Is Presenteeism the Real Threat to UK Productivity

Is Presenteeism the Real Threat to UK Productivity Is presenteeism the latest scourge of the modern workplace? There is little doubt that technology and instant connectivity have blurred the lines between work and life outside of it. It would appear that this change in work culture, along with a growing stigma around taking time off, is causing employees to feel they have no choice but to come into work when they are ill. Research carried out by the Canada Life Insurance Group found that 9 out of 10 UK employees say they have gone into work when feeling ill. Nearly a quarter of those surveyed said they wouldn’t take a day off sick unless they were hospitalized or had no other choice. Presenteeism isn’t a new phenomenon, but it is increasingly coming under the spotlight in scientific studies as researchers try to fathom the productivity puzzle that troubles the UK. Presenteeism is an issue that UK businesses need to address if they are to fix this. The UK has had a dismal productivity record since the financial crisis a decade ago. Brexit uncertainty isn’t helping matters. Is presenteeism posing a further threat? Here I’ll be looking briefly at the causes of the UK productivity puzzle and consider the impact of presenteeism. Importantly, is presenteeism a real threat to productivity and if so, what can employers do to address it? Presenteeism: a definition Health Insurer, Vitality, defines presenteeism as “being present at work but being limited in some aspects of job performance by a health problem and thus experiencing decreased productivity and below-normal work quality.” It is essentially when a sick employee comes into work and underperforms when they really should be at home recuperating. The UK productivity puzzle While productivity growth has slowed since the financial crisis in almost all developed economies, the UK has suffered most, with current productivity near historic lows. Weak growth in the UK, according to an in-depth report by McKinsey on solving the UK’s productivity puzzle, has been blamed on relatively low capital investment (especially equipment and structures), low wage growth and an oversized financial sector which accounted for nearly 50 percent of the aggregate slowdown. In addition, the emphasis on financial services in the UK also pulled people from other industries, causing their decline, and the benefits of digitization have yet to be fully realized. The productivity gap is also pronounced among Britain’s regions. Research by the University of Cambridge on how to solve the UK’s productivity problem points to the negative impact of regional disparity. All economic growth in the UK is centered on London, the South East, and a few other cities, but many regions outside of these areas have low or negative economic growth and are actually some of the poorest regions in Europe. In a report by the Financial Times, Andy Haldane, the Bank of England chief economist, said, “The UK’s international productivity gap is, to a large degree, a long tail problem.” He refers to a ‘long tail’ of companies with poor output per hour worked. In addition, Mckinsey’s research (mentioned above) points to the fact that the growth in loans and deposits in the financial services sector contracted sharply after the crisis, but because of the fixed nature of many of the inputs, hours worked barely changed. On top of these wider economic issues is the increasingly recognized issue of presenteeism, and the closely related problem of stress and mental ill-health in the workplace, specifically employees feeling unable to speak to their employers about these problems. Business culture has a huge part to play in productivity. Many studies indicate that companies with strong and positive cultures are more profitable. How does presenteeism threaten productivity? A report by The Psychologist on The hidden costs of working when sick, highlights the cost of presenteeism to UK employers, with mental ill health alone, estimated to be costing more than £15 million per year. Research by the Nottingham Business School found the average UK employee spends almost two weeks every year working while ill, which they say costs firms more than £4,000 per person. In an article published by the HR Director last year, Steve Thompson, MD of Forward Role Recruitment, argues that presenteesism is one of the biggest threats to the UK’s productivity and is a problem that many employers have chosen to ignore. Research has shown a huge rise in the number of people going into work when ill and that people are significantly less productive when they are working while sick. Ill employees can, in fact, be more costly to employers than if they take time off sick, and even more so if germs are transmitted and cause other staff members to become ill. Employees working when ill are less effective in their roles and this can also have an impact on the morale of the people around them trying to cover the workload. Working when ill can also extend recovery rates and may even pose a threat to long-term health. The pressure of working when ill can also lead to disengagement and further complicate productivity problems. Why do employees come to work when they are ill? There are many reasons people come into work when they are sick. The most common reasons are: Heavy workload Financial insecurity when absent (insufficient sick pay) Fear over job security Management pressure Sickness stigma A strong sense of duty and obligation Short staffing A lack of support An always-on culture Employers need to do more Research by CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) and Simply Health report a link between an increase in stress, anxiety and depression and the tripling of presenteeism in UK organizations since 2010. Rachel Suff, Senior Employment Relations Adviser at CIPD said, “Increasingly the threats to well-being in the modern workplace are psychological rather than physical, and yet too few organizations are discouraging unhealthy workplace practices and tackling stress, which is strongly linked to health conditions such as anxiety and depression. “In order to encourage a healthy workplace, organizations need to look beyond sickness absence rates alone and develop a solid, evidence-based understanding of the underlying causes of work-related stress and unhealthy behavior like presenteeism.” Presenteeism is currently one of the biggest threats to UK productivity. The HR review reports that 57 percent of employees say they would stay in their job longer if there was more effort put into looking after their wellbeing, and 58 percent believe their work would be of better quality if there were more wellbeing measures in place. In this article, I’ve shown that presenteeism is a real issue and a threat to productivity. Employee wellbeing initiatives are the answer, and that includes more open conversations about stress and mental health at work, encouraging staff to take time off when sick, and doing more to spot the signs employees are suffering from stress, anxiety, and depression. About the author:  Mike James  is an experienced business writer specializing in HR, tech, and cybersecurity. On the latter, he has contributed to many of the leading publications both online and in print â€" such as StaySafeOnline, GlobalSign, Tech London and more.

How Does Keystone Momentum Work?

How Does Keystone Momentum Work?A new website called Keystone Momentum has emerged in the online resume writing business with a newly developed system to generate a stellar resume. Even though, the concept of this company is just too good to be true, it has been proved true and still today is regarded as one of the best in its field.It basically involves the generation of a certain email address that an employer would be in a position to contact you about the post you are applying for. As soon as you decide to enroll yourself in their program, you would also be required to register your information so that all the details you have available to you are properly updated. In addition, they would be able to supply you with a series of ideas that could help you write a good resume.This website has a part which is specifically designed for job seekers that intend to use it for both traditional resume writing and also for web applications. The system that they have developed means that you only need to enter your contact details once and it would store them in their system until you want to receive information about it. When you want to change something, you can simply do so and send your information again.All you need to do is sign up for a free account at Keystone Momentum. You can find this kind of portal on the website or even in various other places too. The main objective of the portal is that it helps people avoid the pitfalls of the ordinary resume writing method where each and every detail is looked into individually and there is no teamwork involved.So, here's what you need to do: first, you should join Keystone Momentum and log in to your account. Then, you will have to fill out your information in one of the many sections they have. For example, if you want to enroll for a paid membership, then you must provide your username and password; and you also need to provide the name of the person you want to talk to about the job you are applying for.Secondly, th ere are certain pieces of information you need to add to the information you are already inputting in the system. These are such as the name of the employer, the name of the position you are applying for, the current address of the employer, the name of the company, the period of the job and the starting date of the job.Once you have done that, it will automatically help you in generating a list of emails you can send to potential employers so that they are informed about your application. Also, a step you need to take is to change your contact details from time to time. If your profile changes, your contact details too should be updated and you will not get the same emails in the future.That is the reason why you should do it best the first time. This is the best portal for resume writing.

Why employers should consider flexible workplace environments

Why employers should consider flexible workplace environments Why employers should consider flexible workplace environments Losing employees (especially good employees) is bad for business. While turnover is inevitable, there are things that can be done to minimize the exodus. A knee-jerk reaction may be to offer raises or promotions to your top talent, but I recommend you listen to what each employee values most. Employees are placing extremely high value on other perks, especially those that increase work/life balance. Value in flexibility According to a study from Regus, the worlds largest workspace provider, 79 percent of business people would choose one job over a similar one if it offered flexibility, and this doesnt just mean hours. Professionals are looking to improve work/life balance by having the freedom to use alternate work sites that can help alleviate long commutes. The formula for business success lies with creating a strategy that makes employers comfortable with a remote team and gives employees a professional setting where they have the resources to do their best work. At every level, todays workers are stressed, said Sande Golgart, senior vice president of corporate accounts at Regus. Anything that can be done to relieve that stress and improve work/life balance is far more appealing than financial compensation. He added that flexible work is a key driver to managing responsibilities at home and at work. The freedom to work remotely or outside of traditional hours gives individuals more control over their time. The study found flexible options arent just good for the employees, they benefit the business as well. Nearly 80 percent of business people polled agreed that flexible work increases staff retention, helps attract top talent and eases work-related stress. Seeing the benefits The good news is that advancements in mobile technology, including webinar solutions, shared calendars and information sharing sites foster remote working. The common fears by employers that they couldnt measure a remote employees performance are now addressed by the use of basic technology tools. And shared space providers have systems in place to help users maximize their use of the space to achieve the best possible results. Companies of all sizes need to embrace flexible work and share in the benefits, from Fortune 500 businesses to new start-up companies. These collaborative workspaces have proven to yield cost savings, provide a boost in employee satisfaction and result in better productivity for companies. Small companies, like New York City-based Dark Arts Consulting, rely on flexible options as well. Dark Arts does not have offices for all their employees. Instead, they provide access to Regus flexible workspaces where employees can drop in and stay productive between appointments. The CEO of Dark Arts, Lee Solt, credits his remote work policy for retaining and attracting great IT consultants in a very competitive field, as well as helping him to grow his business. My employees are always on the move, meeting with clients, he said. There is no reason to pay for an expensive office no one will use. More importantly, why make my employees waste time commuting when they can be productive from anywhere? If your organization isnt implementing a flexible arrangement, now is the time to start considering the strategy. Assign a committee or leader in your organization to develop a plan and communicate broadly with your employees that this is more than just on your radar.

Knowing and Doing are Two Different Things

Knowing and Doing are Two Different Things To know something  and to do something are not the same. Too often, I see job seekers take shortcuts or avoid doing things they dont want to do. Job search is hard work. You know what you need to do to find a new job. But sometimes you dont do everything you need to do. Job search requires doing things you dont want to do or dont know how to do. Sometimes, but not often, you get lazy or try to take shortcuts. And when you dont do the right things it hurts your job search in the long run. I truly believe that 90% of job search is having the right mental outlook. Sometimes you have to trick yourself into doing things. Sometimes you just need a reminder. So I put together this list of things most job seekers know (or should know) but dont put into action (unless really pushed). Know and Do These Things Conduct a self-assessment of skills, talents, and abilities. Produce  a resume that contains action/result statements. Customize every resume for every job you apply to. Write a well-researched cover letter. Find a job posting then network with company insiders before you apply. Develop a list of target companies. Create and USE a marketing plan. Network 60+% of the time. Build a meaningful LinkedIn profile. Learn how to use LinkedIn. Constantly maintain your network. Follow up on networking leads quickly. Dont ask for a job while networking. Practice  interviewing. Research the company and people youll be interviewing with. Develop a Plan B Cut and manage expenses. Learn about new occupations and industries. Be positive. Dont appear desperate. Sure, you know all thisbut do you ALWAYS follow these guidelines? Embrace them, master them.   You will be more successful than most job seekers if you actually DO these things. Does it seem overwhelming? Prioritize the actions that will have the biggest bang for the buck.   (Hint, anything to do with networking will reap the greatest rewards.) Remember, your search for a new job will take longer than you want. Pace yourself, its a marathon, not a sprint. And please, find someone to hold you accountable to do the right things for your job search. Knowing and Doing are Two Different Things We all get stuck in ruts. Either personal or professional. Sometimes we can get out of this rut, other times, it isnt easy to do on our own. Fortunately, we have people in our lives that can help! The key is to ask for help! This is very difficult to do. As I write each word of this post I am reminded of the title, knowing and doing are two different things. Yes, we know we should ask for help, but we dont. I need to pay special tribute to the special people who understand how to offer help, the help that I cant figure out how to ask for. These are the unsung heroes helping me move forward. They listen and push. They ask the tough questions that send me back to the drawing board. Whether you want to read about them is up to you, but what I want you to know is that you need to find these types of people for yourself and you also need to pay tribute to them. Mike Lally was the first believer in Career Sherpa, well, maybe not the very first, but the one who pushed me into blogging. He also claims he is the one who came up with the name Career Sherpa (funny how I cant quite recall that small detail). The point is, Mike has given me information, encouragement and the confidence to move forward. Yes, he kicks me in the pants sometimes too. Mike is one of the rare finds who gives unconditionally. Mike is an Operational Leader. He has an uncanny knack of being able to instantaneously asses and redirect derailed projects. Mike maintains a blog and is worth checking out! Graeme Roberts is an intellectual creative genius. No, really, he is! Yet he can also be incredibly effective analyzing and implementing process or strategy. He is a guru for growing business. Hes technically savvy, yet doesnt own a smart phone. He is generous and a serial entrepreneur! He is growing his own business, GrowMotor with innovative ideas! In my meeting with these two last night, they pushed and pried, trying to help me implement a long overdue positioning statement and to determine my niche, brand, value proposition- you know, the stuff I try to help my clients with. We are sometimes so close to the subject (ourselves) that we need help from a more or less objective third party. Thank you to the many friends who are helping me along this journey! Miriam Salpeter, Meg Guiseppi, Skeeter Harris, Greg Taylor, Rita Carey, Sandra Turner, Dean LoBrutto, Rosa Smith-Montanaro, Jenn Sertl, and so many others!

How to Design Your Ideal Career FREE Webinar March 15, 12pm ET - Hallie Crawford

How to Design  Your Ideal Career FREE Webinar March 15, 12pm ET Have you lost that lovin feeling for your job? Are you unsure of your career direction, uncertain if you are in the right fit or simply not achieving your career goals? If this is you, you are not alone. Just under half of U.S. workers said they felt satisfied with their jobs in 2015 (Forbes.com, 2016). The good news is you can design your career so it is a fit for you, find a sense of meaning and purpose in what you do professionally, and discover greater clarity in order to achieve your career goals. In this FREE 40 minute webinar, Certified Career Coach and national career expert will teach you how to: 1) Tap into whats most fulfilling for you and begin to design your career around that 2) Develop greater clarity and direction to achieve your career goals 3) Determine if you are in the right career fit 4) Overcome the obstacles that hold you back from taking the next step in your career Dont end up at the end of 2018 unsure or unhappy, wondering where the time went! DATE:  March 15, 12 noon ET CALL IN INFORMATION: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/284876173  You can also dial in using your phone.  United States: +1 (213) 493-0603  Access Code:  284-876-173  REGISTER NOW by completing our Contact Form.   Mention Webinar Registration in the Comments Section at the bottom, Disregard the budget option as this webinar is FREE.

The Most Overlooked Answer for Writing an Objective State for Resume

The Most Overlooked Answer for Writing an Objective State for Resume To compose a productive banking and finance objective statement, think about the department you are going to be working with and the area of banking and finance generally speaking. To win an entry-level position in an organization, you must state that you've got excellent communication abilities. In the end, stating an objective is optional, but it might help convince employers that you understand what you need and know of the business. Another point in the fantastic example's favor is it shows numbers to actually permit the agency manager to comprehend how great a real estate agent you're. All About Writing an Objective State for Resume Again, you've got to take into account the requirements of each position before you make an objective statement. Sometimes Resume objective can appear to be a little statement but it has an extremely huge message to convey. You must have five objective statements. A summ ary statement is a brief expert introduction you can increase the peak of your resume. Choosing Good Writing an Objective State for Resume Crafting a highly effective career objective for your librarian resume is essential to increasing its odds of success. The information that you include in your resume and the layout of your resume will ride on your abilities and experience in connection with your career objective. The True Meaning of Writing an Objective State for Resume To begin with, examine the job description to see whether it indicates the form of skills the provider is seeking. There are two primary kinds of resumes. In addition, don't forget, centre everything based at work you're applying. You should list work in reverse chronological order starting with your latest job. How to Choose Writing an Objective State for Resume The use of job specific resume objective is only going to be targeting the job which you've indicated in the statement. One of the absolute most efficient methods of learning how exactly to compose your career objective is seeing a minumum of one example of objective in resume. There are primarily two types of resume objectives. The absolute most efficient objective is one which is tailored to the job you're applying for. Writing a winning college student career objective is a rather simple approach to bolster your application for this internship or job you've got in sight. Since you'll discover, even in the event that you don't have any prior professional experiences, you may still draw on your school experiences. Students often find it beneficial to review resumes from graduate students who got their very first job beyond academe. The Importance of Writing an Objective State for Resume A strong summary statement at the peak of your resume can increase the possibility of them noticing what you've got to offer from the beginning. In most instances, a resume objective is simply a couple of sentences long. In v arious ways, an objective replaces a lot of the detail you would place in your professional experience section. Although a resume objective is a well-known means to start a winning resume, it isn't the only means to introduce yourself to the employer.

What You Dont Know About Help Writing Resume and Linked in Could Be Costing to More Than You Think

What You Don't Know About Help Writing Resume and Linked in Could Be Costing to More Than You Think Help Writing Resume and Linked in - Dead or Alive? It's vital to make sure your LinkedIn profile highlights your abilities and experience. When you've made some adjustments to your tailored resumes, spare some time to update your LinkedIn resume too. When you learn to utilize LinkedIn properly, you will never leave. With over 300 million users, LinkedIn is certainly the appropriate social platform to advertise yourself. It is possible to come across online writing workshops that cover every part of writing, for every single skill level. As a result, while your resume objective should consist of information on the career you want, you also need to spell out why you are the perfect candidate for the job. If you're struggling with writing essays and need to enhance your skills, taking a course or workshop can be exceedingly useful. Whenever you would like to emphasize that you'r e ambitious, that you understand what you want in a career, or you have the skills for the particular job, you could benefit from a resume objective. The Help Writing Resume and Linked in Pitfall Moreover, their assistance makes the entire process simpler and quicker. Many of them are going to reciprocate. You will likely find a gain in the variety of connections you make, along with the range of men and women who accept your coffee invites. Because resumes have limited space, your career objective should be concise. The Upside to Help Writing Resume and Linked in With a suitable strategy, your LinkedIn resume will become your organization card, greatly boosting your likelihood of being noticed. One of the hazards of a resume objective is that you are able to focus too much on what you would like in your career, and not enough on how you'll add value to the organization. To a point, it probably depends upon your goals for LinkedIn and your very own personal philosophy, but s hould you wish to be found in the most amount of searches, there's no debate. A resume objective can explain why you're qualified for the job, even if it's the case that you do not own a lot of related experience. The Unusual Secret of Help Writing Resume and Linked in Employing a custom resume instead of a generic one is going to greatly increase your probability of an interview, as you'll be a better match in the view of the reader. It is possible to read about the experiences other people shared, which means you get an impression of the actual results you're likely to get. When you would like to find the best resume help, you're able to simply follow our lead. You will need assistance with making a resume. Our experts additionally manage your profile optimization to allow the maximum possibility of being noticed. Scannable resumes need specific page designs because computer scanners can't read certain products. So if it's the case that you do not own a profile, go set one up at the moment! When you have set up a wonderful profile, stay active on the website.