Employers urged to monitor and review staff wellbeing initiatives
Karen Condie, director at Holmes Mackillop Solicitors, has urged employers to monitor and review staff wellbeing initiatives in response to a report that absence levels at Scottish councils have hit a new high.
“Audit Scotland’s latest report shows yet another increase in sick days in our councils and schools that mirrors the wider increasing number of days lost to sickness in our NHS and Scottish Government,” she said.
“The report finds employees have become disengaged and the increased burden of absent colleagues is exacerbating the problem.
“Hybrid working was embraced by many employers as a result of the ways of working necessitated by the Covid restrictions, but the auditor finds there has been little attempt to measure the effect of hybrid working on not just efficiency but employee wellbeing and recruitment.”
Condie said that with wellbeing of employees deteriorating and recruitment being a major issue for many employers, this widespread failure to review and monitor the effects of working practices is disappointing.
“A successful organisation needs to see what’s working and what’s not with any strategy or practice it has or is considering introducing,” she said.
“There are many resources available to employers, from ACAS among others, to work with staff in promoting positive wellbeing but they have to be monitored and reviewed to find out if they do.”
ENDS
For further information please contact Karen Condie on tel 0141 226 4942