Health and safety

Not providing private breastfeeding area was sex discrimination, tribunal rules

A Cardiff-based NHS board discriminated against a healthcare support worker on the basis of sex, a tribunal has ruled, after it failed to provide a private area for the worker to express breast milk.

Hospital porters to strike over lack of toilet dignity

Hospital porters at University Hospital Southampton are set to strike due to bullying and a toilet dignity dispute.

Number of night workers from ethnic backgrounds surges

The number of workers from ethnic backgrounds doing night shifts has risen by 71% (360,000) over the last decade, according to Trades Union Congress (TUC) analysis of data from the Office for National...

How can HR spot slavery at work?

Management at McDonald’s and a bread factory that supplies large supermarkets failed to spot slavery victims who were forced to work in their midst, the BBC reported.

Employees unequipped to talk about suicidal thoughts

Nine in 10 employees do not know that the best way to save the life of someone considering suicide is to ask them directly whether they have a plan to end their life, according to research by social...

How can HR improve safety for warehouse workers?

The GMB union has called for an investigation into Amazon's working practices, after 1,400 calls for ambulances were made to Amazon’s warehouses over the past five years, The Observer reported on 17...

How can technology keep frontline workers safe?

Pret A Manger has introduced body-worn cameras for employees at six shops in London, Sky News reported on 10 August.

Should HR let employees work from home during a heatwave?

Concern has been raised for employees’ health and safety as a heatwave hits the UK this week. Temperatures have reached 32C in some parts of the country.

Union demands maximum work temperature law

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on the next government to introduce new legal maximum working temperatures (25 June).

Quarter of employees experience suicidal and self harming thoughts

A quarter (25%) of employees had thoughts of suicide or self harm in the last two weeks, a survey by wellbeing technology provider, Wysa, revealed today. The proportion expanded to one in three (36%)...

What are employers' duties in cold weather?

As temperatures plummet below zero and the Met Office predicts snow, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says HR teams should review their cold weather policies.

Poor workplace training leading to fatalities

There is a clear correlation between workplace fatalities and training provisions, according to new research from software company Cloud Assess.