1. Introduction
This section details why promoting and protecting employee well-being is important, how employers can do this, and the benefits of doing so.
2. Absence and Attendance
This section takes a comprehensive look at the topical area of absence and attendance. The section contains 9 chapters looking at the related areas of: measuring, reporting and costing absence; exploring the causes of absence; managing absence and attendance; sick pay; dismissal; annual leave; family leave; sabbaticals; and flexible working.
There are also two case studies: one from East Sussex County Council; and one from West Yorkshire Probation Service.
There are also a variety of useful and customisable (online) template forms and checklists, such as: an absence recording document, a checklist for an absence management policy, a checklist of key activities for managing absence successfully, a model policy on flexible working, and various model letters.
In addition, on the online version of the product there is an assortment of calculator tools, which will be invaluable in estimating an organisation’s absence rate, frequency of absence, cost of absence, and a Bradford Factor calculator.
3. Stress and Well-being
Workplace stress is an increasing problem that companies of all sizes, and from all sectors, increasingly need to address. This section contains 11 chapters which start off by looking at what stress is, and what is meant by well-being. The potential legal, practical and financial consequences of stress are outlined, followed by an examination of the HSE Management Standards on Workplace Stress. The following chapters then take a practical look at how to assess work, stress and well-being policies, and the link between line managers and work stress.
The subsequent chapters look at the implications of working time, work-related violence and trauma, bullying and harassment at work, as well as managing change without damaging well-being.
The section also contains a case study from Bradford & Bingley, as well as a wealth of templates and checklists on diverse subjects such as: stress risk assessment, stress survey briefing, a competency assessment chart, a checklist for organisational trauma management and bullying and harassment policy. In addition, the online version provides calculators to help estimate the cost of sickness absence, and the cost of stress-related staff turnover.
4. Occupational Health
The final section contains 9 chapters looking at occupational health in general. It offers practical advice, examining the legal implications and providing suggested policies and mechanisms to deal with the areas of: an employer's duty of care; disability discrimination; the role of occupational health in absence management; medical assessment of fitness to work; rehabilitation; health promotion initiatives; alcohol and drugs; and smoking.
The section contains a case study from GlaxoSmithKline, as well as practical checklists and forms such as a sample smoke-free policy.