Working Well Sometimes...

If you have a disability or your health is getting so bad you are struggling to do your job or even get a job, then this episode is for you.
Access to work is a UK Government sponsored (and funded) service that helps you.  An assessor will look at your job and, if you qualify, will offer help - this could be:

• British Sign Language person
• Transport to and from work
• A work buddy
• Money for your employer to build a ramp for a wheelchair at your workplace

And many more.

Workplace Assessment by Access to Work

AtoW contracts an independent assessor who comes to the workplace to discuss your needs. Following this, they prepare a report setting out the minimum requirements to meet your needs along with the expected costs.  A copy of this report is sent to the disabled applicant/employee and the ‘identified options’ part to your Company, who will purchase the equipment recommended by AToW and they can then claim back the money (or part of the money) from AtoW.

The assessment results last for three years, and then you will be reassessed. However, if there are significant changes in your condition you can request an earlier review.

Practical help can include:

• Aids for communication
• Special equipment
• Alterations to premises or the working environment
• A support worker, (if practical help is needed at work, or getting to work),
• Assistance with communication (for example a reader at work for someone who is blind, or a communicator for deaf people)
• Travel support if you can’t use public transport due to your disability.

For more information, pick up the advice sheet from my website: https://workingwellsolutions.com/employee-help/help-with-disability-access-to-work/

Are you wondering how to deal with illness at your workplace? Sometimes it can get out of hand with workers taking days off willy-nilly.  Or maybe you have some employees on long term sick?
An occupational health service can help you with both these issues - by talking to workers who you believe may need more help or just to check that they are getting the right treatment.
More information is available on my website blogs here:

1. Manager Guide: Requesting a Management Referral to Occupational Health
2. Manager FAQ Occupational Health and Absence

Further Advice and Reading

• What is Occupational Health? Video
• Absence resources
• Using the Bradford Index to Manage Absence – some simple steps on how to measure and deal with short and long-term absence
• Employer handbook for statutory sick pay – including Statutory Sick Pay rates and tables. Issued April 2013
• Long term absence and incapacity for work – guidance from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
• Managing Absence and Return to Work – guidance from the Health and Safety Executive
• Employers Charter – Information produced in 2012 by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in the form of a leaflet with links to more information about what employers can and can’t do.

First Aid should be available to all in the workplace, whether it's just a person nominated by the employer to take charge and phone an ambulance or maybe you work in a high risk job with chemicals, cuts or serious accidents frequently occurring? 

This podcast explains how you decide on what is most suitable for your business, the different levels of training and competence available and also what else you might need to consider.

As promised, below are the show note resources as mentioned, and a few extra besides.

Don't forget to subscribe to my podcast for future episodes. Or why not drop me a line with a request for a subject.
Or why not purchase by book: Managers Pocket Guide to First Aid at Work available on the Amazon. See what it is all about by watching the video

Free Advice and Downloads

1. First Aid at Work Micro-site (bit.ly/2RxLChm) from the HSE
2. Infections at Work (bit.ly/1nVnkKJ) from the HSE
3. Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations (bit.ly/2qVrQAJ)
4. Reporting to HSE: RIDDOR and how to do it (bit.ly/2tUPkXc)
5. The Approved Code of Practice for First-Aid (bit.ly/2Rw0sVD) L74 
6. The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 (bit.ly/2WD283p)
7. HSE’s Managing Legionella in Hot and Cold-Water Systems (bit.ly/2WzVhrf)
8. The Resuscitation Council UK Guide to AED’s (bit.ly/2WCt82Y)
9. British Red Cross App (bit.ly/2WCWhLu) available for smart phones 
10. The Green Book - Hepatitis B vaccination  (bit.ly/2Wx7L33) 

From Working Well Solutions
Choosing a First Aider
Managers Guide to First Aid
Mental Health First Aid - Is it Working 

After a busy day do you feel tension in your back and neck?  Maybe a headache and you feel washed out.  This may be due to anxiety or tension.  Use this brief relaxation exercise to learn how to identify tension in your body and how you can train your body to relax.

For more information pop over to my website to read about stress at work

Or perhaps you don't know if you are stressed or anxious - does it matter?  Read my blog post: The difference between anxiety, stress, depression or worry and why it matters.

Or visit the NHS Mood Zone for many free tools to help you further

If you enjoyed this podcast please click the subscribe button

The fit note (it used to be the sick note) has options to allow workers to have a phased return to work.  But what does this mean and what are the issues you need to be aware of?
I will take you through the options a business might have and the advantages and disadvantages of this approach.

For more information pop over to my website: Working Well Solutions for the longer blog that accompanies this podcast.

If this podcast has helped you - why not tell your friends too.

There are so many wellbeing initiatives about but what is the science behind them?  Public Health England suggest the best way to protect your mental health is to focus on five habits:

1. Connecting with others
2. Being active
3. Taking notice of what is around you
4. Learning something new
5. Giving to others

There are plenty of free resources available so no need to pay out for anything.  

• For more information go to the Government website: click here
• Mindfulness: is it for you?
• Living life to the full: Free cognitive behaviour therapy toolkit
• A simple breathing technique for stress
• Mood zone 
• Mental health helplines 
• Talking therapies explained
• Can you get free therapy or counselling on the NHS?
• You may also be interested in the selection of mental health apps and tools in the NHS Digital Apps Library.
• Want someone to talk to - The Samaritans are always there

To read the longer blog post and access the free resource list that accompanies this podcast why not pop over to my website at Working Well Solutions and don't forget to tell others if this has helped you.

The most frequent question on my blog is about work and why a Manager is asking for a report from their own Doctor? 
Here I set out the reasons for doing so, the drawbacks of the report and an employees' rights under UK law.

• For more information have a look at my website and the blog that accompanies this podcast on Working Well Solutions.click here
• For information about the UK fit note click here 
• For a list of free advice from national agencies regarding workplace attendance click here

If you like the podcast - I'd appreciate a comment.