MARCH SOM BLOG champions cropped.JPG
Guest blog by Victoria Howell My menopause journey was that of many women; I had no idea what was happening, my confidence dipped dramatically, and I felt so alone, despite being surrounded by a loving family. When I faced redundancy, I saw it as an opportunity to train in menopause - I did not want…
By Dr Lara Shemtob, SOM Honorary Policy Adviser Welfare reforms for people unable to work due to long-term ill health were announced last week by the UK government , and featured in the Spring Statement. Spending cuts of of £4.8 billion are predicted in 2029/2030 (£3.4 billion overall once £1.4…
Guest blog by Jamie Sidaway, Head of Operations, Health 2 Employment The Lancashire and Cumbria SME occupational health (OH) pilot aimed to encourage Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to access OH services by offering up to 80% funding support for assessments, with businesses contributing…
Guest blog by Corryn Brown Ahead of tomorrow's SOM/CIPD parliamentary reception on 'Helping women thrive in work: making women's and reproductive health a key priority', this blog by Corryn Brown explores the experiences of new mothers in the workplace, drawing on the findings of her MSc research at…
Dr Lara Shemtob, SOM Honorary Policy Adviser, introduces new SOM guidance: The relationship between work and health has never been more relevant to the UK population. The number of working age people who are economically inactive due to ill health is approaching three million. Meanwhile, the…
By Dr Lara Shemtob The Health Foundation’s Final Report of the Commission for Healthier Working Lives was published on Monday offering a compelling examination of the challenges faced by individuals with long-term health conditions in the workplace. The report, alongside videos shared at the launch…
Guest blog by Nigel Lloyd, Senior Research Fellow - PHIRST Connect, University of Hertfordshire Employee health and wellbeing in the UK is far from ideal. Post-pandemic, there has been a rise in the number of working-age people leaving the workforce, with long-term sickness the leading cause. If we…
Guest blog by Grace Gimson In today’s work environment, prioritising the physical and mental wellbeing of employees is essential for any organisation aiming to thrive. Companies are increasingly recognising the importance of adopting a proactive, integrated approach to health that goes beyond simply…
Guest blog by Lynne Drumm, Lisa Harrison and Jo Vallom-Smith Supporting employees in their return to work (RTW) is a core function of occupational health physicians (OHPs) and occupational health advisers (OHAs). Often, these conversations happen in brief, one-off consultations, making efficiency…
Guest blog by Cat Blake 98% of mothers want to work, dispelling the myth that women do not want to return after having children. But, within three years of having children, 85% leave full-time employment, and 19% leave the workforce altogether. Pregnant women also face challenges, with 1 in 5…
Guest blog by Dr Paul J Nicholson OBE The SOM report Occupational Health: The Value Proposition (OHVP) collates the evidence to substantiate the business, financial, legal and moral imperatives for providing employees with access to occupational health services. This broad approach to ‘value’ is…
IMG_5768.jpeg
Guest blog by Emma Persand, SOM Diversity & Inclusion vice chair World Menopause Day provides an opportunity to advance workplace support for women’s health. This week SOM launched its Women’s Health at Work Network. Professor Dame Lesley Regan, the first Women’s Health Ambassador for England: Women…