Mental health
Around three in every ten employees will experience stress, depression or some other form of mental health issue in any one year. Stress is cited as the biggest cause of long-term sickness absence among non-manual employees, with mental ill health...
Migrant workers
It is a criminal offence to employ someone who does not have permission to live and work in the UK. Employers may offer employment to Commonwealth Citizens and Foreign Nationals without a permanent right of residence (‘indefinite leave to en...
New and expectant mothers
In the UK, employment legislation provides new and expectant mothers with special rights and protection, including the right to: • take time off for antenatal care; • maternity leave and pay; • return to work to the same job (or an...
Noise at work
Employers have a duty to eliminate exposure to noise of their employees and others affected – ideally by combating the noise at source. The UK’s Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 identify levels at which various actions need to...
Occupational health
In 1950 the Joint ILO (International Labour Organisation) / WHO (World Health Organisation) issued the first definition of occupational health, which was updated in 1995 to these three objectives: 1. The maintenance and promotion of workers&rsquo...
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is defined as ‘all equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work which protects him against one or more risks to his healt...