Friday, December 1, 2006
Working Smarter advice for saving the planet
Campaigners for smarter working offered an immediate answer to some of the problems of the environmental impact of human activity on the globe: the world needs to reform the way it works.
The advice comes in the wake of the Stern report which predicted environmental apocalypse if action is not taken now.
The widespread introduction of smarter working practices will significantly reduce the need for travel, both commuting and travel for business, making a huge impact to the levels of CO2 emissions from transport sources. Enabling more home working, more flexible working, better remote and mobile working, all have the impact of reducing the need to travel, and staggering the required travel patterns, which will also reduce peak time congestion, in itself a major contributor to pollution levels.
The need to work from nine to five, five days a week, is an anachronism in this modern 24/7 global world: there is no need for it. Adopting smarter working practices is a win-win situation: not only will it help reduce emissions, it will also provide staff with a better work-life balance and make them more productive.
above: The Stern report predicted environmental apocalypse if action is not taken now.
Happy Christmas?
Concerned about your personal budget for Christmas festivities? Worried about possible family feuds? Feel that you should be having a happy and enjoyable time, but all you can see is problems?
Christmas should be a time of fun, a time to relax and unwind. However, Christmas is becoming a time of increased pressure and stress for employees. This has been the experience of CiC, one of the UK‘s leading Employee Assistance Programme providers, who have found that in the run up to Christmas and for several weeks afterwards, employees are using the CiC confidential helpline as a support mechanism to help them through this stressful period.
Christmas is traditionally deemed to be a time for family, but this can lead to stress, with individuals being exposed to intense family dynamics or increased feelings of loneliness if spending the festive season alone. Added pressures from home can have a detrimental effect on a person’s performance at work, leading to stress responses such as headaches, anxiety and difficulty in sleeping.
Office parties can be one source of additional pressure at Christmas. As employees begin to relax for the holiday season, parties can be a scene of excessive drinking and over-indulgence. Reduced inhibitions at such occasions can lead to one night stands or in some situations, traumatic incidents, such as accidents or falls. For many employees, the morning after not only brings a headache but also feelings of guilt and remorse about their actions. Providing employees with a forum in which to discuss these concerns can prove invaluable.
A further issue is that of an increased workload on returning to work in January, due to the now-traditional shut down period for UK companies between Christmas and New Year.
“In the run up to Christmas it is important that employees and managers should anticipate the extra workload that comes with having time off over the festive period. Employees and managers need to pace themselves on the return to the workplace. Work hours will have inevitably been lost and a good plan of action will enable teams and employees to feel in control and optimistic about company objectives”.
~ Kate Nowlan, CEO, CiC
Christmas is coming, so where are you partying?
It’s that time of year again… Time to start organising your company’s Christmas party! You want to get it right and exceed last year’s knees up, so if you haven’t already, what can you do?
Gala Casinos are now part of the Christmas party scene and offer a ‘less predictable’ party venue. They are here to help you outclass last year’s Christmas gathering by removing the hassle of organising your company’s Christmas party from scratch. Gala Casinos have professional party organisers on hand and offer venues with all the qualities needed to make your Christmas party unforgettable for all the right reasons.
An independent survey conducted on behalf of Gala Casinos found that a whopping 84% of people feel a well-chosen venue is the most important element to the success of a Christmas party more than good food and drink.
However, having food and drink is still important as 74% of respondents believe good food is the second most essential element at a party. Yet 59% of Londoners want plenty of drink with their good food to make their Christmas parties swing, with 40% nationwide agreeing.
Nationwide, Gala’s 32 casino sites offer varied and high quality food and drinks menus including cuisines from around the world and cocktails to tempt you. With late licensed bars your party doesn’t have to stop early and there is also entertainment at your fingertips to keep you amused.
The survey also found that the fate of company Christmas parties really are in the hands of PA’s across the UK with 44% being in charge of organising their firms Christmas bash. The remaining 56% of those surveyed left arranging the company Christmas party to the manager/director, H.R department or the receptionist.
As a Christmas party venue Gala Casinos can cater for small gatherings or larger parties with managers on hand to help make your experience enjoyable. In addition to your party package being catered for, you will also have a dedicated party hosts to assist with any requirements you may have.
Gala Casinos have also make booking your ‘less predictable’ Christmas party as easy as possible, which is why they have a number of ways you can book, be it online, over the telephone, in person or via fax.
More
“Ban Bullying At Work Day” most successful year ever
A record breaking 5.5 million people took part in Ban Bullying At Work Day (7th November 2006). In a range of initiatives which included the minute of reflection, conferences and the online questionnaire workers from all walks of life marked the day. From Belfast to Brighton, from hospitals to insurance brokers, from unions to Government all joined together to observe the day and raise awareness of workplace bullying. More
Staff charity events = a happier workplace this christmas
If happy workers make the best workers then encouraging staff to CLOCK OFF this December could prove to be a massive boost for your business. Far from sending everyone home early, CLOCK OFF for CLIC Sargent is a national campaign which encourages businesses of all shapes and sizes to get together in the run up to Christmas and have some festive fun together, whilst also raising money for the UK’s leading children’s cancer charity, CLIC Sargent.
Cancer and leukaemia in children is a bigger problem than many imagine, with statistics now showing that 10 children and young people are diagnosed every day in the UK. December has now become Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Bringing everyone together for a fun event where their financial contributions make them part of one big drive to help children this Christmas couldn’t be simpler.
Download Sargent information and event packs or request them by calling 0845 121 1925.
E-breaks to replace tea breaks at work
Replacing the traditional tea break with an ‘e-break’ is the latest ploy to curtail internet and email abuse in the workplace. The average office worker spends two and a half hours online every working day emailing friends, checking their finances or internet shopping, amounting to some 75 working days per year. A policy recognising the value employees place on limited personal internet use, while setting down parameters for acceptable use, gives both parties the certainty they require, without the inflexibility of an outright ban.
No bosses
Almost half of the UK’s workforce could be self-employed within five years. Statistics show that 12 per cent of the UK’s working population have set up their own business and an additional 6 per cent are in the process of joining them, however research commissioned by Vodafone UK as part of its Working Nation Series estimates that the number of people working for themselves could be swelled by a further 10 million by 2011.
Big year
Next year, 2007, will be European Year of Equal Opportunities for All. The European Commission says this ‘will seek to make people in the EU more aware of their rights to enjoy equal treatment and a life free of discrimination.’
Pen pushers face bad backs
People who work in offices are among the most likely to suffer from back pain, according to the British Chiropractic Association. It says poor posture while sat at a computer can cause more back problems than the excessive lifting and carrying done by manual workers. Hunching over computer keyboards and cradling the phone between the ear and shoulder can all contribute to lower back and neck stiffness, not to mention the fact that many office workers sit for hours at a time with very little movement.
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