It may well have been a long, hot, summer in the United Kingdom, but that didn’t stop the Occupational Health Assessment Limited team from continuing to lead on HR, absence management, and employment news themes. A short selection of our Summer 2026 press coverage is provided below; Women’s health in the Workplace Our Practice Director, […]
The size and resources of Human Resources teams are one of the major dividing lines in the UK employment world. Larger employers typically encounter the entire range of HR responsibilities and challenges on a daily or hourly basis. It follows that they have the need and the financial resources to populate their HR & Payroll
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey MP, recently announced plans to end the “consultation culture” at HM Treasury and other government departments. However, a recent survey by Occupational Health Assessment Limited found that almost half of employers would be able to offer informed views and insights on such consultations if asked. The survey of
Occupational Health Assessment Limited aim to provide employers with regular updates on important themes. In particular we look for current trends and UK legislation changes in areas of HR and Payroll practice and legislation. And, despite this being the quiet summer months, there is plenty of movement in such areas currently. A few items that
Occupational Health Assessment Limited’s survey reveals overwhelming HR support for Fit Note improvement trials across England. The government funded trials to radically improve the effectiveness of Fit Notes are scheduled to commence in July across four English regions. The survey also suggests that Human Resources (HR) professionals are keen to see any identified improvements to the
Overwhelming HR support for Fit Note improvement trials Read More »
Please join Occupational Health Assessment Limited for the third of our fun, informative and engaging quarterly webinars in 2026. Our expert & enlightening speakers for this webinar include: Employment Law expert Tim Gofton will look at the next milestones in the Employment Rights Act timetable alongside some suggested employer responses to the latest issues.
The Occupational Health Assessment Limited team continue to lead many of the key wellbeing, workplace and employee benefit conversations. Below are just some examples taken from our May and June 2026 press coverage. Employers unaware of the Fair Work Agency Research undertaken by Occupational Health Assessment Limited in June highlights that nine out of every
A brief summary of just some of our press coverage in April 2026. Another busy month for the team, with a variety of news topics and coverage in the following publications; Practice Director appointed Occupational Health Assessment Limited are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Practice Director, Claire McCusker. McCusker has more
Masseuse awarded over £26,000 A masseuse in a small healthcare business has been awarded over £26,000 after her employer failed to seek occupational health advice. In the case, Butunoi v Turner Health Group Ltd, the claimant was employed in a small healthcare business and dismissed in November 2022 following a period of sickness absence linked to
Former police worker wins six figure award A former Police worker with Avon & Somerset Constabulary stands to receive an award indicated to be over £126,000 after winning a claim for disability discrimination. Donna Vale, employed by the force between September 2023 and March 2024, disclosed that she had ADHD when she started working and
Please join Occupational Health Assessment Limited for the second of our fun, informative and engaging 2026 quarterly webinars. Our expert & enlightening speakers for this webinar include: Employment Law expert Michael Cole will consider how the Employment Rights Act will impact employee claims based on sickness and disability and what additional risks HR will
After many years of negative headlines, research by Occupational Health Assessment Limited suggests that Human Resources (HR) experts are finally starting to see some genuine value from the Fit Note system in supporting absence management procedures. The survey of 160 employers representing more than 600,000 employees was undertaken in March and found that more than
HR experts finally seeing real value in Fit Notes Read More »
Occupational Health Assessment Limited continue to lead key conversations in the HR & wellbeing space. In the first quarter of 2026 we generated so much coverage that we have had to break our quarterly summary into two. Part 1 was published last week, and here is part 2. Evidence (if needed) that we are making
Occupational Health Assessment Limited continues making the news in the HR & wellbeing space. In the first quarter of 2026 we generated so much coverage that we have had to break our quarterly summary into two! Below is the first of our two collections of topical news coverage. The second will be published next week:
£1m cost of not acting on stress warnings A recent High Court decision highlights the serious legal consequences for employers who fail to respond properly to employee stress concerns. In Duffy v Jockey Club Racecourses Ltd, a former marketing manager was awarded more than £990,000 after the Court found his employer breached its duty of
£32k award after refusing overtime on health grounds An employment tribunal has found that Sainsbury’s discriminated against a disabled employee by failing to adjust absence management processes and workplace arrangements. The case highlights a recurring HR risk: when employers know an employee is disabled, but continue applying standard procedures without adapting them to reflect the
Sainsbury’s worker awarded £32k after refusing overtime Read More »
Yesterday BBC News published some new research around the use of fit notes by General Practitioners (GPs) and other medical professionals. From sick notes to fit notes Fit notes were first introduced in 2010 to replace the existing sick notes system. Fit notes were designed to offer more than a binary choice between being either
Yesterday the CIPD published their quarterly Labour Market Outlook and this included some important new data points for HR experts and employment professionals. Hiring intentions down The most striking finding was this one; “Employer hiring intentions remain at the lowest level on record since we began collecting this measure in 2014, apart from during the
The immensely popular Occupational Health Assessment Limited quarterly webinars return for another year of fun, informative, interactive and engaging presentations. Our first event of 2026 will look at some of the key employment issues of the moment. Our expert, informative & enlightening speakers for this webinar include: Employment Law expert Emily Yeardley will consider
£32k award for chronic migraines An Employment Tribunal has found that Medway NHS Foundation Trust unlawfully discriminated against a trainee clinical coder because of disability and failed to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. Mrs Y Barron began working for the Trust on 7 January 2013 and, in August 2021, started a three-year
£177k award for disability discrimination A college lecturer has been awarded over £177,000 after her employer, Mid Kent College, was found to have discriminated against her on the grounds of disability, failure to make reasonable adjustments and harassment. Dr Turton was employed as a Psychology Lecturer from 2014 until she took voluntary redundancy in 2022.
The immensely popular Occupational Health Assessment Limited quarterly webinars return for another year of fun, informative, interactive and engaging presentations. Our first event of 2026 will look at some of the key employment issues of the moment. Our expert, informative & enlightening speakers for this webinar include: Employment Law expert Emily Yeardley will consider
The start of a new year brings new challenges for employers and their HR teams, and the Occupational Health Assessment Limited team have hit the ground running to help guide you through the challenges in the months ahead. So welcome back to our website and let’s take a look at what we have in store
We are now rapidly approaching the end of the calendar year and the team at Occupational Health Assessment Limited would like to extend our season’s greetings to all our clients and professional contacts for the festive period ahead. But before we close for the year, we would like to conclude with a couple of housekeeping
2025 has seen Occupational Health Assessment Limited deliver on our commitment to four quarterly webinars. These events have covered a wide range of employment, Human Resources (HR), employment law and wellbeing themes. The webinars have been very well received by the hundreds of delegates who have attended our events. Indeed, it has been a year
The Christmas shutdown & UK employers Occupational Health Assessment Limited have delivered a wide range of virtual and face-to-face events throughout 2025. This series culminated in our December webinar timed to follow The Budget and to consider the continued challenges of the government’s access to work scheme. Yet our last event also provided some other
Our research highlights increased health and wellbeing challenges for older employees. Research undertaken by Occupational Health Assessment Limited in September suggests that UK employers remain largely unprepared for the realities of an ageing workforce. The recently published Keep Britain Working final report confirmed that the UK “is getting older and living longer and becoming sicker
Join Occupational Health Assessment Limited for our latest fun, informative and engaging HR & Employment Webinar (2nd December 2025). Our final webinar of the calendar year will update attendees on the key Budget decisions, the Keep Britain Working review, and the Employment Rights Act as well as other important and topical workforce issues. Our
£24k award over £50 Bluetooth headset A chef with dyslexia who repeatedly struggled to read on-screen orders has been awarded £24,000 from his employer after a tribunal found a failure to make reasonable adjustments. The case concerned Greene King Retail Services Limited who employed the kitchen chef from 15th September to 23rd November 2023 at
Much has been written about the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace and what this might mean for Human Resources (HR) teams. So, what is the current position on AI in HR? CIPD research Let’s start with some recent research. The CIPD’s “Good Work Index” published in June included a short section on
CIPD report indicates absence rates continue to rise The 2010s witnessed a decline in employee absence rates. Yet the current decade has seen sharp increases, and a report this week by the CIPD has confirmed that employee absence rates continue to rise following the Covid pandemic years. The findings The CIPD Health and Wellbeing at
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
Important lessons for employers after £230k tribunal award Read More »
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
Overwhelming support from HR leaders for a new universal wellbeing tax break Read More »
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 employer omitted to implement ADHD
Courts expect large employers to provide neurodiversity training Read More »
£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 and discriminated 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
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
Our 2025 season of popular webinars continue with our September event. This webinar will provide another topical, practical and engaging look at key employment issues. So please join us at our fun, informative, interactive and free to attend HR & Employment Webinar on 16th September 2025. Our expert, informative & enlightening speakers for this webinar
Much of our work at Occupational Health Assessment Ltd is undertaken in conjunction with UK Human Resources (HR) professionals. Yet two recent research findings suggest that those same Human Resources experts are under severe pressure in 2025. Growing pressure The first indication was provided via Employment Hero’s press release in early June. The platform provider
Human Resources experts are under severe pressure Read More »
Last week the CIPD published the 2025 Good Work Index. The theme of this year’s report is the health of the UK workforce, a subject also under scrutiny in the government’s Keep Britain Working review published in March. What new data and insights are provided for employers in these two reports on the health of
It was five years ago this week that “non-essential” UK shops reopened after the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. In this article we will look again at the Covid risk and how employers can improve workplace control of infectious diseases. Much has happened in the half-decade since the start of the pandemic, and Covid
Occupational Health Assessment Ltd’s recent coverage and insights… Occupational Health Assessment Ltd (OHA Ltd) are the UKs only Certified B-Corp occupational health provider. This unique status makes us a leading voice in topical conversations relating to workforce wellbeing, Human Resources (HR) issues, employee benefits and (of course) occupational health assessments. Below is a brief summary
Occupational Health Assessment Ltd’s recent coverage and insights… Read More »
employer awareness of stress risk assessment requirements is worryingly low.
Employer awareness of stress risk assessment requirements is worryingly low Read More »
Human Resources (HR) departments are usually also the driving force behind most employee wellbeing initiatives. Workforce wellbeing is of course vital to ensure that employees remain fit, healthy and (importantly) at work. Yet employee wellbeing is a complex animal and encompasses physical, mental, and financial health. The wellbeing triangle This “wellbeing triangle” is very challenging for
Reasonable adjustment update – quiet place to work A recent employment tribunal case highlights that failing to provide a quiet place for someone to work could fall foul of the Equality Act 2010. In the case, Ms. L. Kogut v. The British Library (Case No: 2200123/2023), the claimant alleged that her employer failed to make reasonable
Reasonable adjustment update: a quiet place to work Read More »
Sickness absence can adversley affect restrictive covenants Navigating the complexities of post-termination restrictive covenants can be a minefield for HR professionals. A recent High Court decision has thrown a spotlight on the challenges employers face when attempting to enforce these covenants, especially concerning employees who have been on extended sick leave. Case Overview In the
Sickness absence can affect restrictive covenants Read More »
Join us at our fun, informative, interactive and FREE to attend webinar! Our 2025 season of quarterly – and incredibly popular – webinars continue with another practical and engaging look at all the key HR and employment issues of the moment. Our well-known and engaging speakers for this HR & Employment webinar include: Entertaining and
You only need cast your mind back three years to remember the recent peaks of the cost-of-living crisis here in the UK. That pinch point in household and business finances followed three seismic events for Britain. Those events were the Brexit referendum (and eventual departure from the EU), the Covid-19 pandemic (and associated lockdowns) and
Yesterday’s surprise announcement by the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, was the abolition of the administrative body NHS England. NHS England decision The background to that decision was to avoid duplication of work undertaken at the top of the NHS, thus freeing up some additional funds – in what remains a very challenging economy – to
Last year our Brand Ambassador, Steve Herbert, helped create the Benefits Expert Magazine podcast series; “Benefits Unboxed”. The series, which is now also available via podcast platform Spotify, aims to unwrap important HR themes. Each episode covers a new subject, and the current edition is very topical indeed. Trump 2.0 & DEI The latest podcast chapter, “The
Research undertaken by Occupational Health Assessment Ltd reveals how Human Resources (HR) professionals feel about some of the key UK employment issues of early 2025. Return to office issues Chief amongst HR concerns was the issue of return to office mandates. In recent weeks several high-profile UK business leaders have followed the lead of Donald
The quarterly Occupational Health Assessment Ltd Employment Webinars began in the early summer of 2024. These webinars attract a large and growing audience of senior HR, Finance, and C-Suite professionals. Attendees are treated to a highly topical, fun, informative and interactive update on many current employment issues from truly expert speakers. The success of our
A short summary of our recent media coverage and insights… Occupational Health Assessment Ltd (OHA Ltd) are the UKs only Certified B-Corp occupational health provider. We are a leading voice in topical conversations relating to workforce wellbeing, Human Resources (HR) issues, employee benefits and (of course) occupational health assessments. Below is a brief summary of
Employers expect rollback of EDI policies in the US to also impact British workplace Occupational Health Assessment Ltd.’s survey finds that reversal of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) plans divide opinions of UK Human Resources professionals. A survey of more than 140 UK employers, including senior Human Resources, Finance and C-Suite professionals suggests almost 7
Join more than 200 HR, Reward, Finance & C-suite professionals at our fun & informative and FREE to attend webinar With just over a week to go until the next Occupational Health Assessment quarterly webinar we already have more than 200 delegates booked to attend! Full details and how to book below. Following extremely positive
At the end of 2024 the government took the controversial decision to overlook the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s recommendation to award compensation to those people represented by the Women Against State Pension Increases (WASPI) campaign. The WASPI campaign centred on the increase of state pension age for women born in the 1950s, which many
A short summary of our recent media coverage and insights… Occupational Health Assessment Ltd (OHA Ltd) are the UKs only Certified B-Corp occupational health provider, and as such we are increasingly a leading voice in topical conversations relating to workforce wellbeing, Human Resources (HR) issues, employee benefits and (of course) occupational health assessments. Below is
Guide to stress risk assessment A stress risk assessment is a structured conversation to help you identify and record the presence (or absence) of specific workplace stressors. An agreed action plan to address them can then be created. This guide explains everything you need to know about how to conduct a stress risk assessment. Managing
Please join us at our fun, informative and FREE to attend webinar! Following extremely positive delegate feedback from our recent events, Occupational Health Assessment Ltd is delighted to announce the return of our “fun and informative” HR and Employment Webinars for 2025. Our expert panel of speakers will provide insights on a number of topical and important employment issues.
Earlier this year Occupational Health Assessment Limited’s new Brand Ambassador, Steve Herbert, helped create the Benefits Expert Magazine podcast series; “Benefits Unboxed”. Each podcast episode aims to unwrap a topical theme relevant to Human Resources (HR) professionals. Practical thoughts and insights are included to help employers better respond to the issues raised. Latest episode The
Work-related illness The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was first established half a century ago, and it is undeniable that the HSE has made a massive difference to work-related illness since inception. In a press release issued last week the HSE’s Chief Executive, Sarah Albon, said; “This year marks 50 years since the legislation which