The Work Couch

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment. Ahead of ADHD awareness month in October, we are devoting our latest deep-dive mini-series to the topic of neurodiversity. Given 15 to 20% of the UK population are neurodivergent - and more than half of Gen Z identify as "definitely" or "somewhat" neurodiverse - it is essential for employers to understand how neurodiversity interacts with, and affects, employment law and the world of work.

In part two, host Ellie Gelder is joined by Kelly Thomson, partner and RPC's ESG strategy lead, and Victoria Othen, consultant employment lawyer at RPC, to discuss the legal, HR and wellbeing considerations in relation to neurodiversity at work.

Looking at each stage of the employment life cycle, we discuss:

·       Neurodivergence and the legal definition of disability;

·       How different types of disability discrimination may arise;

·       Recruitment and the duty to make reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent applicants;

·       How performance management can trigger legal risks;

·       The interplay between neurodivergence and mental health;

·       Promotion and progression of neurodivergent talent and potential challenges; and

·       Managing a reorganisation where neurodivergent workers are at risk of redundancy.

Join us for part 3 next week when we will look at how to implement effective neuroinclusion at work. And if you missed Neurodiversity at work (Part 1): Myths, misconceptions and the lived experience, you can listen here.

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We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to stay up to date with the latest episodes.

The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment. Ahead of ADHD awareness month in October, we are devoting our latest deep-dive mini-series to the topic of neurodiversity. Given 15 to 20% of the UK population are neurodivergent - and more than half of Gen Z identify as "definitely" or "somewhat" neurodiverse - it is essential for employers to understand how neurodiversity interacts with, and affects, employment law and the world of work.

In part one, we explore the lived experience of neurodivergence and dispel some common myths and misconceptions. Host Ellie Gelder is joined by a panel of four special guests: Ashlea Cromby and Tracey West of Auticon, Alice de Coverley of 3PB Chambers and RPC's own Victoria Othen (further details below).

We discuss:

• Terminology;
• The challenges of gaining a diagnosis;
• Associated difficulties post-diagnosis – in Alice's words: "It's like learning the plot twist at the end of the book and then re -reading that book with a new and fresh understanding of who you are and who you have always been";
• How neurodivergence affects a person's day-to-day experience at work;
• Masking neurodevelopmental conditions;
• Requesting reasonable adjustments and examples of supportive measures; and
• How our guests perceive the interaction between neurodivergence and disability.

Our panel

• Ashlea Cromby, neuroinclusion advisor and Tracey West, careers coach, from Auticon, a global IT consulting business and social enterprise that exclusively employs adults on the autism spectrum in permanent roles as IT consultants.
• Alice de Coverley, specialist education equality and public law barrister from 3PB Chambers. As an ADHDer herself, Alice is treasurer and trustee of Neurodiversity in Law. She's passionate about advancing the representation of all neurodivergent lawyers and recently won the Legal 500 ESG 2024 Disability Neurodiversity Bar Champion of the Year Award. 
• RPC's own Victoria Othen, employment law consultant who frequently advises employers on disability discrimination claims, an increasing number of which involve neurodivergence. 

* Please note these podcasts will not run on Internet Explorer

We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to stay up to date with the latest episodes. The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger warning: The following content deals with some challenging themes including racism, crime, and alcohol and drug addiction.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment.

In our first live episode, recorded before a special audience, we were thrilled to kick off the British Retail Consortium's second annual diversity and inclusion conference held in partnership with RPC.

Host Ellie Gelder was joined by three inspirational guests:

·     Trevor D Sterling, Senior Partner at Moore Barlow, first black Senior Partner in a top 100 UK law firm and founder of social mobility platform U-Triumph;

·     Tskenya-Sarah Frazer, Entrepreneur, Author and Diversity & Inclusion Consultant, Founder and CEO of TSKENYA Footwear and Pride of Britain award winner; and

·     Mark Ash, who from being unable to read or write, to sleeping rough after over a decade of addiction, now supports others as a Lived Experience Coordinator at Forward Trust.

For some highlights of the conversation, including our guests' lived experiences of social barriers to employment, how to overcome those barriers, and their key takeaways for employers and colleagues, watch these short videos:

·     The Work Couch Live 2024 - Lived experiences of social barriers to employment - https://vimeo.com/989588843/768de7f6cf?share=copy

·     The Work Couch Live 2024 - How to overcome social barriers to employment - https://vimeo.com/989588881/d918cfbe6c?share=copy

·     The Work Couch Live 2024 - Key takeaways for employers and colleagues - https://vimeo.com/989588890/9bb0a24d2e?share=copy

* Please note these podcasts will not run on Internet Explorer

All information is correct at the time of recording. The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.

We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to stay up to date with the latest episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment.

Following on from our previous episode on supporting and retaining senior talent, we explore how employers can best support and retain Gen Z talent.

In part 2, Ellie Gelder is joined once again by Rose Sellman-Leava, Director and Co-Founder of Inclusive Futures, a not-for-profit organisation empowering students from underrepresented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds to enter careers which are right for them, and RPC's Laura Verrecchia, trainee solicitor and resident Gen Z member of the Employment Engagement and Equality team.

We discuss:

·     The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Gen Z talent and how employers can support them overcome these challenges;

·     The importance of work-life balance and flexible working;

·     How to provide and receive constructive feedback;

·     Navigating generational differences in communication styles and preferences; and

·     Mental health and wellbeing in relation to Gen Z.

You can also listen to part 1 of our mini-series: Supporting and retaining Gen Z talent (Part 1): Myths and opportunities, with Rose Sellman-Leava and Laura Verrecchia.

* Please note these podcasts will not run on Internet Explorer

All information is correct at the time of recording. The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.

We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to stay up to date with the latest episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment.

Following on from our previous episode on supporting and retaining senior talent, we explore how employers can best support and retain Gen Z talent.

Ellie Gelder is joined by Rose Sellman-Leava, Director and Co-Founder of Inclusive Futures, a not-for-profit organisation empowering students from underrepresented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds to enter careers which are right for them, and RPC's Laura Verrecchia, trainee solicitor and resident Gen Z member of the Employment Engagement and Equality team.

In part one, we discuss:

·     Common myths and misconceptions associated with Gen Z workers;

·     How employers can future-proof their organisation for the next generation;

·     Attracting Gen Z talent, including flexible working, social and environmental sustainability, and technology;

·     Neurodivergence and mental health; and

·     How a Gen Z values-based working environment can benefit the whole workforce.

Join us again for part two, when we will discuss work-life balance, communication, and wellbeing in relation to Gen Z talent.

* Please note these podcasts will not run on Internet Explorer

All information is correct at the time of recording. 

We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to stay up to date with the latest episodes.

The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment. To mark London Tech Week 2024 running from 10 -14 June, we are devoting a three-part mini-series to the topic of AI and how it interacts with, and affects, employment law and the world of work.

In our concluding part, host Ellie Gelder is joined once again by two leading experts on AI and the world of work: Jake Wall, policy manager for skills and future of Work at techUK, and Patrick Brodie, partner and head of RPC's employment, engagement and equality team. We discuss:

·       Integrating emotional intelligence into AI systems, especially in sensitive workplace environments;

·       The question of whether AI can help humans be more emotionally intelligent and the potential pitfalls;

·       How AI may impact employees' wellbeing and work-life balance;

·       Increasing importance for leaders to demonstrate empathy and respect; and

·       Jake and Patrick's top tips to strike the right balance of complying with existing employment laws and harnessing the benefits of AI technologies.

You can also listen to previous episodes in our AI mini-series: AI (Part 1): Impact on litigation, responsible use, and the regulatory landscape, with Olivia Dhein and Joshy Thomas and, also with Jake and Patrick: AI (Part 2): Privacy, bias and discrimination.

* Please note these podcasts will not run on Internet Explorer

All information is correct at the time of recording. For further information, please take a look at RPC's AI guide.

We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to stay up to date with the latest episodes.

The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment. To mark London Tech Week 2024 running from 10 -14 June, we are devoting a three-part mini-series to the topic of AI and how it interacts with, and affects, employment law and the world of work.

In part two, host Ellie Gelder is joined by two leading experts on AI and the world of work: Jake Wall, policy manager for skills and future of Work at techUK, and Patrick Brodie, partner and head of RPC's employment, engagement and equality team. Jake and Patrick share their insights on the interplay between AI and employment law, including:

·     Background and purpose of the TUC's AI Bill;

·     Impact of AI on jobs and skills and the importance of AI competence in the legal sector;

·     AI ethics policies and impact assessments;

·     Bias and discrimination risks in recruitment;

·     Opportunities for AI to remove human biases; and

·     Potential legal challenges in relation to employee rights and AI.

You can also listen to part 1 of our AI mini-series: AI (Part 1): Impact on litigation, responsible use, and the regulatory landscape, with Olivia Dhein and Joshy Thomas

* Please note these podcasts will not run on Internet Explorer

All information is correct at the time of recording. For further information, please take a look at RPC's AI guide.

We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to stay up to date with the latest episodes.

The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment. To mark London Tech Week 2024 running from 10 -14 June, we are kicking off a new mini-series on AI to explore how it interacts with, and affects, employment law and the world of work.

In part one, host Ellie Gelder is joined by two of RPC's resident experts on AI: Olivia Dhein, knowledge lawyer in our commercial and banking litigation team, and Joshy Thomas, IP and Tech knowledge lawyer. Olivia and Joshy share their insights on AI's impact on litigation, how best to use it responsibly, and the regulatory landscape, including:

·     How AI is affecting litigation, including legal submissions, witness statements, legal analysis and e-discovery;

·     Fake case citations and the recent case of Harber v HMRC [2023] UKFTT 1007;

·     Regulatory considerations, including the EU AI Act and potential regulation in the UK;

·     Diversity and inclusion and the risk of under-representation in AI discussions; and

·     How AI could increase accessibility to legal advice.

* Please note these podcasts will not run on Internet Explorer

All information is correct at the time of recording. For further information, please take a look at RPC's AI guide.

We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to stay up to date with the latest episodes.

The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are marking Mental health awareness week this month by devoting a four-part mini-series to mental health at work. In our concluding episode this week, Ellie is joined by Simon Blake OBE, Chief Executive at Mental Health First Aid England to explain the role of mental health first aid in the workplace.

We discuss:

·     The purpose of mental health first aid in the workplace;

·     How senior leaders play a critical role in implementing mental health first aid;

·     Key preliminary steps to take before rolling out mental health first aid;

·     The role of a mental health first aider and what it does not include;

·     How to prepare a mental health first aider for their role and ensuring they have appropriate support; and

·     The positive impact of mental health first aid at work and outside work.

You can listen to previous episodes in our mental health mini-series:

Part 1: Mental health at work: turning despair into hope, with Jonny Benjamin MBE

Part 2: Implementing effective mental wellbeing measures, with Neil Laybourn

Part 3: Protecting your employees' digital wellbeing, with Alice Hendy MBE

* Please note these podcasts will not run on Internet Explorer

To access further support on mental health, you may wish to visit: the Samaritans, Mind, or Rethink. Or you can use the text service from Shout on 85258.

We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to stay up to date with the latest episodes.

All information is correct at the time of recording. 

The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are marking Mental health awareness week this month by devoting a four-part mini-series to mental health at work. This week, in part 3, Ellie is joined by Alice Hendy MBE, CEO and founder of charity R;pple Suicide Prevention to explain how employers can protect their employees' digital wellbeing.

We discuss:

·     Alice's own experiences of losing her 21 year old brother Josh to suicide and her subsequent discovery that he had viewed severely harmful content online;

·     How Alice founded R;pple in Josh's memory and devised a pioneering digital tool that intercepts searches for harmful content online;

·     The significant role that harmful content is now playing in some suicides;

·     Effectively signposting people to free mental health support;

·     The impact that R;pple has had and how it has saved lives; and

·     How employee privacy and data is protected when using R;pple.

You can listen to previous episodes in our mental health mini-series:

Part 1: Mental health at work: turning despair into hope, with Jonny Benjamin MBE

Part 2: Implementing effective mental wellbeing measures, with Neil Laybourn

* Please note these podcasts will not run on Internet Explorer

To access further support on mental health, you may wish to visit: the Samaritans, Mind, or Rethink. Or you can use the text service from Shout on 85258.

We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to stay up to date with the latest episodes.

All information is correct at the time of recording. 

The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.