UK workforce sees 113% increase in stress-related leave over the past 2 years

In a poll of UK employees, 58% are feeling exhausted, not excited ahead of summer
Money or me time? When asked to choose between an additional day off every year, or £200 cash, majority saw more value in ‘me time’

Nottingham, UK, 12th April 2021: Data from absence management platform e-days, reveals that, when comparing pre-pandemic levels in March 2019 to March 2021, the number of stress sickness days recorded has increased by 113%.
Additionally, the average number of people taking stress-related leave has increased by 74% when comparing Q1 2021 to Q1 2019. The number of people taking stress-related leave in 2020 and 2021 has remained the same, but the increase in days taken demonstrates that stress is taking longer to recover from and must be taken more seriously by employers. This news comes at the start of National Stress Awareness Month when the country comes together to raise awareness of the modern stress epidemic.
In light of this concerning revelation, e-days polled UK employees and found that an additional 58% of the UK workforce is feeling exhausted rather than excited as the summer approaches. Additionally, when asked to choose between an additional day off every year, or £200 cash from their employer, almost two-thirds (62%) of the UK workforce opted for ‘me time’ over money. This response suggests an increasingly stressed workforce, and further reinforces the importance of suitable workplace wellbeing support. So, whilst usual financial incentives may not be a viable option at the moment, businesses should be tracking leave and absence among employees to encourage wellbeing and workplace satisfaction over the coming summer months.
Steve Arnold, founder of e-days, commented, “With the majority of the UK workforce feeling exhausted and needing time out as we approach what is hopefully the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s vital that employers recognise the importance of a well-supported workforce. No business can afford to ignore the doubling of stress-related leave in such a short period of time - this affects us all. However, financial incentive is not the be-all-and-end-all of workplace benefits: the key to a motivated workforce is an employer that understands just how much absence matters.”
END
About e-days:Founded by Steve Arnold and Chris Moseley, e-days is an award-winning, cloud-based absence management and intelligence platform that makes holiday and absence management easy and accurate for organisations of all sizes, anywhere in the world. e-days delivers for more than 1,500 customers across 120 countries, including brands such as Canon, ASOS, AXA, Monster Energy, Barclays and Sony.
The e-days mission is to provide organisations with key intelligence regarding staff absence - enabling them to build better staff management and wellbeing strategies. Absence intelligence allows businesses to achieve better resourcing insights, save time and money associated with employee absence, and promote excellent employee wellbeing and better health for organisational success.
Website: https://www.e-days.com Twitter: @edayssoftware
Press enquiriesFor all media requests, please contact Rachel Johnstone, rjohnstone@thecommsco.com // 0203 697 6680Source: RealWire

Stress in Legal Profession Misunderstood; Bellwether Research Paper Reveals

76% of respondents believe it is a major issueLondon, U.K., 17 April, 2019 – The latest Bellwether research paper titled, ‘Stress in the Legal Profession: Problematic or Inevitable’, published today by LexisNexis UK, a leading global provider of information and analytics; highlights that stress is an endemic issue in the legal profession with two thirds of respondents currently experiencing high levels of stress despite the confident ‘business as usual’ industry outlook. Almost 1 in 4 solicitors feel that more could be done to support them in the workplace although 4 in 5 report high levels of job satisfaction and 5 out of 10 consider they have a positive state of mind. Some 39% of respondents feel in control and 30% state that their stress levels are ‘average’, while 37% feel stressed by work and 66% of those experiencing stress cite high levels of it. 1 in 4 respondents noted that they experience extreme or very high levels of stress. 62% of those surveyed believe that small firms are better than larger firms at fostering an environment of support and culture of wellbeing with the greater likelihood of flexible working, better work/life balance and more agile working practices. 92% of respondents believed that small firms offered a range of benefits including: the ability to remain in control; agility; a common ethos; and better client experience.Jon Whittle, Market Development Director, LexisNexis UK said: “We found a robust, optimistic profession which continues to believe that hard work pays off in a bright successful future. Last year the Government positioned the law as a professional occupation with the highest levels of work-related stress, depression and anxiety which we believe is cause for concern. However, our respondents don’t agree on whether size of firm equates to stress levels. 55% of solicitors believe that enough is being done while 75% of our respondents feel that while stress is a major issue there is a sense of confusion and resignation in attitudes to it. It’s important to understand that while the future looks bright there are shadows at work.”To access the report please visit www.lexisnexis.co.uk/stress. -ENDS-Notes to editorsAbout the research‘The Bellwether Research Paper: Stress in the Legal Profession: Problematic or Inevitable’ was compiled using data from online surveys completed by 176 solicitors across England and Wales and supported by eight in-depth interviews with lawyers in small firms and small offices of larger firms. Respondents were from a wide geographical area and represented a broad sample of lawyers in a variety of positions in the firm and areas of expertise. The research fieldwork was conducted by an independent market research agency, Linda Jones & Associates, throughout November and December 2018.About LexisNexis Legal & ProfessionalLexisNexis Legal & Professional is a leading global provider of legal, regulatory and business information and analytics that help customers increase productivity, improve decision-making and outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis® and Nexis® services. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 130 countries with 10,000 employees worldwide, is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries.Media Contact:Vidushi PatelTagus PR+44 7958474632vidushi@taguspr.co.uk Source: RealWire

The rise of ‘drivetime dialogue’: families use car journeys to bond

Parents play an important role as ‘psycarlogist’ helping children find answers to difficult subjects. New ‘What Drives Britain’ research from Alphabet shows that parents spend over 5.5 hours per week on average with the kids in the carCar provides ideal environment for ‘drivetime dialogue’ with kids about issues they’re facing, from worries about school work to body image and mental health Travel time also allows kids’ minds to wander and ask imponderables such as: ‘Why haven’t I got a tail?’ and ‘Are trees waterproof?’ Farnborough, UK – 18 October 2019 – Parents spend on average over 5.5 hours per week in the car with their children, and a quarter of parents spend 10 hours or more in the car with their kids, according to new research by Alphabet (GB) Limited, a global provider of Business Mobility. Car journeys provide a unique space for conversation, away from the distractions of home or school. Parents are using this ‘drivetime dialogue’ to discuss issues affecting their children, from the serious to the strange. Alphabet’s research shows the dialogue focuses on three core issues: Social - School and social life are the most frequent topics of conversation. Parents cover issues around schoolwork and performance and children’s social well-being, with questions about how to handle friendships and bullying Self-esteem - Physical well-being and body image were also a huge topic of conversation for parents and kids. Subjects like exercise, diet and self-confidence were most common, with issues around body image such as appearance, weight, make-up and clothing tackled by nearly a third of all parents Emotional - A quarter of parents have addressed online health concerns, talking with kids about the time they spend on phones, tablets and computers and the content they access there, as well as mental health issues around anxiety, stress and depression Talking about these issues can result in some tricky questions from children too. The ones parents found toughest were ‘Where do babies come from?’ (25%) and a range of sex education questions (17%). But no matter the subject, parents took them on:59% of parents aimed to tackle the question there and then, no matter what the topic 25% of parents thought the best option was to acknowledge the question but find a better time to talk about it laterA few questions proved tricky enough for a few parents (8%) to agree to talk later, but secretly hope the question was forgotten about altogether Dr Richard Woolfson, child psychologist, said of the research: “Family life rarely allows time for open and uninterrupted dialogue between parents and children. So time in the car can be a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the communication channels between parent and child, to build trust and strengthen the emotional bond. But, as the survey shows, children can ask about anything at all, and answering those questions can be very difficult when you’re driving.” To encourage and handle conversations with children, Dr Woolfson recommends: Show your interest - Get children talking by starting off with day to day topics, for instance about school, or friends, or leisure activities. Open questions such as ‘What made you laugh today?’ encourage conversation Reacting to tricky questions - It’s the unexpected questions – about sex, bullying, death – that can knock you for six. Avoid reacting in a way which might make your child feel embarrassed or silly for voicing their ideas. Tell your child you’re glad they have shared their thoughts with you and offer helpful advice if you canProviding appropriate answers - If you can, give an immediate answer, though pitch your words at the right level for your child’s age and understanding. Resist any temptation to duck the question by telling your child to wait until they are older, however, kids are very good at knowing when they’re not getting the full picture If you need more time - If you need time to gather your thoughts because the topic is highly sensitive, simply tell your child ‘That’s an excellent question. Let’s talk about it later tonight when we have more time and I can give you my full attention.’ Then set a few minutes aside that evening for you and your child to have that private chat togetherSimon Carr, Chief Commercial Officer for Alphabet (GB) Limited, comments: “Our ‘What Moves Britain’ report has already shown how important the car remains to work life in the UK. The company car is more than just a ‘perk’ or status symbol, for many Brits it is essential to our jobs. This latest research shows how essential these cars and the journeys we make in them can be to family life too. We know how important safety aspects are to parents and families when choosing their next car but how many of us consider the quality of the time we have together in that vehicle? Parents spend lots of time with kids in the car on school runs, driving them on the weekends and entertaining them over half term. With fewer distractions than home, it’s a great place to get kids talking about questions they have or issues affecting them.” Finally, the research also highlighted some of the more unusual questions that occur while in the car, including: Why haven’t I got a tail? Are trees waterproof? What are those two dogs doing in the park? Why turn left when the satnav said right? EndsResearch was conducted by Walnut Unlimited, using a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults aged 18 and over.About Alphabet (GB) LimitedAlphabet is Europe’s leading provider of Business Mobility services. Helping organisations to meet their changing business travel requirements and enabling their employees to keep moving efficiently and effectively. Innovative mobility products, like the Corporate CarSharing solution AlphaCity, are changing the way UK businesses finance, manage and use company cars. Another pioneering service, AlphaElectric, enables organisations and employees to switch on to the benefits of low and zero emission vehicles.Alphabet’s portfolio of Mobility services comprises a comprehensive suite of vehicle funding solutions and fleet management including: strategic consultancy, corporate and employee car schemes, commercial vehicles, risk management, vehicle rental, accident management, fleet management and maintenance.Supporting brands such as Panasonic, Lyreco, Grundfos Pumps and McDonald’s Restaurants, Alphabet manages a fleet of over 138,000 vehicles in the UK and more than 700,000 vehicles across 28 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.alphabet.co.uk Contact:Unlimited GroupUnlimited House10 Great Pulteney StreetLondonW1F 9NBT: +44 020 7349 4000E: AlphabetPR@UnlimitedGroup.com Source: RealWire

Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation launches new Mental Health Fund for Young People via The Good Exchange

Newbury, 6th February 2020 – Not-for-profit, charity-owned cloud platform The Good Exchange has today announced that Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation is launching a new dedicated fund in support of local mental health initiatives for children and young people through the platform.
The Foundation’s new Bedfordshire Mental Health Fund for Young People officially opens today and will run for one year with a dual aim of distributing grants between £1,000 and £5,000 to local charitable organisations and growing the fund through collaboration with funders, local businesses and individuals who want to work together and give money to support this worthwhile cause.
According to analysis by the University of Bedfordshire (commissioned by the Foundation), there are an estimated 660 boys and 360 girls aged 5-10 years and 815 boys and 550 girls between the ages of 11-15 with a mental health problem in Bedford Borough. In addition, it has been estimated that one in 10 young people in Luton are likely to have a diagnosable mental health condition (LBC 2015).
Organisations from Bedford and Central Bedfordshire involved in delivering mental health education, promotion and development, including therapy and counselling sessions, are encouraged to submit their applications for funding via the Foundation’s Funder Page on The Good Exchange platform.
Dipak Mistry, Grants Manager, Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation commented: “We’re fully committed to supporting mental health solutions in our local area. Through our new Mental Health Fund for Young People, we hope to be able to support a range of different initiatives, but we really need other grant-giving organisations and individuals throughout the county to join with us to support this hugely worthwhile cause. All local groups who’d benefit from financial support – covering the costs of providing treatments and therapy sessions to general day-to-day overheads and equipment costs should apply via The Good Exchange. We’ve been very impressed by the platform’s single online application form, which significantly streamlines the grant-application process for all concerned.”
Ed Gairdner, COO of The Good Exchange added: “We’re looking forward to working with the Foundation to build a collaborative network of funders to address the complex needs of children and young people with mental health challenges across Bedfordshire through the new Fund for young people.”
Gairdner added: “With mental health conditions particularly challenging for those in their formative years, we look forward to seeing the impact the Fund will have on local initiatives involved in tackling these complex problems at a local grassroots level.”
About the Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation (BLCF) is one of the leading local grantmakers in the county, distributing nearly £9 million pounds locally since our inception and establishing a national reputation for our innovative, community-focussed and strategic approach.
Our aim is to be a catalyst for positive social change in the county by connecting people, ideas, resources and needs to make a lasting difference. We strongly believe that there should be opportunity for all and the lives of the most disadvantaged should be transformed through innovative, community-based solutions.
We are passionate about improving the lives of people in Bedfordshire and Luton and we're known for our ground-breaking initiatives, for our investment in supporting local charities and for our deep relationships with grassroots groups in our area.
www.blcf.org.uk
About The Good ExchangeThe Good Exchange is a transformational, charity-owned, not-for-profit cloud platform specifically designed to match those organisations and individuals who have money to give to good causes with those who need it most; on a local, regional and national basis. As the only platform to bring together grant-making, donations, charitable projects and fundraising in one place, the automated matching system with its simple single on-line application form will revolutionise charitable giving, making it more accessible, transparent and collaborative. For the first time, those seeking to raise money for local good causes will be able to access all sources of funding including charitable trusts, corporate givers, fundraisers and public through a single process.
https://thegoodexchange.com
Media contactsCharlotte Martin/Ella Pryor The Good Exchange team at Finn PartnersTheGoodExchange@finnpartners.com 020 3217 7060

Source: RealWire

Tech Charity Bytes For Heroes Launches #lunchbytes To Feed A Million NHS Keyworkers Across The UK

New Charity initiative Bytes for Heroes asks the tech industry to “do lunch” together virtually every Wednesday to raise funds
London, 12th May 2020 - Today, recently launched UK technology led charity initiative Bytes for Heroes has announced #lunchbytes, a new fundraising campaign bringing working from home and other working separately tech team members for lunch every week.
The Bytes for Heroes team will be kicking this off tomorrow (Wednesday, 13th May) at 1300h by having lunch together on a video call, donating to the funding page and posting the screengrab of their lunch on social media. This will become a regular thing similar to the Thursday night “Clapping for the NHS”.
Teams are invited to do lunch as a Byte (Eight diners), a Nibble (Four diners) or two bits (Two diners), but other numbers are also welcomed of course. #lunchbytes is not only raising money, but helping to reduce isolation and improve mental wellbeing within tech teams encouraging them to stay in touch socially as well as for work.
Peter Rossi, Founder of Bytes for Heroes said, “As tech teams are working remotely, we thought we'd encourage reconnecting as a team for a great cause - our NHS keyworkers. Not just reconnecting for meetings on Teams or Zoom, but to actually break bread together and share lunch. Send a screenshot of the group, post it on social as a #lunchbytes lunch and make a donation. It is as simple as that."
Donations for #lunchbytes: Just decide on the size of your #lunchbytes team from #fullbyte (£40 for up to eight diners) #nibble (£20 for up to four diners) #2bits (£10 for two diners) and go to the Bytes for Heroes GoFundMe page.
Bytes for Heroes is looking for donations from local and national tech firms across the UK to donate by supporting #lunchbytes or by straight donations to fund supporting local caterers and the keyworkers at hospitals across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Donations can be across the UK or specific to local hospitals close to company offices or which have a particular importance. It is also on the lookout for more caterers across the region to work with us to ensure this can see us through the next few and undoubtedly challenging weeks.
#lunchbytes #TogetherWeAreStronger
For more information on getting involved, please visit www.bytesforheroes.com.
- Ends -
ABOUT BYTES FOR HEROESBytes for Heroes is a charity initiative launched in April 2020 with a mission to engage the tech community in feeding over 1,000,000 national heroes focused on NHS and other healthcare workers.
Bytes for Heroes is the brainchild of Peter Rossi, co-founder of InfoSaaS, and it connects tech companies that want to have a direct impact on the front line with catering companies, ready to serve hearty meals to NHS heroes at their local hospitals. Bytes for Heroes was inspired by a project at Bristol Southmead hospital in partnership with The Jolly Hog Group handing out over hot meals to front line staff which was running out of funding.
It is bringing together two completely different industries; catering companies, that have the capability to provide food to our hard working NHS workers but are unable to due to lack of funding and technology companies, that want to help the NHS in a direct and tangible way, but don’t have an outlet to do so.
UK technology companies and individuals and teams in tech donate to Bytes for Heroes who will manage the logistics of getting Britain’s over-worked heroes fed.
For more information on getting involved, please visit www.bytesforheroes.com.
Get social with Bytes for HeroesHashtag: #lunchbytesTwitter: @bytesforheroesLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/bytesforheroesFacebook: facebook.com/bytesforheroesInstagram: @bytesforheroes
Media contact: Rose RossHead of PR Liaison07976 154 597press@bytesforheroes.com
Source: RealWire

Berkshire Youth partners with Greenham Trust to support young people through lockdown

19th May 2020 – Berkshire Youth and funding partner Greenham Trust have partnered to launch a youth support hub to assist young people, families and agencies through the COVID-19 lockdown. The West Berkshire Youth Hub will be a virtual and telephone-based support platform with resources and opportunities designed around connecting, listening to and providing solutions for young people as they grapple with the impact of the pandemic.
Whilst the young are least susceptible to COVID-19, concerns are rapidly growing around youth mental health, compounded by the lack of social engagement, the closing down of sports and social activities and the impact on their education and employment opportunities. In a UCL study, the young reported the lowest levels of wellbeing and life satisfaction in lockdown, whilst almost 30 per cent have thought about death recently. UK Youth and the National Youth Agency have also voiced concerns that young people have not been identified as a specific group in need of support at this time.
Funded by Greenham Trust and established by Berkshire Youth, the West Berkshire Youth Hub online and telephone-based support service will be staffed from 9am to 5pm with access to out of hours support. Young people will be encouraged to get in touch, and will be informed about local activities, such as local youth groups sports clubs, drama, art groups and activity sessions that have gone online but may not be known to all. They will also be linked with appropriate, relevant and safe networks for the foreseeable future through lockdown and as restrictions are lifted.
While this service will not replace any other emergency service or out of hours team, where appropriate, young people will also be able to be referred to one of Berkshire Youth’s youth workers and other specialist agencies for specific support, while any request of need identified for this level of intervention will be referred or reported to appropriate safeguarding teams.
The service will be piloted in West Berkshire with a goal of rolling it out across the county in June. Greenham Trust also plans to use its network, history and experience of running charitable funding campaigns in the local area to engage with other charities across the UK, aiming to develop a national network of services and resources for young people impacted by the lockdown.
“At times like this we need to remember to look after the most vulnerable, but in the meantime we must not forget the young people and children that are part of our community and families. The old saying that it takes a village to raise a child is so true, but we have removed the village and taken away that choice”, commented David Seward, CEO of Berkshire Youth. “We need to find ways to encourage young people to still get together (virtually), to get good safe advice and support, to have fun, laugh and joke. For too long the voice of young people has been unheard, so let’s share what resources we know about, and find support and kindness where we can. Our youth hub is not the solution for good quality face to face youth work, but is a collaboration of resources to get as close as we can.”
“At a time when young people are experiencing unprecedented upheaval, anxiety and loss, many youth workers have been furloughed, whilst traditional youth projects are unable to continue within social distancing guidelines,” said Chris Boulton, CEO of Greenham Trust. “We want to encourage organisations not to forget about the resources required to cultivate the mental health and wellbeing of young people. Our support for Berkshire Youth will not only provide funds towards running the Youth Hub, we are also pleased to be providing access to a wider network of funders and other key contacts across the local area, in order to reach as many young people as possible.”
Find out more about the West Berkshire Youth Hub here https://wbyh.co.uk
Donate to West Berkshire Youth’s Coronavirus fundraising appeal on The Good Exchange here: https://app.thegoodexchange.com/project/18148/berkshire-youth/west-berkshire-youth-hub-sharing-resources-supporting-young-people-through-the-covid-19-pandemic
About Greenham Trust Greenham Trust Ltd was founded in 1997 to purchase the former Greenham Common Airbase, and to create and manage the new 150-acre Greenham Business Park. The Trust’s principal objective is to use income from commercial property to provide charitable funding for the benefit of the local communities in West Berkshire and North Hampshire. Since its inception, the Trust has supported over 1,000 local organisations, donating over £58 million over the last 20 years. Groups seeking funding can apply online at The Good Exchange: www.thegoodexchange.com.
www.greenhamtrust.com
About Berkshire YouthBerkshire Youth has been serving the young people of Berkshire, delivering excellent and efficient youth support services for over 75 years. Berkshire Youth supports clubs and groups in providing safe environments in which young people can explore new ideas, activities and opportunities. We do this by building on local agendas, responding to the needs of young people and local communities, offering support to local partners and direct provision as appropriate. We are proud of our track record and committed to building on it over the coming years to support young people make successful transitions to adulthood.
Here are five tips from Berkshire Youth on how to help young people through this period of uncertainty:

Despite being locked down, advocate for young people to have the courage to try and learn new things. The fear of stepping out of one’s comfort zone may seem quite daunting, but with the right help and guidance to just try something once is the start to a changing mindset and improving mental health.
Encourage them to fill a jar with all the things they want to do. As restrictions ease, they can work their way through them. It’s a good way to capture life and look forward to hope at the moment.
Try to help them keep a routine. Get up, washed, change out of pyjamas and carry out different tasks each day with goals and achievements. This could be small like school/college work, sorting the garden, helpful contribution to your household and others in it. At the minimum, try to have a structured sleeping pattern.
Young people’s views are more important than ever, but they are only known if shared. We need to show that it’s OK to not be OK – asking for help is not a weakness, it’s a strength. Encourage them to speak to friends, family or a youth worker whatever they may be feeling.
Find ways to encourage young people to still get together (safely, virtually), to still have fun, laugh and joke with people their own age.

https://www.berkshireyouth.co.uk/ https://wbyh.co.uk Source: RealWire

Free Online Coaching Cards from Making Business Matter, Managers are Still Telling and Need to Coach

Google created Project Oxygen. Its purpose was to identify what would make managers better at what they do. After trawling over 10,000 documents, such as appraisals, they concluded with two startling facts:
The skill that would help managers most – Coaching.The skill that managers lacked most – Coaching.
We all intuitively know that telling does not help our people to do things by themselves. We didn’t need google to tell us. Yet, we still tell. Why? Because it’s easy. Then we moan that we are busy because all our staff come to us and can’t seem to do anything for themselves.
What’s the answer?
Use a tool that will prompt us. Our Coaching cards have been designed by a leading coach, tested and refined. There are 5 packs to choose from:

GROW model coaching cards.
Leadership coaching cards.
Mental health coaching cards.
Time Management coaching cards.
Category Management coaching cards.

Each deck is available in the printed version and an on-line cut-down free version.
As an example; The Grow model coaching cards are just under 100 cards. Following John Whitmore’s famous G.R.O.W. coaching model, split into 4 sections, prompting the coach to ask the right questions of their coachee. Whereas the Category Management coaching cards follow our unique 7-Layer Funnel, which is taught in our Category Management training course.
Plus, each printed deck has a bonus taking the coach to a wealth of extensive additional resources to help them to become the best coach that they can be.
About us:MBM is the soft skills training provider to leading UK Manufacturing and Retailing companies partnering with them to increase their sales and profits. They choose them because of our money-back guarantee, our relevant experience, and that we make their learning stick.
https://www.makingbusinessmatter.co.uk
Links:On ‘Category Management training’ to: https://www.makingbusinessmatter.co.uk/training/category-management-training/
Resources:

Buy coaching cards: https://www.makingbusinessmatter.co.uk/shop/
Use the free online tools: https://www.makingbusinessmatter.co.uk/coaching-cards-online-free-tool/
Google’s Project Oxygen: https://www.impraise.com/blog/project-oxygen-8-ways-google-resuscitated-management

Source: RealWire