Supporting graduates entering the workplace

Student Minds is the UK’s student mental health charity. In 2017 a report was commissioned and presented. It identified that the last 30 years has seen dramatic changes in that in 1989 only 19% of school leavers went into university education and by 2014/15 the Higher Education participation rate was 48% (Dept of Business 2015).

The majority of mental health problems develop before the age of 24 and in recent years there has been much concern about university student’s mental health with high prevalence of mental health difficulties and increased demand for university counselling services. Therefore, it follows that employers should consider how they support young adults transitioning from university into the workplace and give opportunity to build a more resilient workforce for the future.

Presented in the report were four key findings that stood out following the large survey of recent graduates. These were that, universities could do more to prepare student for the transition out of university, that graduate schemes are associated with a better graduate experience, that getting the transition into the workplace right improves subsequent mental wellbeing and reduces stress and that work culture relates to graduate confidence in disclosing mental health difficulties.

studentminds.org.uk

Click here to find out more.

Employers advised they must tackle the neglected issue of domestic abuse

Two women each week and one man each month are killed in England and Wales by a current or former partner.

Given that an estimated 1.9 million adults aged 16 to 59 experienced domestic abuse in the last year it is recognised that not only is there a business case for addressing domestic abuse but that employers have a collective and important societal role to play in helping to address and react to this issue. Furthermore, employers owe a duty of care to employees and have a legal responsibility to provide a safe working environment.

Figures estimate that the costs are around £1.9 billion due to decreased productivity, absence from work, lost wages and sick pay. In view of this Business in the Community (BITC) and Public Health England have together created a toolkit to help employers recognise the signs of domestic abuse.

Click here to see the stats.

Work-related stress, depression or anxiety statistics

• 585,000 workers suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2017/18 - Labour Force Survey (LFS).
• 15.4million working days lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2017/18 (LFS).
• Stress, depression and anxiety accounted for 44% if all work-related ill health cases and 57% of all working days lost due to ill health.
• By occupation, healthcare workers, teaching professionals and public service professionals showed higher levels of stress compared to all jobs.
• The main factors cited as causing work-related stress, depression or anxiety were workload pressures including tight deadlines, too much responsibility and lack of managerial support.

The HSE has developed an online version of its stress indicator tool for use with the Management Standards on work-related stress. It features 35 questions on the six standards. The tool is designed to automatically generate a report highlighting areas for management action and can be customised to include corporate logos and statements. Prices start at £200 for small firms, and rise to £7,700 for employers with more than 5,000 employees.

Click here to view the full report.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease includes the life-long conditions of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease (but not Irritable Bowel Syndrome). These conditions can flare-up unpredictably but also settle into periods with few or no symptoms at all. Most people with IBD are of working age when they are diagnosed. Many people with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis want to and are able to work successfully and fulfil their potential but they are likely to be concerned about their job and their employment prospects. Several studies have shown that people with IBD give high priority to maintaining their attendance and performance at work.

This information sheet is intended to help employers and managers understand what it means to have IBD. It also considers the legislation relevant for managing people with such long-term health conditions.

Health and Safety

Platform lifts: HSE safety alert issued

HSE has issued a safety alert about platform lifts after a number of incidents involving tampering with safety devices or inappropriate maintenance.

Combined with deterioration of the doors and their hinges, landing doors have opened when the platform/lift car is not at that landing. This has resulted in people potentially accessing the lift well when the lifting platform was not at the same floor level/landing. It has led to members of the public or workers falling down the open lift well or becoming trapped beneath a descending platform.

Click here to read the full safety report.

Visit the HSE website to download Thorough examination and testing of lifts: Simple guidance for lift owners, their free leaflet for those responsible for the safe operation of lifts used at work.

HSE “Go Home Healthy” Campaign

Read the latest campaign news and download new tools to help you prevent and manage work-related stress, occupational lung disease and musculoskeletal disorders in your organisation.

Click here to visit the HSE website for more information.

This email has been sent to you by Maitland Medical  /  Click here to unsubscribe

Company Registration No: 4317901
Registered Address: Maitland Medical Services Limited, 16-19 Copperfields, Spital Street, Dartford, Kent DA1 2DE