Long Covid could have a big impact for employers for many months to come. It is a relatively new illness that is not yet fully understood and may keep employees from returning to work for indeterminate amounts of time. It is the mortality rate that has grabbed headlines, with Covid-19’s biggest effects seen among older […]

68% of SME business leaders say they have witnessed an increase in mental health issues reported since the pandemic began. That’s according to a new report from HR firm Breathe, which surveyed 429 SME cross-sector decision makers were surveyed with questions around current and planned policy to tackle the surge in mental health problems. Key […]

Nicola Davidson has been a PA at Brewin Dolphin for the past seven years, supporting the head of Change & Transformation and the head of Data and Analytics – And we’re delighted to introduce her as the PA Life Club’s Guest Editor for April! Her working career started 20+ years ago as an office junior, […]

A workforce fatigued by restrictions and safety concerns is emerging with a more optimistic and hopeful outlook for the year ahead, according to Randstad’s latest survey of over 27,000 workers in 34 countries. Research revealed that there is a clear desire for employees to return to the workplace – but not without having the vaccine […]

With Covid restrictions constantly changing and evolving worldwide, many employees taking business trips to other countries, or already working abroad, have found that they are suddenly either banned from returning to their home country or not allowed to leave the country they have visited. Employers must ensure they are able to support employees who are […]

At some point over the next few months, employers will be able to reopen offices and welcome back employees. But while some individuals will be chomping at the bit and desperate for face to face contact with long-lost colleagues, others will understandably need to be coaxed back. The office space will take on a new […]

A new study commissioned by an intelligent learning platform has revealed that almost a third (32%) of British employees will not return to the office if they are asked to wear a mask, and a tenth (11%) will refuse if they are required to be vaccinated. In contrast, adequate space and protective additions to an […]

By Aleksandra Traczyk, Solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood Not long into the start of the pandemic gender equality commentators warned about the potential disproportionate impact on women. One year on, we now have statistics to back them up. The report published by the Women and Equalities Committee on 9 February and data from the Office for National Statistics published […]

Personal protective equipment (PPE) has become an essential part of the workplace for many businesses. It provides support for staff and customers, along with social distancing and other COVID-secure utilities, to ensure that everyone is safe during the pandemic. Wearing face masks is an important issue for many during the pandemic. The World Health Organisation […]

33% of organisations globally are reshaping their workforces since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic began. In addition, two thirds of organisations have a “future of work” taskforce, yet just one third has defined what the future means for them. Aon’s sixth Global COVID-19 HR Pulse Survey, conducted in December 2020, garnered respondents from over 1,400 organisations […]

Today is International Women’s Day – a time to celebrate the achievements of women across the world, as well as raising awareness of the ongoing fight for equality. It’s incredibly encouraging that this event has grown so significantly over the past few years, from being a niche, annual ‘nod’ to women, to something that is […]

Schools may be going back and the UK may be bracing itself for the easing of Covid restrictions by 21 June, but the long tail of Covid is still causing the majority of business owners concern. New research from Hitachi Capital Business Finance reveals that 44% of UK small businesses are still concerned about the […]

There’s plenty of information out there at the moment about looking after our mental health in lockdown and trying to maintain a normal and healthy lifestyle, but what about after lockdown? Back to work anxiety was bad enough for some of us on Sunday nights after a weekend of leisure time and lie ins. But […]

When the Coronavirus Pandemic hit the UK in March 2020, overnight business saw dramatic changes and part of these changes were the need for employees to work from home if they could. For some employees working from home was a new concept, as they would not have worked from home previously, for other employees they […]

One in five employees say they are struggling to cope with Covid-19 restrictions and a quarter believe that their mental health has deteriorated due to the pandemic, according to new research amongst 1,216 employees on behalf of Group Risk Development (GRiD). The research, undertaken during January 2021, showed that 76% of employees, to the best of […]

As businesses prepare to return to working in large scale offices and face-to-face meetings they need to fully consider the health and safety of their workforce. It is more important than ever to have a responsible testing procedure in place to predict and respond immediately to the changing landscape. Simon Checkley, CEO of The Regenerative […]

Half of working adults believe the pandemic has damaged their career prospects, according to a study. A poll of 2,000 employed or recently unemployed adults found almost one in 10 believe the industry or sector in which they work has become unstable following the events of the past 12 months. Others have had their pay […]

By Liz Taylor, CEO of event planners the Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC) and hospitality consultant In normal circumstances, planning corporate events is one of the more rewarding aspects of a PA’s role, but not so in 2020/2021. With ever-changing COVID-19-restrictions, keeping across the red tape and regulations has been no mean feat and on top […]