The HR Dept Weekly Roundup

The Top Consulting Workplaces for Wellbeing in the UK

The Great Place To Work Institute has once again rolled out its annual list of top UK workplaces for wellbeing, and it’s got 34 consultancies feeling pretty chuffed with themselves.

For over 40 years, the Great Place To Work Institute has been on a mission to ask employees the real questions: "Does your boss actually care about you?" and "How many free doughnuts do you get in a week?". Thousands of organisations throw their hats into this ring, all hoping their staff will spill the beans on what makes them great—or not so great—places to work. Read more here .

Pregnant Woman Called "Emotional" Wins Big in Constructive Dismissal Case

Meet Ms Hinds, the superhero mom who just won a constructive dismissal claim. Why? Because her manager, Mr. Kalley, thought it was a good idea to stereotype her as an "emotional pregnant woman" and skipped out on giving her a risk assessment before her return from maternity leave.

Hinds, who was managing the Sainsbury’s contract, got the cold shoulder from Kalley before and after her maternity leave. The tribunal found that Kalley was more interested in getting her out of the picture than offering any real support. Read the story here .

Is a Six-Day Working Week the Way Forward?

Greece has decided to spice things up by introducing a six-day working week for certain industries, aiming to give the economy a boost.

Kicking off in July, this new legislation means employees can now work up to 48 hours a week instead of the usual 40. It’s not mandatory and it only applies to 24-hour businesses. Those who opt-in get a sweet 40% extra pay for their overtime.

While the rest of Europe and the US are cozying up to four-day workweeks, claiming it makes people happier and more productive, Greece is taking a detour. Their logic? More work = more growth. What do you think? Read more here .

More than 1 Million Fit Notes for Mental Health Issued Last year – What Can HR Do To Help?

Last year, the NHS in the UK handed out over a million fit notes for mental and behavioural disorders, according to a new analysis by employment law firm GQ Littler. And here’s the kicker: 42% of these notes had employees signed off for a month or longer.

GQ Littler suggested several reasons for this surge in fit notes, including more PTSD diagnoses, better awareness of mental health issues, less stigma, and the lingering effects of Covid restrictions on mental well-being. Read more here .

How can your HR help? We can help you support employees who may be suffering with poor mental health. You might also want to think about the overall wellbeing of your workforce – a staff survey can give you some good insights into how people are feeling. Please get in touch for any advice and support!

Should Employers Pre-Share Interview Questions?

Knowing the questions beforehand can be a game-changer for neurodivergent job candidates, says Khadijah Pandor. Recently, the John Lewis Partnership shook things up by publishing their job interview questions online for all to see. Talk about transparency!

This bold move aims to boost the diversity and number of applicants for roles across the business. John Lewis is already famous for its people-first approach and its employee-owned structure. But this latest move is like adding a cherry on top of their inclusivity sundae.

The decision has sparked important discussions and shone a spotlight on innovative ways to attract diverse talent. Kudos to John Lewis for taking the anxiety out of interviews and making the job hunt a little less daunting! Should organisations follow in these footsteps? Read more here .

Thank you for reading this week’s edition of the HR Weekly Roundup. We hope you continue to gain valuable knowledge and resources from the HR world with us. If you ever need help with your HR headaches, give us a call on 01926 353131 or email us at [email protected] .