4 minute read
Business News
DEMAND FOR STAFF MORALE BOOSTING GIFT BOXES SURGE
Worcestershire-based Smile Box has created a solution for improving staff wellbeing by bringing together a bespoke collection of self-care products and mental health resources in a gift box that employers can give to their staff. The aim is to increase staff morale, productivity and to decrease sickness levels and stress as employers recognise the benefits of taking good care of their staff. Donna Fisher, Founder of Smile Box, reports there has been a surge in demand for her boxes following May’s Mental Health Awareness Week, with business owners wanting to help improve staff wellbeing. This follows reports that last year 15.9 million days were lost to sickness absence in the UK due to stress, depression, anxiety and other mental health problems. Donna said: “It has been a dream come true to launch Smile Box this year and see the positive impact it’s having on people and I hope we can help many businesses in the local area to deliver some happiness to their teams!”
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www.smile-box.co.uk
Founder of Smile Box, Donna Fisher
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS: VITAL FOR EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES
Long gone are the days where workplace wellbeing centred around the notion that shutting the office half an hour early on a Friday amounted to showing flexibility and care towards staff.
Now, the standards employers are held to when it comes to their knowledge and actions surrounding the health of their team are much higher – and the pandemic has heightened this progress, with 92% of companies increasing their emphasis on mental health as a result.
Which is why skills such as Mental Health First Aid training are in such high demand – and the experts at Paycare Wellbeing are busier than ever. For HR teams who are conscious of this increasing need for wellbeing-savvy workforces, the addition of a Mental Health First Aid course on a CV makes applicants stand out from those who have similar levels of work experience. Whether it’s undertaking training and appointing Champions who take ownership of their colleagues’ wellbeing needs, offering remote or hybrid working as standard, or initiating a ban on ‘out of hours’ emails and communication about work matters, there are countless ways to invest in people’s health and wellbeing. And with so many companies doing exactly that, the time to act is now.
www.paycare.org/workplace-wellbeing
SUBSIDY CONTROL SYSTEM TO SUPPORT UK BUSINESSES
The UK government recently announced a new subsidy control system that will provide financial aid to UK businesses following Brexit. Under the EU’s State aid regime, the vast majority of “aid” granted did not need notification. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, the Commission was quick to issue up to date State aid guidelines, ensuring certainty for businesses operating in unprecedented circumstances. Gowling WLG found that notification was only necessary in relation to subsidies granted in problematic or novel areas. The subsequent decision in such cases gave legal certainty and clarity to the recipients and was not regarded as ‘red tape’. The government needs to take great care in the replacement to the EU regime – the key priority for businesses will be legal certainty. This new regime will potentially open the door to a level of litigation that we did not see in the EU regime. This may create a more uncertain environment for business looking for State support to address market failure before they risk their own capital, particularly with respect to new green technologies. Whether the UK’s new subsidy control regime will provide the necessary assurance to UK businesses remains to be seen.
www.gowlingwlg.com
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reallygooddigital_ad22.pdf 1 01/07/2021 10:39:27 PM
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