Month: July 2021

LOOKING AFTER MENTAL HEALTH AT WORK

In the UK each year 1 to 4 people are affected with Mental health. With the country slowly easing its way back to some sort of normality, taking time to prioritise your mental health is as important as ever.

Work can make us feel good about ourselves and give us a sense of purpose, but for some it can also have a negative effect on mental health. To cope with the stresses of work and overcome what life can throw at us, it is important we stay on top of our mental health.

Five ways to boost your mental health at work:

TALK.

It is important to remember that you can talk about your feelings at work. This can help you maintain your mental health and deal with times when you feel stressed or troubled.

KEEP ACTIVE.

Taking regular exercise can really help boost your self-esteem, not to mention help you concentrate, sleep and feel better. Experts say that we should aim to do 30 minutes of exercise, 5 days a week.

EAT AND DRINK WELL.

What we eat and drink can affect how we feel both immediately and in the longer term. It is important to bear in mind that a good diet that benefits your physical health is also good for your mental health.

TAKE UP A HOBBY.

Enjoying yourself is an excellent way to combat stress. At work, you may have a hobby that you would like to share or join in with colleagues. For example, a work running club or crafting group can be a great way to share a skill with others and enjoy yourself.

MAINTAIN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS.

Maintaining relationships and collaborating in a supportive team is important for mental health at work. If working relationships break down it can lead to tension. Seeking out a friend or trusted work colleague with whom you can share your feelings can help you work through any challenges you experience in your workplace.

What are Agency Regulations  How Can They Help You?

All recruitment agencies must abide to two key regulations, these being the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and  Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003. The agency regulations were put in place to ensure the rights of agency workers and to prevent agencies from exploiting their workers in the jobs they carry out

 Important Agency Regulation – Candidates Cannot be Charged  

The following points are included in the Employment Agencies act but here is a summary of some of what these agency regulations are and how they help. As an agency it is illegal to charge job seekers for being a candidate.

 Important Agency Regulation – Written Contract 

When it comes to an agency hiring a worker, the worker must be provided with a Key Information Document. This document includes important details such as pay, holiday leave, legally required deductions (such as Statutory deductions (Tax and National insurance) and also whether they are under contract for services or a contract of employment. This is just a verification for the Agency and worker to make the engagement official and have all the important details noted on a Key Information Document which helps both parties.

Important Agency Regulation- Worker’s Suitability

Agencies are legally obligated to assess the suitability of a candidate for a particular job role. This benefits job seekers as agencies should never expect you to do a job that you are not suitable for.

Important Agency Regulation – Workers Must Be Paid 

The Agency shall pay the Agency worker for all hours worked regardless of whether the Agency has received payment from the client for those hours.