Forward to a colleague View as a webpage Add us to your white list Quick Links »   Planning for the Olympics   Surveys   Managing stress   Health and safety   XpertHR US   Blogs Planning for the Olympic Games Employers' plans for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics: XpertHR survey Employers that believe the Olympics will affect their business have put plans in place to minimise disruption, focusing primarily on flexible working arrangements. Good practice: Attendance management During events such as the Olympic or Paralympic Games, employers may experience higher levels of absence than usual. This good practice guide outlines the steps that can be taken to minimise such fluctuations. Olympics: employer guidance We have gathered together information from XpertHR to help employers deal with any issues that may arise from the Olympic or Paralympic Games, including Olympic volunteers, Sunday working, flexible working arrangements, unauthorised absence and travel disruption. Opting out of Sunday working during the Olympics: what employers need to know The Government has confirmed the lifting of the restrictions on Sunday opening hours for large shops during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Although it is a temporary move, employers still need to plan ahead and consider what they should do if their staff wish to opt out of Sunday working. Volunteering: policy on staff volunteering for the Olympic Games This entry from the XpertHR policies and documents section provides a model policy on staff volunteering for the Olympic Games, along with comment on relevant employment law. Top Take part in our research Absence and labour turnover rates Take part in our confidential ongoing research into absence and labour turnover rates to ensure you receive the most up-to-date figures. Completing it will also mean you get a complimentary copy of the findings from last year. Absence records, triggers and targets Absence records, triggers and targets can be valuable tools in reducing levels of staff absence. Our research will identify best practice in the area of absence management and assess the effectiveness of various policies in order to assist HR practitioners. Health benefits Taking part in XpertHR's survey of health benefits will ensure you receive a free copy of our research findings into such issues as: the different types of private healthcare schemes that employers offer; how schemes are changing and responding to financial and other challenges; the costs involved; and the benefits to employers and employees. Top Managing stress Good practice guide on stress management The latest addition to the XpertHR good practice manual guides employers on what they can do to deter stress and, where employees experience stress, rehabilitate them. A simplified approach to workplace stress management Reducing stress levels within an organisation can be achieved by adopting simple techniques such as engaging all levels of the workforce to make them feel more valued, says Carole Spiers, the author of a new book on stress management. Economic conditions affecting workplace stress, says research The stresses of the economic downturn and job and pay insecurity are creating a growing climate of "desk rage", according to a survey by health insurer PruHealth and wellness programme provider Vitality. Top Health and safety round-up › Changing attitudes to mental health › Figures reveal improvement in UK sickness absence levels › NHS lowers risk of hospital-associated infections › Employers to play crucial role in success of fit note, says EEF › Olympic construction project praised for safety measures › Unions hit out at plans to cut health and safety Regulations › More occupational health articles › Employee wellbeing: five key pitfalls for employers to avoid Top Launch of XpertHR US XpertHR launches US website XpertHR has expanded its unique online service to the US. XpertHR US boasts reliable and up-to-date resources, including: a legal timetable; employment law manual; interactive workflow charts; model policies and documents; "how to" guides; supervisor briefings; and much more. Top From our blogs Private school dismissed teacher days after she announced pregnancy A round-up of links to news items on employment tribunal rulings in the week beginning 4 June 2012, including a tribunal finding that a private school dismissed a teacher after she became pregnant because it did not want to "waste" money on maternity pay. European Championships 2012: 10 football-related employment law cases With the Euro 2012 football tournament under way, we round up some cases from the world of football that feature employment law. ILO: "devastating consequences" of austerity and labour market reforms Many countries (the UK included) are engaged in pursuing a combination of extensive economic austerity measures and "tough" labour market reforms with the aim of enabling economic recovery, but these policies are having "devastating consequences" on many economies around the world, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Is the coalition Government waging a "war on how we work"? The coalition Government is proposing widespread change to the employment law system, ostensibly as part of its strategy to boost growth, but its approach to employment law reform could also be viewed as a "war on how we work", argues Sunday Telegraph business editor Kamal Ahmed. Top Editor's message MANAGING OLYMPICS-RELATED ABSENCE Flexibility has emerged as the key to minimising disruption to business during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to the 185 respondents to our latest research. While our respondents fear an increase in absenteeism during this time, they believe that a flexible approach to accepting late requests for time off, and changing start and finish times, will minimise unauthorised or illegitimate sickness absence. We include a wide range of guidance for employers to ensure they are equipped to deal with all the challenges that the Olympic and Paralympic games might present. Elsewhere, we offer guidance on managing stress in the workplace. Noelle Murphy Attendance and absence editor, XpertHR XpertHR Weekly podcast: Discrimination and employment tribunal recommendations XpertHR calendar Keep up to date with all the major events and dates with our HR calendar. Find the right place to advertise your job vacancy. Research and compare job sites and the regional, trade and national press. Save time and money on recruitment advertising. XpertHR Benchmarking Benchmark your employment practices, policies and performance. XpertHR Liveflo Guides you step by step through procedures to comply with the law, with an interactive flowchart setting out the steps in each process. MyWorkSearch Online outplacement services, providing everything for career transition, including assistance and training in CV writing, a vacancy search facility and interview coaching. 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