The Meetings Industry Association has responded to the Government’s recent statement regarding the extension of the furlough scheme. Chief executive Jane Longhurst offered: “The mia welcomes today’s announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the Government’s furlough scheme will be extended until the end of October.  “Having highlighted the particular plight of our sector, we […]

Employee experience platform Perkbox has announced the results of its free Connectivity bundle, which was launched early April 2020 to support its small business customers during the Coronavirus crisis. The Connectivity bundle gives Perkbox SME customers free access to Perkbox Insights, Perkbox Recognition and Culture Hub until the end of 2020. Since its launch, just […]

Almost two-thirds of workers (64%) have evaluated their environmental impact during the coronavirus pandemic, and the majority (53%) are seeking permanent changes to their working week once lockdown restrictions ease, according to a new survey. The new research from Hitachi Capital UK has established the enforced lockdown for many Brits has altered their outlook for the long […]

A study of 1,000 UK adults found four in 10 admitted the coronavirus outbreak has been a ‘wake-up call’ – leaving them to ponder their employment prospects. With 28 per cent of those polled currently furloughed, a further 47 per cent of employed adults fear they could yet find themselves in the same boat. While […]

For business leaders, decision-making during this time feels like a roll of the dice and the idea of workforce planning is seen as an impossible dream. But, could it be part of the answer for businesses to emerge healthier and more balanced into the future right now?  With this question in mind, Matthew Dickason, Global […]

The British Safety Council has responded to the Government’s latest guidance on measures to limit the spread of coronavirus following the Prime Minister’s address to the nation on Sunday evening. The 60-page document sets out the UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy. The document includes setting out a new ‘more differentiated approach to risk’ and advises […]

by Kate Palmer, Associate Director of Advisory at Peninsula Earlier this week, the UK Government released a roadmap for easing lockdown provisions in England, including instructing workers to go back to work if they cannot feasibly work from home and their workplace is open. It’s important to note, that this does not mean that everything […]

Whilst economic uncertainty has fuelled the growth of the flexible office sector in recent times, the ramifications of a pandemic may have created a whole new dimension to approaching the rental of an office. In addition to financial and flexibility considerations, many organisations may also now focus on other factors including hygiene and disaster recovery […]

Half of employees in the UK are ready to return to work post-lockdown, assuming their employer has the right safety process in place, according to a survey of 2,000 workers by the global legal business, DWF. A further quarter of workers say they may be ready to go back to work, although 18% believe it is […]

Communicating in front of a screen has become a daily norm, as the Covid-19 pandemic is forcing many of us online. We tend to assume that work and productivity stops when workers take time to relax when working from home, or at their desk. However those who are able to take micro-breaks and relax are […]

The CHS Group is putting its support behind a number of initiatives that are raising the profile of the £70 billion UK events industry. The announcement follows a number of high-profile campaigns that have been launched in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for the industry to push its case in front […]

Just under half of PA Life’s readers are feeling ‘okay’ during the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Our survey asked about the strain the current situation is putting on readers’ mental health and wellbeing. Some 49% said they felt okay, with one EA revealing: “I actually feel more relaxed, as I’m not getting the […]

UK businesses are so far delivering on employee engagement in the current coronavirus pandemic, according to new research from idea management firm Wazoku. 86% of respondents say their organisation has provided enough technical information for them to work from home effectively, 70% say their employer has taken steps to ensure their mental health and well-being is […]

by Kate Palmer, Associate Director of Advisory at Peninsula In normal circumstances, staff refusing to come into work could potentially be treated as misconduct, provided they have no valid reason for doing so. However, the upcoming post-lockdown weeks are set to be far from normal. For many, the prospect of returning to work with the […]

Join us on Wednesday April 13th at 11am when Aimee Browne – aka The Mindful Assistant – will be hosting an exclusive wellness and wellbeing webinar for PA Life. Entitled How To Take The Positives From Covid-19, the session will include: – Inner learnings from taking your foot off the gas– Reassessing what you want from […]

Weeks of lockdown have failed to make a dent in employee engagement, with many employers reporting that engagement levels have gone up since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to research from employment specialists XpertHR. A survey of 264 HR professionals conducted over a 24-hour period to April 30th found that: • One in […]

by Alan Price HR expert and CEO at BrightHR With Friday being a bank holiday, and staff across the UK being furloughed, employers may be wondering how furlough interacts with annual leave such as public holidays. The first thing they should remember is that furloughed employees can take annual leave. However, they need to be […]

Employers that fail to keep records of the safety procedures they have evaluated and implemented when workplaces are permitted to re-open following the COVID-19 lockdown, could be leaving themselves open to legal risks, says RPC, the City-headquartered law firm. RPC highlights the importance of comprehensive return to work planning. Employers should look to do all […]