedication of the nation’s longest-serving PA. To mark this year’s National PA Day celebrations on 8 October at the Office show, a search for Britain’s veteran PAs has been launched. The winner will be…
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