A survey conducted by Center Parcs Conferences & Events has revealed that 15% of workers spend no time outside in a nature-like environment during the working week, with 51% of respondents stating that they only spend time outside during lunch or as part of their commute. Significantly, 89% of workers indicated that they would like […]
It’s a common occurrence in most offices – somebody opens a bag of crisps knowing they can’t finish it on their own so they offer the team a handful. According to Metro.co.uk, you should think twice before shoving your hand in that packet or sharing snacks of your own. Metro asked Hygienist Dr Lisa Ackerley […]
You and your colleagues probably believe you’re clean and conscious of germs, yet every cough and cold spreads like wildfire. Microsoft Office resource provider Hloom recently conducted research that shows even the tidiest workplace is a veritable smorgasbord of office germs, with some surfaces containing more bacteria than a toilet seat. To discover which surfaces […]
Being at work while you are ill may not be such a bad thing after all, suggests a new report on so-called ‘presenteeism’ by the Institute for Employment Studies (IES). The report challenges the idea that workers have to be 100% fit before going back to work and argues that the workplace can have a […]
Google employees recently conducted a secret experiment at the tech giant’s New York office to find out if the proximity of treats to a drink station had any effect on their colleagues’ snacking habits. They found that people were more likely to pick up a snack if it was close to where they made their […]
Current regulations say employers can require staff to fill out a sickness self-certification form for absences of up to seven days. In a bid to open appointments for more urgent matters, the British Medical Association (BMA) is calling for that period to be extended to 14 days. Dr Richard Vautrey, Chairman of the BMA’s General […]
Trying to learn a new skill? Taking a training course with an exam at the end? Experts say delaying exercising after learning can actually help you retain information. Researchers studied 72 healthy volunteers, who each spent 40 minutes learning the location of 90 objects on a screen. One group immediately went into a 35-minute workout […]
Research by the University of Ohio shows women who work more than 40 hours a week in overtime are at greater risk of serious illnesses, such as heart disease and cancer. The study, which analysed data collected over a 32-year period, revealed that women who worked more than 60 hours a week in overtime for […]
Men’s Health Week has returned (13-19 June) and this year aims to lessen the stigma surrounding stress and mental health in general among men. Both practice and research confirm that men are less likely to admit to feeling stressed or engage in talk therapies for mental health Research has shown that there are typically far […]
UK employers are overlooking staff financial wellbeing, according to the latest Close Brothers Asset Management Business Barometer. The research, which comes from a survey of almost 900 employers across the UK, found that just under half (48%) do not have a staff wellbeing strategy in place at all. Just 35% have one in place already, […]
Employers are now expected to have a greater impact on their staff’s health and wellbeing. Research shows that the design of our environment influences our behaviours, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the General Services Administration (GSA) in America have developed a certification called Fitwel to encourage healthier workplaces. The CDC […]
People often talk about the back-to-work blues following a long weekend, but according to a recent survey 71% of employees are satisfied with their wellbeing at work. The 2016 Edenred-Ipsos Barometer shows that an average of seven out of 10 employees worldwide are happy at work, with the UK sitting right on that number. The […]
A famous line from Game of Thrones goes “Winter is coming”, but some office workers are more worried about the onset of summer. Hot weather outside means arctic temperatures inside thanks to the UK’s dependency on office air conditioning once the mercury passes 18 degrees. With rumours circulating that this could be the hottest summer […]
MetLife UK is expanding its commitment to wellness at work by signing up with Global Corporate Challenge (GCC), which works with businesses worldwide to improve the health and performance of employees. It is joining GCC 2016, which has worked with more than 5,500 organisations across 185 countries and has helped more than two million employees […]
Employees’ individual experience of fairness at work can have an impact on their health, according to a new study conducted in conjunction with the University of East Anglia. The research, done in partnership with Stockholm University, looked at whether perceptions of ‘procedural justice’, such as processes for rewards, pay, promotion and assignments, are related to […]
In the digital age, it’s easy to become the kind of person who never truly switches off. Being called a ‘workaholic’ is no longer an insult for those who think their overzealous dedication their job translates to ultimate success. Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Rebecca Knight finds out from the experts how we can […]
The majority of UK office workers have admitted practising a string of unhealthy workplace habits despite knowing they contribute to health problems such as backache, neck pain and eye strain. New research commissioned by leading office ergonomics expert Fellowes has found that 94% of employees sit for long periods of time without moving around, 86% […]
Around one in five employees find home life more stressful than their work life, highlighting the need for employers to take account of the impact of domestic issues on work performance, new research from MetLife Employee Benefits shows. MetLife’s study of the impact of rising stress levels on employees shows that 19% of employees are […]
