It May Be Time to Rethink the Design of Jobs to Deliver Good Health for Workers
Even before the COVID-19 crisis, the impact of poorly designed jobs on the health of workers was drawing attention. Now may be the time to fundamentally rethink the design of jobs so that they promote good health and lessen poor health and its costs.
Sep 25, 2020 Warwick Institute for Employment Research
Managing the Challenge of Workforce Presenteeism in the COVID-19 Crisis
Presenteeism occurs when people work when in suboptimal health. Both presenteeism and absenteeism are key influences on workplace productivity, but presenteeism is by far the most significant. It's vital that employers identify and deal with presenteeism, for the health of their people as well as that of the organization.
Sep 25, 2020 Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
The Cost of Brexit Uncertainty and the Negative Implications for the UK Economy
Leaving the European Union has had an overall negative economic effect on the UK economy, and there are additional economic costs associated with the uncertainty surrounding the new relationship. Will there be a deal? And if so, what type of deal is likely?
Jul 8, 2020 The RAND Blog
Long-Term Furloughs During COVID-19 Hold Risks for Employee Health and Well-Being
Governments around the world have offered furlough schemes to try to delay employers from making any restructuring decisions during the pandemic. The aims of such programs are laudable. But they may come with unintended consequences.
Jun 15, 2020 The Council for Work and Health
Global Challenges to Maintaining a Healthy Workforce During a Pandemic: Views from RAND Experts
As nations across the globe remain in lockdown to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, questions about the future of employment and workforce productivity emerge. During a recent webinar, RAND experts discussed how to get people back to work and improve productivity post COVID-19.
May 15, 2020
Looking After Those Who Look After Us—How COVID-19 May Affect NHS Staff
COVID-19 may leave a long legacy of poor health and well-being in the National Health Service workforce. This could affect quality of care and the financial performance of the system. We need to ensure that NHS organizations provide significant support for health care workers.
Apr 15, 2020 The RAND Blog
It Is More Important Than Ever for Employers to Look After Staff Health and Wellbeing
COVID-19 will likely have a direct effect on the health and wellbeing of employees. While many employers responding to the COVID-19 crisis have understandably been concerned with business resilience, processes, and performance, it is important that they also continue to focus on the health and wellbeing of staff.
Apr 9, 2020 The RAND Blog
Waking Up to the Costs of Nocturia
Nocturia is a troublesome lower urinary tract condition that causes people to wake up two or more times a night to empty their bladder. Researchers calculated the overall economic cost associated with nocturia in a working-age population across six countries.
Jun 18, 2019 The RAND Blog
The Case for Investing in a More Healthy and Engaged Health Workforce
Improving staff engagement leads to a variety of positive benefits. But defining and measuring engagement is not straightforward, and different demographic factors are associated with different levels of engagement. The National Health Service in England is looking at ways to increase engagement in its staff.
Nov 8, 2018 The RAND Blog
The Rules of the Game: Reducing Antisocial Behaviour and Violence at Football Events
Violent behavior at football matches has garnered international media attention for decades even though the vast majority of matches pass without any significant violent incidents. Despite the widespread attention toward harmful behaviors, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of current practices targeting negative fan behavior.
Aug 14, 2018 Policing Insight
How to Increase Participation in Workplace Health and Wellbeing Initiatives
Many employers are actively looking at ways to improve health and well-being in their workplaces. Increasing employee participation in health and wellness programs requires strategies to address health risks, engagement with staff, and buy-in and support from management.
May 10, 2018 Reward & Employee Benefits Association Annual Report
Regulating Infrastructures in the Tropics
Regulation helps address the demands of investors who are seeking assurances that their investments are safe, while also reassuring democratically elected governments. Regulatory reform could help Brazil attract more private investment in its infrastructure.
May 26, 2017 The RAND Blog
We Still Know Little About Financial Well-Being
There is a clear link between UK employees being concerned about their finances and negative health and well-being. The challenge for researchers is that financial well-being is hard to measure.
Feb 20, 2017 HRZone
Measuring What Works: Workplace Well-Being
The link between productivity and well-being is recognized and increasingly accepted as a prerequisite of strong employer and employee performance. HR professionals and CEOs believe that high employee well-being means high staff engagement and a real intention to do well for the workforce.
Nov 28, 2016 CIPD
Thinking Outside the Box to Find Solutions to Mental Health Problems
Many innovative ways to deliver mental health services in the UK aim to benefit individuals, industry, government, and the economy.
Oct 19, 2016 The BMJ
How Can Regulation Improve Quality of Care in the English Health Care System?
Inspections have become more prominent in England's approach to health service regulation as a way to identify problems before they occur. But the evidence of regulation contributing to better quality of care in different systems is scarce.
Nov 13, 2015 The RAND Blog
Paying People to Change Behaviour in the UK: Lessons from Latin America
Policymakers in Western countries seeking new policy levers to tackle costly lifestyle behaviors in the age of austerity may do well to take up programs based on cash incentives. Recent analysis of conditional payment programs in Latin America highlights some useful lessons.
Mar 30, 2015 The RAND Blog
Putting UK Mental Health Services on the Road to Recovery
If mental health problems are the most significant barrier preventing people on benefits from taking up employment, then why not transform how the system supports them? Policymakers could redirect some of the resources available to the benefit system towards improving mental health outcomes, and put more evidence-based interventions in place. The savings to the benefit system should logically pay for this investment.
Feb 20, 2015 The RAND Blog
Finding Work for Those with Common Mental Health Problems
Employment has distinct health and wider personal benefits for people with common mental health problems and it is also associated with lower healthcare utilization, benefit savings, and income tax gains for the UK Government.
Jan 20, 2014 The RAND Blog
Under Pressure: How Europe Manages Psychosocial Risks in the Workplace
During an economic downturn, employers are unlikely to put the mental health of their workers at the top of the agenda. But it is precisely in these circumstances that employers cannot afford to ignore the mental well-being of employees.
Jul 17, 2013 The RAND Blog
NHS 24/7: An Effective Way to Improve Quality of Care?
There are proposals to have England's National Health Service offer non-emergency service on weekends. Since there is a strong association between the health and well-being of staff and the quality of patient care, 24/7 working could have unintended consequences for patients.
May 24, 2013 The RAND Blog
The Virtues of a '9 to 5' Job
People who do shift work should be vigilant about their risk factors. At the same time, their employers—and the government—can do more to offer education and targeted screening programs to prevent or forestall disease, writes Christian van Stolk.
Aug 23, 2012 The RAND Blog
