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Silver Level - Theme 5: External Risks to Health
Silver Level - Theme 5: External Risks to Health
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Financial Health
What you need to do
Provide and display information about personal finance, budgeting, and debt management including details of local support and advice services.
Why this is important for you
Evidence suggests lost productivity and reduced performance costs money, and therefore creating a culture where it’s ok to seek support and signposting access to good information and advice about finance management can be enough to make a significant difference, helping create a happy and productive workforce.
How you can achieve this
Make sure that employees are aware of what they can do to look after their financial health by providing information in the forms of leaflets/booklets, posters or intranet pages. Ensure that any information you share with staff is from a reputable source, such as one of the organisations included in the Thrive at Work toolkit.
How you can show you have achieved this
- Examples of guidance given to staff about financial health.
- Examples of accessible information made available such as leaflets,
signposting via intranet pages etc. - Verbal discussions with staff.
Toolkit - National Resources
Gamcare provide resources and posters about gambling.
Unite's gambling workplace charter can be downloaded from their website.
Step Change provides information on solutions to debt.
Citizens Advice Bureau also provides information on money.
Help in dealing with loan sharks:
Money Advice Service has a money navigator tool to help monitor your finances.
The Money Charity provides resources on how you can manage your money, debt, ISAs, investments, pension and shopping sprees.
Employee Benefits provides information on finance for employers.
The mid-life MOT is free online support to encourage more active planning in the key areas of work, wellbeing and finances. It is aimed at both individuals and employers and can support you to make decisions that will ensure the future retirement you want.
ENEI offer a range of events and training for members and non-members throughout the year.
The Charity for Civil Servants, for you by you, has:
Wellbeing hub which you can use to manage your mental health and wellbeing
Debt and mental health guidance
Knowledge Centre provides you with clear and concise information to help you start planning your future.
Information about stress, anxiety and depression
How to practice mindfulness
Toolkit - Local Resources
Birmingham
The following web links provide information on various aspects of personal finance from Birmingham City Council
Debtor advice for council tenants
Dudley
Castle and crystal is a credit union organisation.
Sandwell
Healthy Sandwell is a one-stop shop for a range of health and wellbeing services. You can also contact Healthy Sandwell by phone 0800 011 4656 or 0121 569 5100.
Solihull
Advance Credit Union provide help and guidance relating to finance.
Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Council has useful resources on housing, benefits and welfare, local welfare scheme, help with childcare costs, foodbanks, council tax and loan sharks.
What you need to do
Consider how staff social activities are organised to ensure that they are free or low cost, to avoid excluding staff with less disposable income.
Why this is important for you
Organising low cost or subsidised social activities is another way an employer can demonstrate their support and consideration to all employees, so activities are inclusive to all the workforce.
How you can achieve this
Individuals under financial pressure may experience social exclusion or isolation in the workplace as they are less able to participate in social activities outside work. You can reduce this isolation by ensuring that social activities, such as holiday parties, are free, low cost or centrally subsidised for all staff. It is important not to assume that higher paid staff will have fewer financial issues.
You may also wish to discourage public collections for staff presents or charity campaigns in favour of private donations, so that staff only donate what/if they are able to.
How you can show you have achieved this
- Verbal discussions with staff.
- Examples of guidance given to staff.
Toolkit- National Resources
Gamcare provide resources and posters about gambling.
Unite's gambling workplace charter can be downloaded from here.
Step Change provides information on solutions to debt.
Citizens Advice Bureau also provides information on money.
Help in dealing with loan sharks:
The Money Charity provides resources on how you can manage your money, debt, ISAs, investments, pension and shopping sprees.
Employee Benefits provides information on finance for employers.
The mid-life MOT is free online support to encourage more active planning in the key areas of work, wellbeing and finances. It is aimed at both individuals and employers and can support you to make decisions that will ensure the future retirement you want.
ENEI offer a range of events and training for members and non-members throughout the year.
The Office of the Small Business Commissioner (SBC) ensure fair payment practices for Britain’s small businesses, and support them in resolving their payment disputes with larger businesses and bring about culture change
The Charity for Civil Servants, for you by you, has:
Wellbeing hub which you can use to manage your mental health and wellbeing
Debt and mental health guidance
Information about stress, anxiety and depression
How to practice mindfulness
Toolkit - Local Resources
Birmingham
The following web links provide information on various aspects of personal finance from Birmingham City Council
Debtor advice for council tenants
Dudley
Castle and crystal is a credit union organisation.
Solihull
Advance Credit Union provide help and guidance relating to finance.
What you need to do
Examine expense policies and financial procedures to reduce the costs of work
Why this is important for you
Examining expense policies and financial procedures to make sure they are appropriate, fair and communicated well to all employees is important because if employees view the policy as being fundamentally fair, it prevents expenses leading to low morale, discontentment and exaggerated claims.
How you can achieve this
Financial policies and procedures that require staff to pay ‘upfront’ for work expenses (such as travel costs, training fees or subsistence) may discourage some staff from taking part in training or development activities. Employers can assist staff by establishing corporate accounts with suppliers, providing corporate cards for upfront expenses or ensuring that staff are reimbursed for expenses as soon as possible.
Ensure that you are actively encouraging staff to claim expenses, and that all staff are aware of procedures including deadline dates for submitting expenses. Ensure that there are set dates or timescales for reimbursements to aid financial planning.
How you can show you have achieved this
- Copy of expenses polices/procedures.
- Verbal discussions with staff.
- Purchase cards in place.
Toolkit- National Resources
Gamecare provide resources and posters about gambling.
Unite's gambling workplace charter can be downloaded from their website.
Step Change provides information on solutions to debt.
Citizens Advice Bureau also provides information on money.
Help in dealing with loan sharks:
The Money Charity provides resources on how you can manage your money, debt, ISAs, investments, pension and shopping sprees.
Employee Benefits provides information on finance for employers.
The mid-life MOT is free online support to encourage more active planning in the key areas of work, wellbeing and finances. It is aimed at both individuals and employers and can support you to make decisions that will ensure the future retirement you want.
The Office of the Small Business Commissioner (SBC) ensure fair payment practices for Britain’s small businesses, and support them in resolving their payment disputes with larger businesses and bring about culture change
Toolkit - Local Resources
Birmingham
The following web links provide information on various aspects of personal finance from Birmingham City Council
Debtor advice for council tenants
Coventry
The Coventry City Council website has information on support available on how to improve wellbeing in the workplace.
Dudley
Castle and crystal is a credit union organisation.
In Dudley, support for organisations is available from the Workplace Health Team at Dudley Council, you can email them here or phone 01384 813848.
Solihull
Advance Credit Union provide help and guidance relating to finance.
Citizens Advice Solihull Borough provide advice on a range of topics.
Domestic Abuse
What you need to do
Ensure that managers are aware of the impact of domestic violence on mental health and wellbeing, including its impact on the workplace.
Why this is important for you
Managers being aware of the devastating impacts that domestic abuse can have on employees is vital for employers to be able to effectively support employees. Managers being aware is important as workers who experience domestic abuse are often subject to disciplinary action and/or lose their jobs because their behaviour (being late for example) is misinterpreted. In cases of domestic violence, having a steady income is key to a survivor’s economic independence and opportunities to escape domestic abuse. It is important for managers to recognise this and be able to effectively support employees who are experiencing domestic abuse (CIPD, 2013).
How you can achieve this
Employers have a duty of care to the people they employ, in addition to responsibility for the health and safety of their employees while they are at work. This means employers have a legal responsibility to protect staff who experience domestic abuse at work.
Managers should have an understanding of domestic violence and how this may impact on staff mental health and wellbeing, including work performance. They should also be aware of what support is available to staff experiencing domestic abuse including relevant policies and procedures.
How you can show you have achieved this
- Examples of guidance given to managers.
- Verbal discussions with staff/managers.
- Completed managers’ questionnaire as part of staff survey.
Toolkit - National Resources
NHS provide information about domestic abuse.
ManKind Initiative provide support to male victims, offer training and resources.
Guidance on how to support employees experiencing domestic abuse can be obtained from:
Corporate Alliance Against Domestic Violence (CAADV)
Employers Initiative on Domestic Violence
CIPD - Managing and supporting employees experiencing domestic abuse
PHE and Business in the Community (BITC) have produced an evidence based toolkit to help employers support employees affected by domestic abuse and raise awareness on the issue.
Toolkit - Local Resources
Birmingham
The following web links provide information on domestic abuse support and services including trafficking;
Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid
Coventry
Coventry Haven provide help and support to women.
Valley House provide support to people facing issues such as homelessness, depression, unemployment and victims of domestic abuse.
Warwickshire
Stop Rape Now is an awareness campaign launched by the police, health services, council and support agencies covering the Warwickshire and West Mercia region.
Refuge is a charity supporting women and children against domestic violence. There is also a free 24-hour national domestic abuse helpline for help 0808 2000 247.
Warwickshire Police provide information on various types of domestic abuse and offer on how to report these crimes to the authorities and other organisations that can help.
Toolkit - Regional Resources
Birmingham & Solihull Women's Aid provide support to women affected by domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault.
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is offering domestic abuse training funded by Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Crime.
What you need to do
Provide and display information about domestic abuse, including information about local support services and national helplines.
Why this is important for you
Providing information in the workplace for local and national domestic abuse support services will give staff experiencing domestic abuse the opportunity to access vital advice on financial, health and housing issues as well as legal assistance. Displaying this type of support is an effective way to support and help employees with assistance and knowledge needed to get out of an abusive relationship (CIPD, 2013).
How you can achieve this
Provide information on local support services and national helplines for people affected by domestic violence, in the form of leaflets in staff recreation areas, posters on a staff noticeboard or on staff intranet pages.
Ensure that any information provided is from a reputable source such as those included in the Thrive at Work toolkit.
How you can show you have achieved this
- Examples of guidance given to staff about domestic abuse.
- Examples of accessible information made available such as leaflets
signposting via intranet pages etc. - Verbal discussions with staff.
Toolkit - National Resources
NHS provide information about domestic abuse.
ManKind Initiative provide support to male victims, offer training and resources.
Guidance on how to support employees experiencing domestic abuse can be obtained from:
Corporate Alliance Against Domestic Violence (CAADV)
Employers Initiative on Domestic Violence
CIPD - Managing and supporting employees experiencing domestic abuse
PHE and Business in the Community (BITC) have produced an evidence based toolkit to help employers support employees affected by domestic abuse and raise awareness on the issue.
Toolkit - Local Resources
Birmingham
The following web links provide information on Domestic Abuse Support and services including trafficking
Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid
Coventry
Coventry Haven provide help and support to women.
Valley House provide support to people facing issues such as homelessness, depression, unemployment and victims of domestic abuse.
Warwickshire
Stop Rape Now is an awareness campaign launched by the police, health services, council and support agencies covering the Warwickshire and West Mercia region.
Refuge is a charity supporting women and children against domestic violence. There is also a free 24-hour national domestic abuse helpline for help 0808 2000 247.
Warwickshire Police provide information on various types of domestic abuse and offer on how to report these crimes to the authorities and other organisations that can help.
Toolkit - Regional Resources
Birmingham & Solihull Women's Aid provide support to women affected by domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault.
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is offering domestic abuse training funded by Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Crime.
Caring Responsibilities
What you need to do
Provide and display information about caring responsibilities, including information about who counts as a carer, local support services and national helplines.
Why this is important for you
Caring responsibilities can lead to stress in the workplace and is therefore important to offer information and signposts to services that can provide support and guidance for employees who have caring responsibilities.
How you can achieve this
Provide information on local support services and online resources for carers in the form of leaflets in staff recreation areas, posters on a staff noticeboard or on staff intranet pages. Ensure that any information provided is from a reputable source such as those included in the Thrive at Work toolkit. A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a family member or friend who cannot manage without their support. They might be looking after someone with a physical disability, long term health condition, mental health issue or a problem with substance misuse.
How you can show you have achieved this
- Examples of guidance given to staff about caring responsibilities
- Examples of accessible information made available such as leaflets
signposting via intranet pages etc. - Verbal discussions with staff.
Toolkit - National Resources
Carers UK website has useful resources on a range of topics and you can find your local support network.
Age UK has a wide range of support and information for carers and their dependents.
Help is at hand with Tax-Free Childcare, a government scheme to help working parents with the cost of childcare. Visit Childcare Choices for further information.
Employers for carers helps employers to support and retain the carers in their workforce.
ACAS has a flexible working guidance for employees on how to make requests.
Toolkit - Local Resources
Birmingham
The following web links provide information on support and services for carers
Coventry
Carers Trust Heart of England offer free and confidential information, advice and support across Coventry and Warwickshire.
Carer Aware & Young Carer Aware offer Online Training which can be utilised by anyone / employers wanting to know more about carers and identifying who their carer’s are.
Carers Bulletin you can register to keep up to date with what is going on in the carers’ world.
Dudley
Dudley Carers Network provide help and support to carers.
Solihull
Solihull Carers provides information on support and services for carers.
Wolverhampton
City of Wolverhampton Council provides information on advice and support available for carers.
What you need to do
Ensure managers encourage open conversations and take appropriate action to deal with staff with caring responsibilities.
Why this is important for you
Managers having open conversations and taking appropriate action to deal with staff who have caring responsibilities is beneficial to both staff and the company. In a survey from 223 small, medium and large employers, the majority agreed that supporting carers was beneficial to the workplace, in terms of reducing absences, increasing staff retention, improving productivity and saving money.
How you can achieve this
Managers should feel comfortable discussing caring responsibilities as part of staff 1-1s and should understand the impact that caring can have on mental health and work performance. Social isolation is a common side effect of being a carer and encouraging carers to disclose to their managers and seek support at work can help alleviate this isolation and safeguard emotional wellbeing.
How you can show you have achieved this
- Verbal discussion with staff/managers.
- Evidence of documented discussions showing wellbeing conversations,
including around caring responsibilities, have taken place. - Completed PDR (Personal Development Review) which shows wellbeing
conversations are incorporated.
Toolkit - National Resources
Carers UK website has useful resources on a range of topics and you can find your local support network
Age UK has a wide range of support and information for carers and their dependents
Help is at hand with Tax-Free Childcare, a government scheme to help working parents with the cost of childcare. Visit Childcare Choices for further information.
Employers for carers helps employers to support and retain the carers in their workforce.
ACAS has a flexible working guidance for employees on how to make requests.
Employers for carers helps employers to support and retain the carers in their workforce.
ENEI offer a range of events and training for members and non-members throughout the year.
Toolkit - Local Resources
Birmingham
The following web links provide information on support and services for carers
Coventry
Carers Trust Heart of England offer free and confidential information, advice and support across Coventry and Warwickshire.
Carer Aware & Young Carer Aware offer Online Training which can be utilised by anyone / employers wanting to know more about carers and identifying who their carer’s are.
Carers Bulletin you can register to keep up to date with what is going on in the carers’ world.
Dudley
Dudley Carers Network provides help and support to carers.
Solihull
Solihull Carers provides information on support and services for carers.
Wolverhampton
City of Wolverhampton Council have a dedicated Mental Health Team who work in partnership with carers, NHS, third and independent senior organisations to ensure that a range of services are provided to help a recovery process for people with mental health needs.