NGSU Rapport Issue 91 by The Design Mill

Rapport THE NATIONWIDE GROUP STAFF UNION MAGAZINE

DECEMBER 2018 | ISSUE 91

SUPPORTING EQUALITY

GETTING ACTIvE IN THE EMPLOYEE NETWORk GROUPS

NGSU@TUC RAISING OUR vOICE

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Rapport December 2018

Rapport THE NATIONWIDE GROUP

STAFF UNION MAGAZINE

91 DECEMBER 2018 | ISSUE

SUPPORTING EQUALITY GETTING ACTIVE IN NETWORK GROUPS

THE EMPLOYEE

TUC NGSU@ OUR VOICE RAISING

Editorial board Nicola Huddlestone, President Chris Palfrey, NEC Officer Tim Rose, Assistant General Secretary Editorial Martin Moriarty martinmoriarty@mac.com Design & production The Design Mill www.the-design-mill.co.uk Printed in the UK Banbury Litho www.banburylitho.co.uk NGSU Middleton Farmhouse, 37 Main Road, Middleton Cheney, Banbury, Oxon OX17 2QT Tel: 01295 710767 Fax: 01295 712580 ngsu@ngsu.org.uk www.ngsu.org.uk @TimPoil NGSU We use bitly URLs to convert long web addresses into shorter ones throughout the magazine. To avoid single-use plastics, we use a biodegradable polywrap produced from potato starch.

celebrating our successes As 2018 comes to a close, I felt it was a good opportunity to look back on some of the challenges we have faced and celebrate some of our fantastic achievements this year. Where better to start than the loyalty awards? A conference motion last year urged the union to seek a review of loyalty awards, Nicola Huddlestone, President including sabbatical options for 25 years’ service and recognition of staff at five-year intervals. After setting out to overhaul the loyalty awards, we were able to announce we had reached an agreement with Nationwide, which becomes effective from 1 January 2019 – a fantastic recognition of loyalty where over 2,000 employees would already qualify for the sabbatical. On top of this, the second phase of the increase to maternity pay was released when the Increase from 18 to 22 weeks full pay was announced in October – it comes into effect from 1 April next year. And we are continuing to work with Nationwide as we seek further improvements to make the Society an ever-more family-friendly place to work, including a further increase in paid maternity/adoption leave. Change programmes throughout 2018 have involved challenges, which can present difficult times for members and support at this time is crucial. We always endeavour to support and represent the best interests of our members. We continue to face challenges and will continue to work with the Society to look to resolve them. And we will continue to work to enhance your terms and conditions throughout 2019 and beyond.

Look at our updates… https://ngsu.org.uk/blog/catego

ry/union-mail/

Legal breakthrough for bereaved parents The new Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Act will give all employed parents a day-one right to two weeks’ leave if they lose a child under the age of 18, or suffer a stillbirth from 24 weeks of pregnancy. Employed parents will also be able to claim pay for this period, subject to meeting eligibility criteria. The new law, which is expected to come into force in 2020, makes parental bereavement leave a legal right for the first time in UK history. In the light of this development, NGSU is currently working with Nationwide to review existing bereavement leave policies. “We believe the current agreed bereavement arrangements already meet and exceed the new legislation as the Society’s employees have access to paid bereavement leave and compassionate leave,” says General Secretary Tim Poil.

10% off the perfect stocking filler Illuminated Apparel are offering NGSU members 10 per cent off their entire range of interactive and light-up products. Illuminated Apparel create interactive T-shirts that you can draw on with light, which make perfect stocking fillers. They also offer a range of light up products from LED baseball caps to light up dog collars, Christmas jumpers and LED glasses. Simply choose your product on their website and enter the discount code NGSU10 at the checkout. www.illuminatedapparel.co.uk

More people finding justice at work Many more people who have been treated unfairly at work are seeking justice through the courts again now that the government has abolished fees for taking cases to Employment Tribunals (ETs). It was five years ago that the government made it much harder for workers to pursue cases of sex discrimination, unfair dismissal, bullying and harassment by introducing fees that could cost individuals up to £1,200 in each case. That decision led to an overall 68 per cent drop in the number of cases going to tribunal. But since fees were abolished in summer 2017, the numbers have been steadily climbing again. Between July to September 2017, the rise was 64 per cent. Between October and December 2017, it was 90 per cent. And between January to March 2018 (the latest quarter for which figures are available), the increase was 118 per cent. However, although the current monthly average for single claims stands at 2,868 (based on the latest available six months’ worth of statistics), that it still just a shade over 60 per cent of the average for the equivalent period before fees were introduced – 4,558. In addition, of the £33 million it was estimated it would cost to refund the fees levied before abolition, just £6.6 million had been paid back by March this year, the latest quarterly figures available. l One of the many benefits of NGSU membership is that the union will pay all legal costs for representation at an ET, where our solicitors, Slater & Gordon, assess there is a better than 50 per cent chance of success.

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200-plus employers named and shamed for breaking wage law More than 22,000 workers are in line for a total of £1.44 million in back pay between them from employers who broke the law on the National Minimum Wage (NMW), according to the latest government figures. Some of the 239 employers named and shamed in the latest round for cheating workers out of money they were owed by right are household names such as Bristol City FC, Card Factory, Durham Country Cricket Club and the Odeon Cinemas Group. The back pay identified by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) was for more workers than in any previous single naming list and has generated record fines of £1.97 million (in addition to the back pay the companies must sort out). Now in its fifth year, the scheme has so far identified a total of £10.8 million in back pay for around 90,000 workers, with more than 1,900 employers fined a total of £8.4 million.

New forum to help ex-Carillion staff There has been a steady rise in NGSU membership among former Carillion staff since around 300 were brought in-house in January, when the collapse of the outsourcing firm brought to an end the Society’s facilities management contract with the company. The union now has reps in Swindon, Bournemouth and Northampton who will be able to raise issues on behalf of former Carillion staff directly with senior management via the Property Services Business Committee. Chaired by Head of Property Services Andrew Tuck, the first meeting of the committee was due to be held as Rapport went to press. The reps are: l Tony Chesterson, NH, Swindon l Gessica Italiano, Optimus, Swindon l Julian Davison, NAC, Northampton l Janice Evans, BAC, Bournemouth.

Better paid leave for new mums Phase two of the NGSU agreement with Nationwide to increase paid maternity and adoption leave to 22 weeks comes into effect next April. But under the terms of a transitional agreement, the enhanced entitlement will apply to employees starting their maternity or adoption leave on 24 November 2018. “We are delighted to have been able to negotiate this increase in paid leave and we continue to work with Nationwide to review the suite of family-friendly and other time off policies as we seek further enhancements,” says General Secretary Tim Poll.

“We are working towards a number of goals, determined at our conference in 2017, including: a further increase in paid maternity/adoption leave to 26 weeks at full pay; provision of a period of paid leave for employees taking shared parental leave; an increase in paid paternity leave from two to four weeks; and the introduction of grandparents’ leave.”

Helping the survivors of the Indonesia tsunami

In the aftermath of the tsunami that left at least 2,100 people dead and thousands more missing on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi in September, the NGSU National Executive Committee (NEC) approved a £5,000 donation from our charitable reserve to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Indonesia appeal. DEC member charities and their Indonesian partners are working closely with national authorities to provide food, clean water, first aid and shelter to the 200,000 survivors, around a quarter of whom are children. As the islanders struggle with the loss of their loved ones and the trauma of the earthquake, the need for help has intensified since the disaster, with imminent rainy season making the need for temporary shelter even more urgent. l You can make your own donation to the Indonesia appeal at www.dec.org.uk or by calling 0370 60 60 900. To make a postal donation, please make your cheque payable to DEC Indonesia Tsunami Appeal and post it to PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA. Donations can be made at any high street bank and at Post Office counters. l If you would like the NEC to consider donating to a charitable cause, send your request to NGSU President Nicola Huddlestone.

Christmas savings Save up to 70per cent off a huge range of branded beauty, tech and accessories at Beyond Trade. Get your Christmas presents sorted for your friends and family in one go with incredible savings. l Use code NWSU418 to gain access to these great discounts at https://beyondtrade.co.uk/home/

great discounts Affinity Leasing offers NGSU members, plus friends and family, fantastic discounts on brand new cars on monthly finance. So whether you need a small three-door hatchback, a family runaround, a crossover style vehicle, a 4x4 or something more executive, Affinity Leasing can help. You can choose a monthly budget that will suit your finances. All cars come with full manufacturer’s warranty and include the Road Fund License for the first year at least. Deals with no initial payment are available and you can even part exchange your current car. Durations vary between two and four years, and you can have the option to buy the car at the end of the lease if you wish. Affinity Leasing are happy to provide independent guidance on a wide variety of makes and models. Their special offers are available through the NGSU members’ website and NGSU communications, and you can leave your email address on their website to receive updates on offers before they are widely released. l For the best deals, call free on 0800 060 7070 or email info@ affinityvehicleleasing. com, mentioning NGSU.

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Making sure our voices are heard Three members of the NGSU team at this year’s TUC Congress explain how the union is helping to shape the future of the union movement.

very year in September, we send three delegates to the TUC Congress, so that we have a voice in all the important debates about the future of the movement. This year, joining me (as President) and Tim Poll (as General Secretary) were Sue Walker, National Regional Officer Branch Network North, and (as a guest) Barry Murphy, National Regional Officer for Scotland Admin Centres & National Equality Officer. The event consists of all delegates coming together to vote on motions that span all areas of trade union activity, plus we had speeches from TUC President Sally Hunt,

To look through the documents from the event, find out more here: https:// www.tuc.org.uk/ key-documentscongress-2018

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell MP, NUS President Shakira Martin & Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby – each inspiring in their own right. Outside the main event, I attended fringe meetings on antiMuslim hate and human rights in Colombia: the fringe meetings and the stands in the exhibition hall give you an opportunity to talk to activists fighting for equality. Nicola Huddlestone, NGSU President MAKING OUR WORLD A FAIRER PLACE “I was lucky enough to attend the TUC Congress as a delegate, which meant that I could propose, speak and vote on the motions. There were a lot of speakers, the motions were wide ranging and the passion in the room was immense. I attended fringe meetings on racism in the football industry and the second was about children’s human rights – and I was moved to tears in both just by listening to

heart-breaking stories of how horribly people are treated in our world and how there are people fighting to try and stop this behaviour. Of the several very important guests invited to address the whole of Congress, the one that stood out for me was the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. I very much enjoyed my experience at the TUC Congress and would attend again in a heartbeat. There is no better place to be than standing side by side with people that share your view of making our world a better and fairer place to be.” Sue Walker, National Regional Officer Branch Network North REAFFIRMING MY COMMITMENT TO THE MOVEMENT “Despite being a long-standing union activist now and in previous employment, I’ve never attended the TUC Congress before. It was great to see so many different unions, from those with a niche sector membership like NGSU to a general union like the GMB, find common ground and a mutual voice in many issues. Many of the motions were deeply personal and emotive. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) spoke about the issues they face in a post-Grenfell era and by the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) on the issues they face in protecting the public. Passionate pleas for understanding and acceptance were made by members of the Windrush Generation. Gender recognition and the rights of minority groups were discussed with compassion, empathy and warmth. Unsurprisingly, Brexit, featured heavily throughout. And on a personal note, I was told by the general secretary of one of the largest unions that I had the best beard at Congress! Attending Congress was a chance for me to grow as a union activist, reaffirm my commitment to the movement and continue my fight to secure better rights

and conditions for colleagues and the communities I’m part of.” Barry Murphy, National Regional Officer for Scotland Admin Centres & National Equality Officer

If you are interested in learning more about this year’s Congress, then have a look at further details here: https:// www.tuc.org.uk/ congress2018

For more information, visit http://unions21. org.uk/worksforus/ about

Follow the project on Twitter at @ works_for_us.

SECURING A FUTURE THAT WORKS FOR WORKING PEOPLE A four-day working week with decent pay is not only possible thanks to new technology – it’s also the most popular solution among workers themselves, according to a new report published by the TUC during this year’s TUC Congress. A Future That Works For Working People combines some of the latest evidence about the impact of the fourth industrial revolution (the combination of artificial intelligence, robotics and big data) with a new large-scale poll on how technology could affect the future of work. Government and business estimate that new technologies could boost the country’s gross Domestic Product (GDP by at least £200bn in the next decade and reducing working time would be a straightforward way to share the gains of increased prosperity. In the survey, 81 per cent of workers want to reduce working time in the future – with 45 per cent opting for a four-day working week, without loss of pay. Download from: https://bit.ly/2x0QDXp l Unions 21, which aims to help unions increase their influence, impact and effectiveness within the world of work, has launched a Commission on Collective Voice in the 21st century – and NGSU will be playing its part as an affiliate of the organisation. This 18-month project aims to: l identify the current understanding of employees, employers and public policy-makers on the role and scope of collective voice and bargaining l develop and promote workable mechanisms for collective voice for the 21st century.

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Tim talks

Reps are at the heart of NGSU You can help us work effectively for the membership by standing as a representative.

lacing our representatives at the heart of union activity is an important element of our five-year strategic plan, which we are currently reviewing and revising. Our representatives take a leading role in delivering union services, since they have the best knowledge and understanding of the issues impacting on their local members. As the current term of office for representatives and members of our National Executive Committee (NEC) ends in March, we will start seeking nominations for the next two-year term early in the New Year. The new intake of representatives will be better able to set the union’s negotiating agenda and play an active part in its implementation now that we have moved the timing of our National Conference close to the beginning of the term of office. The opportunity for our representatives to take an active part in consulting with the business about working arrangements is stronger than ever. Working with the Society, we have established ‘Business Committees’ in every Nationwide Community, where NGSU representatives meet with the leaders and community partners to discuss issues arising in their business areas. Through these committees, we have been able to influence the work of the contact centre taskforce; highlighted wellbeing and practical

For more info please go to our website www.ngsu.org.uk

@TimPoil Follow Tim on Twitter to keep up with what he’s thinking and doing

working issues remerging from the branch transformation programme; continued to challenge the impact on branch employees from working with minimum resources; and helped ensure that change programmes across the business have been implemented in a fair and reasonable way. Earlier this month, we established a new Business Committee for Property Services and our representatives for ex-Carillion employees will now be working with us as we seek to harmonise their terms and conditions with Nationwide terms. Representatives also play an important part of setting our agenda by raising issues at our National Conference. This year, we have seen the introduction of a number of enhancements initiated from our conference, as detailed in Nicola’s review on p2. All NGSU members have the opportunity to stand as representatives and I’d encourage anyone who has an interest in helping to influence working conditions and support their colleagues to consider standing. In the past, we know that some members have been put off from standing for fear that being a union representative might damage their career prospects. However, Nationwide is very supportive of our representatives and value the contribution they make through our Business Committee structure. Please look out for more details of the nomination process in the New Year and help us to continue to work effectively for the membership by standing as a representative.

You could become an NGSU rep If you enjoy helping people and believe in fairness in the workplace, you’re the sort of person we’d love to become an NGSU rep.

GSU reps are vital links between members and the union’s central team. The twoway dialogue between reps and the union alerts us to issues affecting members on the ground and helps us spread the message about union policies and benefits to members. As a rep, you’ll take part in quarterly Regional Councils, where you’ll come together with other reps and union officials to discuss current issues, union activity and services. You’ll also take part in the Employee Involvement Committee (EIC) structure, which is a great way to help influence working conditions – both nationally and in your local area. And from time to time, you’ll help individual members – with moral support, information about Nationwide’s employment policies or signposting them to one of the union’s individual cases officers. It’s an important role but we try hard not to make it a burden – that’s why we have a dedicated rep support officer who will provide training and remain on hand to provide on-going support. And because Nationwide recognises NGSU as the sole trade union representing its employees and supports the union rep role, you will be given paid time off to undertake your duties as a rep. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to be a delegate at the union’s National Conference, which

If you’d like to apply for award, please write to General Secretary Tim Poil and tell us how you would use an award to support the work you do. Send your email to ngsu@ ngsu.org.uk.

comes together every two years. This is the forum is where we determine union policy and agree the agenda we want to pursue with Nationwide. By the way, NGSU reps focus solely on supporting union activity within Nationwide: we do not have any political affiliations. So if this whets your appetite for becoming an NGSU rep, look out for details of the vacancies and how to submit your nomination when we publish them in January’s Union Mail and on the NGSU website.

David Hopkins Awards NGSU members can apply for an award of up to £500 to help fund their personal development and support to activities they do in their local community. Previous awards have been given to members to fund sports coaching and leadership training for youth groups, including venture scouts and army cadets. David Hopkins was the Head of Corporate Human Resources when he died tragically in a road accident in 1996. The awards were established in recognition of his passion and encouragement for individuals achieve their full potential.

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Starting all over again When former branch manager Adrian Bean retired, he was looking forward to a bit of quiet obscurity. So how did he end up appearing on YouTube, talking to the BBC and writing a book?

hen I retired nine years ago, all I wanted was a life of quiet obscurity. After more than 30 years working for Nationwide, the last 10 as Senior Branch Manager in Bedford, I thought I’d do nothing more exciting than get a dog, a bike and an allotment, then watch my blood pressure go down. And I did all of those things. I get out twice a day with Dexter, our laidback Labradoodle; I started cycling instead of driving; and I’ve got an allotment where I grow runner beans galore and get things into perspective. Sure enough, my blood pressure has dropped and I’ve achieved my ambition of abolishing targets. But that’s not all I’ve been up to. I carry out guided walks around the local Victorian gothic cemetery, resulting in me being interviewed by the BBC. I’ve appeared in videos on YouTube. And I’ve become a volunteer guide at a local museum, which inspired me to write and publish a book.

So even though I’m naturally a fairly quiet kind of person – I don’t do Facebook or Twitter, and by and large I keep myself to myself – it hasn’t worked out as I thought. I suppose I’m an undercover show-off. When I started doing guided tours of Foster Hill Road Cemetery a few years ago, you were lucky if you got four or five visitors. But to tie in with this year’s anniversary of votes for some women, I started a tour called Brave and Bold Women of Bedford, and we have often had 50 or 60 people turning up. I’m particularly proud of doing the research into one grave that nobody seemed to know anything about, with a headstone written in both English and Polish. It turned out to be the grave of Danuta GruszczynskaAlasinska, a young woman who had fought in the Warsaw Rising of 1944 – the Polish Underground Army’s doomed insurrection against

Nazi occupation. Danuta’s nom de guerre was Smiala, which means brave or bold. She certainly was. It was a visit with my wife to the weird and wonderful Panacea Museum five years ago that led to me volunteering there and ultimately writing my book. The museum commemorates the Panacea Society, a fascinating millenarian religious group founded in Bedford 99 years ago by Mabel Barltrop. The members believed that Bedford was the site of the original Garden of Eden and campaigned for the opening of a box of prophecies by the 18th century mystic Joanna Southcott. Yes, they were probably slightly bonkers. There’s a connection with the cemetery as well: more than 100 members are buried there and I’ve found 16 with some kind of stone still standing. At the museum, I carry out talks and tours for visitors, and I’m especially pleased about once holding the attention of a group of 20 young German students for 90 minutes – but then I do remember that my 1992 appraisal mentioned my “unique communication style.” There is a standard book about the Society but it’s rather academic and I thought what was needed was something that the interested non-academic could read to find out more. Thinking I could do something along these lines, I wrote most of the book, Imagining Eden, in the winter months of 2015/16, when the museum was closed. Part of it is from the point of view of a volunteer guide(!) but the major part is the story of a woman on the outskirts of the Society. It’s fictional but all based on information I found in the museum archives, where there are loads of documents, as

ADRIAN’S TOP TIPS 1 Look forward to your life after work: you will miss your former colleagues but other things will take over. 2 Say Yes to things you haven’t done before: you might find something new you really enjoy. 3 If you’ve ever daydreamed about writing a book … do it!

Order your copy of Imagining Eden from Amazon https:// amzn.to/2PQwbnA or Waterstone’s https://bit. ly/2qGrjmD

they hardly ever threw anything away. The bizarre illustrations come from the archives as well. Originally, I wrote it just for fun, but the museum manager suggested that I get it published. It was money wellspent and I felt quite proud when the boxes arrived with all the nice freshly printed copies. It’s quirky, informative and very readable. Naturally, there are lots of wry comments throughout. I’m giving all sale proceeds to a mental health charity called CALM and to a local hospice. As for words of wisdom about retiring … well, it might sound trite and obvious but one thing I’ve found is that first of all, you have to look forward to your life after work: fingers crossed, you’re going to live another 20 or 30 years, so it’s like starting your life all over again. You will miss certain things, like the friends you worked with but new experiences will crop up. The other secret is to try and say Yes to the new and unexpected things that you come across. After all, if you say No then you might miss out on something that you might enjoy. And if you have a vague but stubborn idea about writing a book, don’t worry about feeling embarrassed that it might be no good: go on and just do it!

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Supporting the Nationwide employee networks NGSU is encouraging members and reps to take an active role in the Employee Network Groups (ENGs), which are open to all employees.

he eight Employee Network Groups (ENGs) are a great way to get involved in the ED&I agenda and are open to all employees – wherever you work, whatever your role and regardless of whether you share the primary characteristics of the group or not. The ENGs build on the work undertaken by the Equality Advisory Committees that NGSU itself set up some years ago to raise the profile of diversity issues. “We know how effective groups like these can be in providing support to individuals and working with the business to identify issues and take appropriate actions,” says Assistant General

If you have any questions/ suggestions, want to sign up to Ally workshops or need the network’s help with LGBT matters, email LGBT.Network@ nationwide.co.uk.

Secretary (Members) Marian Dean. “There are some great examples of people coming together through the network to share experiences, offer advice and provide moral support. For example, if you are a carer and finding it challenging to balance work with your caring responsibilities, being able to chat to someone who understands the issues can be a great comfort and source of support.” NGSU is encouraging union members and reps to join the ENGs and take an active role in their work and the union is keen to see the Society provide the necessary support to allow employees to attend and the resources to take action, Marian says. You can find

the contact details for each Network on the Nationwide intranet. l Disability Network (Enable) increases awareness, supports colleagues and acts as a knowledge hub. l Ethnicity Network (EMAH) champions an inclusive environment in which talent from diverse backgrounds is recruited, retained and progressed l Faith and Belief Network (FaB) maximises common ground between different faiths. l Gender Network (GEM) provides resources, events and a supportive network of colleagues, whatever your gender. l Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Network (LGBT@ Nationwide) supports LGBT staff and works with the central ED&I team to inform, educate and inspire. l veteran and Reservist Community (vRC) supports Veterans, Reservists or employees with serving family members. l Working Carers Network (WCN) helps carers balance work and caring responsibilities and helps managers better understand the issues. l Working Families Network supports parents and encourages the business to embrace the value parents bring to Nationwide.

HUNDREDS SIGN UP AS LGBT ALLIES

Sign up to the mailing list and find out what the network is up to by visiting its network Intranet page and typing ‘LGBT’ in the search box.

You can access the Ally Pledge via the SharePoint site: simply type ‘LGBT’ into the intranet.

SIGN THE ALLY PLEDGE l COME OUT: I’ll come out as an ally and let my colleagues know I support equality for my LGBT colleagues l SPEAK UP: Whether I’m responding to an anti-LGBT joke, remark or banter; starting a conversation about LGBT issues; or correcting misinformation, I’ll choose to speak up for equality l JOIN IN: I’ll become an active member of the LGBT@Nationwide network l OWN IT: I’ll wear my LGBT@Nationwide pin so my colleagues can see I’m a supporter

More than 800 employees have signed LGBT@Nationwide’s ‘Ally pledge’ to speak up for LGBT equality at work, according to co-chair and NGSU member Matt Israel. “We’re running workshops for anyone who wants to be an LGBT Ally to help them understand the important role they have in supporting the network and become comfortable with the LGBT agenda,” Matt explains. LGBT@Nationwide raises awareness of sexual orientation and gender identity, empowers LGBT employees to bring their whole selves to work and acts as consultative body for Nationwide policy. “We marked Trans Awareness Week in November by holding a webcast for managers to help them support employees that are transitioning,” Matt says. “And with thanks to Nationwide Deputy Chief Executive Tony Prestedge, we are working to introduce the Mx gender pronoun for the first time on to CIS with a view to rolling this out across savings, mortgages and other products, allowing our members to have the option of selecting the gender-neutral ‘Mx’.” LGBT@Nationwide took part in 14 Pride Parades this summer, including Brighton, London, Manchester and Leeds, where more than 330 Nationwide employees publicly demonstrated their embrace of an inclusive culture. Nationwide also sponsored Reading Pride Parade.

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Coping with special occasions following the loss of a loved one A guest blog for Co-op Funeralcare by psychotherapist and author Julia Samuel

ften the days that are imbued with celebration and happiness are difficult for those that are bereaved. For those whose loved one’s have died, significant dates and special occasions such as Christmas, birthdays, Mother’s and Father’s day are often difficult. The build-up to significant dates can be very hard, with adverts and media bombarding us with pictures of happy times, bringing with it memories of when loved ones had been alive, and the thud of reality that they have died. The newly bereaved can find special occasions particularly painful, another ‘first without them’ that needs to be overcome, but even those whose loved one passed away a long time ago, can feel sad. The natural instinct is to try and pretend it isn’t happening, squashing down feelings, which doesn’t usually work. What helps is to allow feelings of sadness to be expressed, often through finding a focus for the grief and then

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choosing to do something comforting. I suggest maybe lighting a candle, writing a letter, reading a poem or looking at photographs of loved ones. Then perhaps going for a walk or having a meal with friends or family. Listening to music or watching a funny film. When someone you love has died, it is the connection and love of others that supports you to heal. l Julia Samuel has been working with bereaved families ith bereaved families for 25 years both in the NHS at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, and in private practice. Julia is the author of the acclaimed book, Grief Works, which uses vivid case studies to show how facing our fears makes us better able to cope with them.

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QA &

Can NGSU support me in presenting a formal request for ﬂexible working? Yes – we can represent union members at a meeting to discuss a formal flexible working request and, if necessary, at an appeal meeting. You’ll need to complete a flexible working request form setting out your proposal and explaining why you want to change your working arrangements. You’ll also need to identify the benefits of the proposal, both to you and the business, and highlight any potential impacts with suggestions about how to overcome them. We can help you think through these issues and the best way to present them. Your manager will invite you to a meeting to discuss your request within 28 days of submitting the form. A union officer can attend the meeting with you and help you present your case. Do I have to contact my manager every day during a period of sickness absence? It is important for you and your manager to keep in regular contact while you’re absent but the frequency will depend on your circumstances and your likely date of return. The best practice is for you to agree how and when you’ll stay in contact when you first report your absence. It’s reasonable for your manager to want to know how you are; what

You can read all the Nationwide HR Policies on the NGSU website in the Help at Work section. https://ngsu.co.uk/ help-at-work/

support you may need when you return; and to have some idea of timescales so they can plan cover. However, they should be sensitive to your condition and agree times and frequency of contact that supports your recovery. Note: It is important to follow the absence reporting procedures. You should contact your manager personally by phone as early as possible and within one hour of your normal start time or arrange for someone else to call if the circumstances mean you’re unable to. Failure to follow the procedure could result in a deduction of pay. If my branch reduces the opening hours, can I be made to take a shorter lunch break? Any proposal to amend opening hours is subject to consultation with the branch team and should take account of any concerns, such the impact on contracted hours and breaks. If you work for more than six hours, you are entitled to a 20-minute unpaid break that should be taken during the working period, not tagged onto the beginning or end of the day. For a full-time employee, their working day (which might be different to opening hours) should accommodate their contracted seven hours and a minimum of a 20-minute unpaid break.

lb x

No one expects to find themselves in trouble at work but every year there are hundreds of hearings across the communities at Nationwide. If you find yourself in this position, NGSU is here to help, providing confidential advice, full representation services and legal assistance if needed. The right to be represented NGSU can represent you at any formal hearing called under Nationwide’s Fair Treatment at Work Policy. This covers disciplinary, improving performance (including during probation) and grievance situations. We can also represent you at flexible working meetings; performance rating appeals; ill-health capability meetings; and support you at investigations meetings for issues such as harassment and bullying. Who will represent you NGSU has team of trained Individual Cases Officers (ICOs) and Disciplinary Officers (DOs) who are based around the country – so support is always available. You have a legal right to postpone the date of a hearing by up to five working days in order to arrange representation – so we can always be there for you. The benefits of representation We’ll support you before, during and after a hearing, explaining what to expect and how to prepare. We have a detailed knowledge of procedures

Call for confidential help and advice on 01295 710767.

and will make sure the hearing is conducted fairly. We can speak on your behalf, ask questions and challenge evidence to make sure the person chairing the hearing is aware of all the circumstances and has the information they need to make a fair decision. Will representation affect the outcome? The expertise and experience of a union officer helps to ensure that there is a robust examination of all of the facts and that mitigating circumstances are explored and understood. We cannot guarantee what the final outcome will be but our involvement means any decision is more likely to be fair and fall within the range of responses that have been given in other cases. How do I get representation? You must have paid three month’s subscriptions (or one month’s if you joined the union during your probation period). You should be given at least 48 hours’ notice of hearing, so call us immediately you receive the notice to arrange for representation.

18 91 DECEMBER 18 You CouLd win up to £15,000! It’s easy to enter our monthly subscription draw and give yourself a chance of winning up to £15,000. Simply complete a prize draw form and let us know how many £1 chances you would like to buy every month (between one and ten). 75 per cent of the total paid in every month is returned in cash prizes to members, while the rest is put towards the day-to-day running of the union – helping to keep membership rates low. With around 30,000 draw entries a month, the odds are much better than the National Lottery! Download the Monthly Draw Form: https://bit.ly/2tu17Nf or call us for more information: 01295 710767 LATEST FIRST PRIZE WINNERS OCTOBER 085068 £14,140 Robert Netter SEPTEMBER 110069 £14,071 Keith Welford AUGUST 080022 £14,063 Janet Church JULY 148011 £14,093 Kirsty Mumbray

Capgemini IT

Above: Meet the team that made the monthly draw at Glasgow Mortgage Centre in August (from left): Ema Manganaro, Lindsey McDiarmid, Nicola McPhilemy, Hollie Hughes and Greg Scott.

Pensioner Member Pensioner Member Canterbury Branch

#ExperiencesMakeChristmas

20% discount

Introductory Flying Lesson - £129

iFLY Indoor Skydiving for Two - £54

Sleigh Christmas Things might be getting cold out, but these experiences are piping hot. And with Christmas imminently inbound, this is your chance to get some heavyweight gifting in before the festive season goes turbo. With a whole host of weird and wonderful things to do, from the delicious to the adrenaline packed, from the saunas to the skies, there’s something for everyone –

Visit to Kew Gardens with Cream Tea for Two - £39

Pamper Day with Two Treatments and Prosecco for Two at Bannatyne Health Clubs - £89

G & Tea for Two at Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour, Covent Garden - £90

Wembley Stadium Tour for Two - £18

all with a handy little discount. Visit virginexperiencedays.co.uk/vedpartners to get your code to receive your discount 0844 504 0844 / Virgin Experience Days, Acorne PLC, Stamford House, Boston Drive, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, SL8 5YS *see full terms and conditions at https://www.virginexperiencedays.co.uk/terms-and-conditions

The Slide at The ArcelorMittal Orbit for Two - £33

Luxury Chocolate Making Workshop for Two Including Bubbly - £80

beat the seasonal blues with a good book When everything around us is saying Christmas is all about fun and family, the season can be challenging when you’re living with mental health issues or working through bereavement. But one thing that has been proved to help lift the spirits is spending time reading, whether you’re learning new tools with a self-help book or losing yourself in an absorbing story you just can’t put down. Reading for as little as six minutes can reduce stress levels by 60 per cent, by slowing your heartbeat, easing muscle tension and altering your state of mind, according to research by Mindlab International at the University of Sussex. Reading Well is a programme by the Reading Agency to promote the benefits of reading for health and wellbeing that has two strands: Reading Well and Mood-boosting Books. Reading Well helps you understand and manage your health and wellbeing using titles on four lists – mental health, dementia, young people and long-term conditions. Titles include Grief Works by Julia Samuels, who contributes the guest blog on p14 of this issue, and Sathnam Sanghera’s memoir The Boy With The Topknot, adapted by BBC TV in 2017. Mood-boosting Books is a selection of uplifting titles, including novels, poetry and non-fiction, updated every year through recommendations by readers and reading groups. The wide-ranging list includes Me Talk Pretty One Day, the best-selling collection of stories by David Sedaris in which he celebrations his irritations with modern living, and Jenny Zhang’s Sour Heart, her critically-acclaimed stories about young women from immigrant families trying to navigate life in America. Find the books to boost your mental health wellbeing at: https://reading-well.org.uk/about

PRIZE WORDSEARCH

WIN

£25 voucher

One lucky winner will receive a £25 book or iBook token. Simply find the words which are all related to the seasonal story ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’. Completed entries should be sent to Middleton Cheney by 25 December 2018 with your name and membership number filled in below. XN GT U L XH A L PC DY E B WV YK WC F D X Z AB WK J A A F

A W G D T B K S P N H P A T L V A

Q F C Y A T F B T P R R F N T G C

C U W F OM V F T I S I L H X A R O A P I S E S E D V F C H T E N Q

T H E G T X N E H J T E J G S S R

BLITZEN CHRISTMAS EVE COMET CUPID DANCER DASHER

U B T Z O C E I R M M N I L Z T Q

S J E X E M T N X S A T I M D N A

M N K R Z H S J M I S S S W U I A

S Y E X I S Z G B A E U L V H C Q

GM A O B U F S X E Z C O U F P Y I O D V E F X L R W I D U K C Y R

DONNER MOUSE PRANCER PRESENTS ST NICK VIXEN

Name Membership number

Please return to: NGSU, Middleton Farmhouse, 37 Main Road, Middleton Cheney, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX17 2QT

R L T S D D E J T T U D O N N E R

NGSU Commission Rebate Scheme Our whole-of-market Premium Comparison Service can help you (and your immediate family) quote, arrange and apply for insurance policies, such as: Mortgage protection Income protection Life assurance Term assurance Critical illness cover The insurance provider will pay us commission for our work in arranging and applying for your protection policy. Due to our unique relationship with NGSU, we are delighted to be able to give you an exclusive 50% commission rebate.

Receive an exclusive 50% rebate of all insurance commission

Call: 020 8610 9811 Monday to Friday 9am-5.30pm

For example, an NGSU member and his/ her partner could take out a joint life Mortgage Protection with Critical Illness cover and receive an exclusive £1,209* commission rebate! In short, you will have peace of mind with the financial protection you need and you’ll be rewarded for doing so. Just fill out a short online form which should only take you 3-4 minutes and leave the rest to us. You can also find this by logging on to the NGSU website. Online quotation form:

www.ifswp.co.uk/ngsu If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on:

020 8610 9811 or email: info@ifswp.co.uk Our office is available Monday to Friday 9am-5.30pm

IFSWP and NGSU Commission Rebate Scheme are trading styles of IFS Wealth & Pensions Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Firm Reference No. 713063. Registered in England No. 08699259. Registered Office: 45 Rusper Road, London N22 6RA. * Example assumes: a non-smoking couple, 35 years old, joint Legal & General policy, £300,000 cover over 25 years.