New award linking employee health with improved performance launched

Investors in People today launched a new award to recognise employers who have strengthened their organisation by investing in the health and wellbeing of employees.

Backed by the Department of Health, the Award is the result of extensive research that show the effective and proactive management of health and wellbeing can improve business performance by increasing productivity, reducing sickness and absenteeism and enhancing employee retention.

The first seven organisations to achieve the accolade were presented with their certificates on 11^th March 2010 by Dame Carol Black - the government's National Director for Health and Work - at a special awards ceremony in London. These organisations included Claridge’s, Kimberly-Clark and NHS Suffolk.

Jane Jones, acting Chief Executive of Investors and People UK, said:

“Over the past five years we have worked with some of the UK’s leading employers to analyse the role of health and wellbeing in the workplace. This isn’t just about fruit and gym membership, and nor is it about perks or ‘nice to haves’. It’s about embedding health and wellbeing into the culture of the business to ensure everyone benefits. The organisations we have worked with recognise these benefits and we believe this new award will help others reap the same rewards.”

Dame Carol Black DBE said:

“Improving the health of the UK’s workforce will have a critical impact not only on individuals, but on businesses and the UK economy as a whole. There are simple steps that all organisations can take to ensure the wellbeing of employees. Focusing on specific health issues is obviously important; however employers should not underestimate the role that better management and engagement of employees can have on the wellbeing – and ultimately productivity - of their workforce.”

If you are interested in finding out more about the Health and Wellbeing Good Practice Award from Investors in People and how it can help your organisation to improve performance, click here for more information.

Investors in People Y&H, Business Link Yorkshire and Yorkshire Forward announce joint event

"When the recovery really does set in, will your people be on their knees or have their running shoes on?"*

Investors in People Yorkshire & Humber, Business Link Yorkshire and Yorkshire Forward are pleased to announce a joint event on 30th March 2010 exploring how engaging your employees will provide your organisation with the head start you need to thrive in the recovery.

As the country prepares for the economic upturn, employee engagement is more important than ever – particularly as some of your key talent may be looking to move on once the job market picks up.

Covering the importance of keeping your people on board to continue driving quality and innovation, key note speakers at the event will provide practical tools and tips to help you improve results in 2010.

Taking place on 30^th March in Leeds, please complete and return the pdf booking form above to reserve your place. Please note that delegate places are limited to two per organisation and will be awarded on a first come first served basis. 

*David MacLeod, co-author of a government-commissioned report that looked at enhancing performance through “employee engagement”

Are your employees suffering from a summer holiday hangover?

An Investors in People survey of return to work employees suggests that, far from feeling refreshed when they get back to work, almost sixty percent of British workers don’t settle back into a regular working pattern immediately after a holiday. A third of employees dread going back to work.

The survey, conducted on behalf of Investors in People UK by YouGov, shows that 39 per cent of employees take at least a day to get back into their regular working pattern after a holiday, with one in six taking two or three days to get back up to speed. Almost a third (32 per cent) said the biggest barrier to getting back into their routine was that they felt less motivated than when they left before their holiday and a similar number (34 per cent) blamed having too many emails and correspondence to deal with.

Simon Jones, Chief Executive of Investors in People (UK) says “Employers have to recognise there is an issue and it is essential that they respond to it, particularly in the current climate. They can ill-afford a post-holiday productivity gap and should do everything they can to ensure people slot back in and quickly banish any ‘holiday hangover’.”

“Simply saying ‘welcome back’ is an important first step. Managers should also provide post-holiday briefings as quickly as possible. Think of it as a mini ‘re-induction’: it can help bring returning colleagues rapidly up-to-speed and galvanise them to deliver what the business needs from them. For large organisations in particular, the impact of staff taking up to a week to get back up to speed – as our research has found – could be significant and cannot therefore be ignored.”

The research comes at a crucial time for employers as they approach the final months of the year and hope to capitalise on any easing of the recession. The findings show the challenge that managers face to get their people rapidly re-engaged and making the contribution expected of them.

To ease any summer holiday hangovers, organisations may want to consider:

• agreeing targets or goals that can be achieved in the first week back before people go on holiday
• ensuring managers are visible around their teams and connect with people on an individual basis on their return
• using team meetings to confirm overall business aims and targets for the coming months, before and immediately after the holiday season
• a team ‘kick off’ event for the final months of the year to inspire people as soon as they return after the summer
• giving colleagues Q&A/’surgery’ opportunities to help them raise any issues or concerns on their return

Investors in People Yorkshire and Humber is committed to working with organisations in the region to raise standards and improve performance through people. If you are interested in working with the framework to increase employee engagement and motivation, contact us for more information.

Employee engagement plays a vital role in organisational performance

A recent MacLeod Review of employee engagement issued its first report in July endorsing the vital role that employee engagement plays in business success and confirming it as a core component of effective leadership and management.

Employee engagement is a fundamental element of Investors in People and independent research from Cranfield University also identified how working with Investors in People framework can increase employee engagement within an organisation, offering a positive impact on performance.  

Simon Jones, Chief Executive of Investors in People UK said:

“We are helping organisations of all types and sizes to improve their businesses. For example it was Investors in People that Sainsbury’s turned to help increase the levels of motivation amongst its people. We are delighted that the support Investors in People offers to organisations throughout the UK is acknowledged within the report, and will offer the Macleod Review team any further support we can as it continues with its work.”

Investors in People Yorkshire and Humber is committed to working with organisations in the region to raise standards and improve performance through people. If you are interested in working with the framework to increase employee engagement, contact us for more information.

Champion school opens its doors

Schools from across the region recently attended an ‘Inside Investors in People’ event at Morley High School to find out more about how the school works with the framework to improve performance.

An  Investors in People Gold and Champion organisation, Morley High School opened their doors to share their journey, which has led to them to become an Outstanding school at their last Ofsted inspection. 

“When I was appointed in 2003, staff morale was very low and a significant number of people were beginning to underperform. Against this backdrop it was difficult to show that we were adding true value and we knew we had to change our approach to win back the confidence of our staff, our pupils and their parents. It was clear we needed to transform our approach and Investors in People provided us with an opportunity to implement some radical and long lasting changes.”

John Townsley, Headteacher at Morley High School

During the event, delegates learnt how working with Investors in People has provided Morley High School with a framework to support progress in a number of crucial areas including Continuous Professional Development, curriculum change and developing middle leaders.

YHAL would like to thank Morley High School for their time and hospitality in hosting the event, which offered delegates a great insight into how Investors in People can be used by schools to transform their performance.

If you are a school looking to raise standards and improve performance through people, contact us for more information about how Investors in People can help.