The State spends £13bn a year on health-related benefits, with the average Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimant costing £8,500 annually. That’s according to statistics published by The Work Foundation, which finds that each year approximately 330,000 people flow from work on to the main health-related benefit (ESA). Of those, around 140,000 claim benefits without even having a period of sick leave beforehand. Most notably, in a summary of ESA claimants by condition, The Work Foundation revealed that 48% had mental and behavioura... Continue reading

Businesses are being encouraged to retain, retrain and recruit older workers in new evidence published by the Department for Work and Pensions, Fuller Working Lives: a partnership approach. According to the report, which, it says, is written by businesses for businesses, an older workforce brings benefits for both employer and employee as well as the economy. Its argument for addressing the challenge to businesses of an older workforce is based on the following evidence: In 2010, one in four of the working age population were aged 50 years ... Continue reading

A new initiative from the European Commission will aim to better protect workers against work-related cancer, to help businesses, in particular SMEs and micro-enterprises, in their efforts to comply with the existing legislative framework, and to put a bigger focus on results and less on paperwork. Presenting the initiative in January, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen said: “Today we present a clear action plan for sound occupational safety and health at the workplace in the 21st ce... Continue reading

New guidance to help large businesses abide by new gender pay gap regulations has been published by ACAS and the Government Equalities Office. Coming into force in April, gender pay gap reporting is not the same as equal pay. Reporting legislation requires employers with 250 or more employees to publish statutory calculations every year showing how large the pay gap is between their male and female employees. For example, it may show that on average men earn 10% more pay per hour than women, that men earn 5% more in bonuses per year than wome... Continue reading

International Workplace has announced the addition of the NEBOSH National Certificate in the Management of Health and Well-being at Work to its established range of NEBOSH accredited courses, which will sit in a curriculum of over 100 courses and qualifications for workplace managers and employers. NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) was formed in 1979 as an awarding body with charitable status.  They offer a comprehensive range of globally-recognised, qualifications designed to meet the health, safety ... Continue reading