The population pyramid The demographics of the UK working population are in flux. Indeed, the workforce is changing shape. On a physical level the UK population has grown heavier in recent years. This increases the risk of health issues for the individual citizen and by extension increased problems for the National Health Service (NHS). But […]
£230k tribunal award The recent employment tribunal of Mrs Kelly Ruddock and The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Trust has resulted in total payments of more than £230k awarded to the claimant. The hearing also provides some important lessons for employers in other sectors to consider. Background This hearing centres on the challenges faced by a
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Occupational Health Assessment Ltd (OHA) are the UK’s only Certified B-Corp occupational health provider. We are also a leading voice in a wide range of topical HR and employment conversations. Below is a selection of our August press coverage as some summer reading for our followers. HR leaders call for new wellbeing tax break Research
Employers call for a new universal wellbeing tax break to be announced in the autumn Budget statement to support NHS reforms, reduce absenteeism and help boost economic growth. A survey of employers representing more than 88,000 workers suggests that the government should consider a new tax break aimed at supporting workforce wellbeing. Occupational Health Assessment
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Most employers and their HR teams will recognise the business need to keep their workforce fit, healthy and (importantly) at work. For only if the employee is able to undertake work will productivity and outcomes be delivered. One low-cost way of delivering this outcome is providing some generic step count advice to the workforce. But
Courts now expect large employers to provide neurodiversity training A recent UK employment tribunal ruling against Capgemini underscores how failing to act on straightforward occupational health advice, specifically providing neurodiversity training, can constitute disability discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. In the recent case, Ms Bahar Khorram, a senior cloud technologist diagnosed with ADHD, the
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£188k award after OH advice ignored In a notable recent case, a senior director at a recruitment firm was awarded almost £188,000 after being unfairly dismissed anddiscriminated against due to disability, following a cardiac arrest in February 2020 that resulted in a brain injury and cognitive impairments What happened? Darron Blewitt, a self-described “workaholic,” suffered a cardiac arrest
Where does the duty to make reasonable adjustments end? In Hindmarch v North East Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust ([2025] EAT 87), an Employment Appeal Tribunal reinforced a crucial boundary in disability discrimination law: employers aren’t required to make adjustments that have no realistic prospect of helping. Mr Hindmarch was an ambulance driver with asthma and anxiety.
Work from home request refusal leads to £29k award A recent employment tribunal award has highlighted the importance of handling flexible working and reasonable adjustments with care, especially when health concerns are in play. Case overview An administrative officer at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) asked to work from home due to menstrual health problems. Occupational health recommended remote
One of the stated aims of the Labour government is to reform and improve the services provided by the National Health Service (NHS). Work towards this ambition began with Lord Darzi’s report last year, and this month the government has published some ambitious plans. The key focus is to move the NHS from combatting sickness