October HR News Roundup

Welcome to your October HR news roundup! As the nights draw in, it’s time to take stock and turn our focus to autumn and winter at work. We don’t want to spook you out, but this might mean making small changes to adapt to the needs of your employees during the changing seasons. You’ll see what we mean below.

With this in mind, this month’s roundup has a health and wellbeing focus. We share some insightful articles on supporting neurodivergence and menopause in the workplace, practical tips to engage leaders in equality, diversity and inclusion, and strategies to support mental health throughout the winter months and beyond.

So, grab your pumpkin spice latte, cosy up and read the latest HR news.

The best ways to support your employees through the winter months

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects 3 in 10 adults. It’s a short-term depression that occurs as we move into autumn and the days get shorter and nights become darker and longer. A Senior Counselling Psychologist looks at the role of leaders and Mental Health First-Aiders in supporting employees through SAD and how talking therapy can help. Take a look

On the same subject, this guide for HR professionals explores the steps we can take to adapt our workplace wellbeing strategies to address the impact of the changing seasons on mental health. There are tips on improving workplace design to let in more light, introducing activities to get employees moving, and managing stress levels during the festive season.

ADHD Awareness in the workplace

You may be aware that it was World Mental Health day earlier in the month. What you might not know is that October is also ADHD Awareness month. This enlightening piece on HR Review highlights some of the challenges neurodivergent office workers face at work along with possible solutions.

The study by Motionspot found that neurodivergent employees spend more time working in the office than their neurotypical colleagues. Common issues neurodivergent employees face include frequent distractions, social anxiety and sensory overload.

The article looks at some of the ways to improve the workplace experience for neurodivergent employees and enable them to thrive. Examples include providing quiet spaces for work and rest, informal areas to meet, and soft furniture to promote creativity and collaboration.

Using AI to help dyslexic employees

Also on the topic of neurodiversity, new research from LinkedIn and Made By Dyslexia reports that two thirds of dyslexic professionals believe using AI can help them progress their career. Interestingly, 88% of people who have dyslexia surveyed view this as an advantage in the workplace, while only 46% of non-dyslexic professionals recognise this advantage. Food for thought.

The research suggests that using AI tools for tasks involving reading, writing and editing can allow dyslexics to focus on their strengths, which may include creativity, innovation and problem-solving. It begs the question, what more can your organisation do to support your neurodiverse employees?

Sickness absence rate jumps to the highest in a decade

The CIPD has released the results of its 2023 Health and Wellbeing at Work report, which make both interesting and shocking reading. The key finding in the survey of 900+ organisations is the average rate of employee absence now stands at 7.8 days per employee per year - the highest rate for over a decade and an increase of 2 days per employee per year since 2019

One of the major trends highlighted by the report is people continuing to work when they are unwell, also known as presenteeism. Managers should be alert to this and look to support employees, especially flexible workers, to find a natural balance between work and home life.

On a positive note, the report found that the majority of organisations are investing more in a holistic approach to employee wellbeing. Provision for financial wellbeing and support through Employee Assistance Programmes has also increased.

Supporting employees affected by conflict in the Middle East

HR Review has published a helpful list of 8 tips for leaders to support employees affected by the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza. The strategies cover communication, managing political discussions in the workplace, and making reasonable adjustments to work for those who might be struggling to stay focused at work.

Five actions for HR to engage leaders on equality, diversity and inclusion

Following on from their Inclusion at Work 2022 survey, the CIPD continues to highlight the vital role leaders and managers have to play in creating an inclusive organisation. If you work in a HR role, this how-to article is a really useful aid to engaging with people managers, building confidence and skills, and providing vital knowledge around equality and diversity. It also suggests ways to build measurement of E,D&I into performance management process.

Does your organisation have a menopause policy?

If you already have a policy in place, it’s a positive step. New research suggests that half of organisations do not have a menopause policy. The ‘Pause for Thought: Reflecting on Menopause and the Workplace’ report found that only 37% of managers had been offered training around menopause, which leads to a lack of understanding, empathy and response from leaders when encountering employees suffering with menopause symptoms.

The CIPD has put together this useful Guide to Menopause at Work for people managers to help build confidence and improve knowledge.

National Living Wage set to increase

On Monday 2 October, the Chancellor announced plans to raise the National Living Wage to over £11 per hour from April 2024. The increase will apply to employees currently aged 23 and over. Further confirmation is expected when the Low Pay Commission releases its recommendations in November. This will give HR and payroll teams six months to plan and implement the change.

Our advice is to plan ahead and start preparing now. Work out how many employees will be affected and talk through the implications with your finance team. How will the change impact pension contributions or salary sacrifice plans? The change looks set to have most impact on the financial wellbeing of minimum wage employees and will go some way towards helping with increased living costs.

How we can help you

If you’d like to discuss any of the issues raised in this roundup, get in touch with us today on 0161 941 2426. We’re here to help.