A £4.2m challenge fund to support people with mental health or musculoskeletal conditions to stay in work has been launched by the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Sarah Newton, and the Minister for Mental Health and Inequalities, Jackie Doyle-Price. The fund is the latest in a range of government measures that are part of a ten-year strategy that aims to see one million more disabled people in work by 2027. The challenge fund, run by Rocket Science on behalf of the government, is aimed at testing new approaches to help people ... Continue reading

Business in the Community and PHE have published a domestic abuse toolkit that will help raise awareness of the issue with employers and provide guidance on how they can support those affected by it. With one third of a working adult’s life spent in work, employers are in a unique position to create a supportive workplace culture that encourages the identification of health and wellbeing needs and to help break the silence around this issue. This toolkit has been developed in consultation with employers to help them spot the signs and sympt... Continue reading

The government has clarified building regulations fire safety guidance, following recommendations made by Dame Judith Hackitt, and is seeking views on the revisions in a consultation launched on 19 July. The Secretary of State for Communities, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, has also said he will go further by conducting a full-scale review of the guidelines, known as ‘Approved Document B’, commencing in the autumn. The technical review will assess, amongst other things, whether the underlying policy should be updated to reflect modern build... Continue reading

Greener UK, the coalition of major environmental organisations working on Brexit, is warning against the potentially harmful impact of a ‘chaotic no deal’ on the environment. In a paper considering the possible effects of no deal on different areas of the environment, Greener UK argues that a no-deal Brexit is likely to have a damaging impact on areas from climate to chemicals. There are significant fears of harm to nature, animal welfare, human wellbeing and accountability.   In the agriculture sector, Greener UK projects that a no dea... Continue reading

The Court of Appeal has handed down its decision in the case of Mencap v. Tomlinson-Blake, which considered whether ‘sleep-ins’ – where employees are required to sleep at work – should be considered working time. The claimant was arguing that it was entitled to backdated pay for sleep-ins. The Court found in favour of Mencap, that it is only time spent awake and working which is counted as working time during a ‘sleep-in’ and carers are therefore not entitled to the National Minimum Wage.  In his written judgement, Lord Justice U... Continue reading