Ehsan Ahmad, Author at Reshape HR

19May

World IBD Day

Background

World IBD day is celebrated globally on the 19th of May on an annual basis.

It is led by patient organisations representing World IBD Day is coordinated by the European Federation of Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA) in over 50 countries on five continents.

This year, for World IBD Day, the EFCCA would like to raise awareness about the impact IBD has on elderly
people. Under the slogan “IBD has no age”.

The EFCCA have stated that they “want to put the focus on elderly people (60 plus) and see how living with Crohn ́s disease and Ulcerative Colitis (collectively known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease) is impacting on their quality of life and care”.

What is IBD?

According to IBDclinic.ca: “Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic life-long condition of the
gastrointestinal tract. In these conditions various parts of the digestive system, which includes the bowels
(intestines), become swollen, inflamed and ulcerated. This inflammation leads to disruption of the natural
processes of digesting food, absorbing nutrition and eliminating waste in a healthy manner.”

IBDclinic.ca also states on their site that there is no cure for IBD, however, with medical treatments, IBD can be kept in a state of suspension.

How do I join in World IBD day?

You can join in World IBD Day by:

Sharing on social media – by sharing articles and information about World IBD day, what IBD is and what others can do to further our research in IBD.

The hashtags which are being used this year is #WorldIDBday2022 and #IBDhasnoage.

Sharing with friends and family – According to gutscharity.org.uk: “51% of people delay seeking advice for their symptoms for over 6 months! By breaking the stigma, people will become more knowledgeable about red flags for all digestive diseases and get the help they need.”

What can I do to help?

If you would like to help by donating to a charity focused on IBD, then please donate to one of the following charities:

Guts UK – Guts UK is committed to fighting all digestive diseases, including IBD. The donations are
used to “fund research leading to earlier diagnoses, kinder treatments and ultimately, a cure.” If you
would like to donate to Guts UK, then please go to https://gutscharity.org.uk/donate.

Crohn’s & Colitis UK – “We’re here to give people affected by Crohn’s and Colitis hope, comfort and confidence. To make sure their voices are heard and help them live freer, fuller lives. For whatever they need, whenever they need it, we’re here. And we’re not going anywhere until we’ve beaten Crohn’s and Colitis for good.” If you would like to donate to Crohn’s & Colitis UK, then please go to https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/get-involved/donate.

Bowel Disease UK – “Bowel disease UK is a registered charity funding clinical research into treatments for bowel disease. Our research is carried out under the close guidance of our trustee, Professor Devinder Kumar, a leading gastrointestinal surgeon and researcher.” If you would like to donate to Bowel Disease UK, then please go to https://www.justgiving.com/bduk.

Reshape HR is here to assist. We work with a variety of clients based across the UK, so if you are looking for HR or Payroll support or simply looking to run something past us, please do get in touch with us via:

T: 0141 471 5510
E: info@reshapehr.com
W: reshapehr.com

09May

Mental Health Awareness Week

Ehsan AhmadGeneral, HR, Other

Background

Mental Health Awareness Week is celebrated globally on an annual basis. It seeks to inspire action to promote the message of good mental health for everyone.

This event is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, who have been both organising and hosting Mental Health Awareness Week for the last twenty-one years.

This year the Mental Health Awareness Week will take place from the 9th – 15th of May 2022.

Theme

For 2022, the theme is “Loneliness”, which focuses on the impact of loneliness on our mental wellbeing and what steps we can undertake to reduce it.

According to www.mentalhealth.org.uk “Our connection to other people and our community is fundamental to protecting our mental health and we need to find better ways of tackling the epidemic of loneliness”.

Mind.org.uk suggest that “Feeling lonely isn’t in itself a mental health problem but the two are strongly linked. Having a mental health problem can increase your chance of feeling lonely”.

What causes loneliness?

There are many causes that can vary from person to person, depending on their experiences or what they are experiencing at the time. For some it can be certain life events such as:

Experiencing a loss of a family member or friend

Retiring and losing the social contact which you had at work

Changing jobs and feeling isolated from your co-workers

Moving to a new area or country without family, friends or community networks

Starting at university or college

Being unable to see your family, friends and colleagues due to Covid-19 restrictions

For other people, they might find that they feel lonely at certain times of the year, such as the festive period over Christmas and New Year, birthdays or even events such as anniversaries.

What can I do to help reduce loneliness?

There are many ways that are suggested to help reduce loneliness, some of these are listed below:

Talk to family and friends – A simple conversation with family or friends can help you to understand how you are feeling.

According to mentalhealth.org.uk “Talking can be a way to cope with a problem you’ve been carrying around in your head for a while. Just being listened to can help you feel supported and less alone. And it works both ways. If you open up, it might encourage others to do the same.”

Looking after yourself – just doing some simple things to help look after yourself can improve your general wellbeing such as; taking a break as and when you need to, eating healthily and keeping yourself active.

Joining a social group – Having like-minded people around you, that enjoy the same activities and hobbies can help to reduce your loneliness over time, as you become more acquainted with your peers.

Get the Samaritans Self-Help app – The Self-Help app was created by the Samaritans with the purpose to provide a type of support that you can use without having to discuss your feelings with someone else, it is a web application which you can download onto your phone or computer.

If you would like to download the Self-Help app, then please go to https://selfhelp.samaritans.org

If you feel that your mental health is being affected, be sure to reach out to your support system or a mental health support service as soon as possible.

We recommend that you get in touch with Able Futures which is a government funded charity, which can provide a program/support for all matters relating to mental health, their website is able-futures.co.uk and their direct number is 0800 321 3137.

T: 0141 471 5510
E: info@reshapehr.com
W: reshapehr.com

06May

Bank of England

Ehsan AhmadConsultation, General, HR, Other

💸 The Bank of England’s announcement yesterday was monumental for individuals and businesses across the UK 💸.

With the stark admission that the UK may be heading towards a recession, this will no doubt be playing on the minds of businesses, irrespective of the sector and size with both, improving efficiency and saving costs will now be at the forefront of agenda for many and what they can do to protect their businesses, and support their employees.

Don’t leave it to late to analyse your business, the best course is to take action NOW, rather than react of what may await you and your business later down the line 😰.

Taking certain decisions can be both daunting and challenging for businesses, especially those that require consultation, so it can be beneficial to get some expert HR advice and guidance around such as:

◆ Alternatives to redundancy (i.e. job redeployment)
◆ Temporarily laying off employees (potentially)
◆ Managing staff redundancies (last resort)
◆ Performance Management
◆ Wellbeing and other types of support for employees

This relives some of the pressure and stress knowing that you have sound HR support and guidance at hand at all times.

↠ T: 0141 471 5510
↠ E: info@reshapehr.com
↠ W: reshapehr.com

Just as with Covid-19 pandemic, lets work together to get through these difficult times.

#Business
#BusinessSupport
#HR
#ReshapeHR
#HRSupport
#HRAdvice
#HROutsourcing
#HRConsultancy
#PayrollSupport
#PayrollOutsourcing
#BankOfEngland
#LoomingRecession

27Apr

The Great Resignation – How to Retain Your People

Ehsan AhmadGeneral, HR, Recruitment

The Great resignation is a phenomenon that describes the unprecedented rise in the number of workers
resigning from their jobs both during and towards the end of the pandemic.

There has since been a large amount of research and discussion as to what is driving workers to quit at such a scale. Any attempt at understanding the ‘Great Resignation’ means taking a serious look at the common criticisms of Britain’s economy, some of these being:

burnout
concern for health and wellbeing
an overall lack of workplace support
a lack of further development
unpleasant work environments etc.

Leisure and hospitality workers led the way

The mass departure is particularly evident in retail and hospitality jobs.

In early 2021, when leisure and hospitality restrictions were starting to ease, which meant those that were placed on furlough at that point were starting to come back into the workplace following a period of furlough, whom for some were for months not weeks. Many workers had got a glimpse at what life could be like not having to work unsociable hours, or put in 50 to 60 hours a week.

Hospitality, retail and other customer focused roles can be both, rewarding and stressful. The hours can be long and unsociable at the same time.

Employees within these sectors were burdened with not just their day-to-day role, but also the added
responsibility of enforcing Covid safety measures themselves which resulted in many starting to pursue
different jobs in various sectors or industries.

This resulted in a huge labor shortage within the retail and hospitality sector. As of February 2022, there were over 180,000 vacant hospitality jobs.

Remote work has changed workers views

The migration to remote working during the pandemic gave people more time to ponder a work-life balance. With flexible schedules, no commute and the ability to work from anywhere, many businesses believed this would help people stay engaged and loyal, however it has appeared to have the opposite effect.

Remote work has renewed many people’s desires to make family priority, as many of the remote workers who are quitting are currently at firms that require them to return to the office.

A recent survey carried out by Outmatch across 60 businesses found that:

• 62% of employees leaving their roles cited poor job matches as a reason for their departure
• 58% were unhappy with training and performance challenges

This data supports the feeling among remote workers that they don’t have the support or relationships to be successful.

Remote working can be extremely challenging, especially when starting a new job. Many new and existing employees come across instances which require support or collaboration amongst the team which can prove to be difficult as fellow colleagues are not in direct reach. The isolation can drive a wedge between the employee and the work experience, resulting in an employee reconsidering their position as a remote worker.

Reduce turnover by investing in people

It’s never too late to start investing in your people.
Building a culture within your business is a fundamental starting point for any business. It shows that you
invest in your people and can start off by reviewing existing Company policies and procedures, benefits etc.

Additionally, it can take into account an employee’s typical day, which may involve not just work, but their
personal life such as their health and wellbeing, family interactions, switching off after work and much more.

If additional tasks and duties are starting to pile up for your employees or they are being asked of more and more, then it is very likely that they will soon:

either resign
take additional time off
potentially take a period of sickness absence as a result of workplace pressures

It is always great to assess and measure job roles and the effectiveness of your policies on an annual basis to ensure that they are reasonable to avoid scenarios such as those already mentioned in the article.

However, once an employee decides to move on, it’s always best to wish them well for their next adventure. It shouldn’t be a contentious ending, but an opportunity for both businesses and HR to gain some insights into reasons for resignation and what could be done internally to minimise this.

After all, employee happiness is the core factor in both, retention and the growth of the business.

#Scotland
#TheGreatResignation
#HR
#ReshapeHR
#HRSupport
#HRConsultancy
#PayrollOutsourcing
#RecruitmentSupport
#Glasgow

18Apr

Scotland: Covid-19 Update

Ehsan AhmadCOVID-19, HR

As of today, Monday 18^th April 2022, the requirement to wear a face covering in many indoor settings has become guidance, as opposed to a legal requirement.

What else is changing?

There are a number of changes which are coming into place over the coming weeks and months ahead:

For the purposes of twice weekly testing, LF tests will no longer be available for the general population
If you are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19, you will still need to undertake a PCR test, which is available until the end of April and follow the self-isolation guidance based on your vaccination status
Close contacts of positive cases who are fully vaccinated should continue to LF tests for seven days
From May, test sites will close and people with symptoms will no longer be advised that they need to seek a test

From 18^th April 2022 free LF tests will still be available via the Scottish government:

Fully vaccinated and have been in close contact with someone who tested positive
Fully vaccinated and therefore eligible to end self-isolation early via testing negative on day 6 and day 7 and providing that you have no symptoms.

There will be a further update by the Scottish Government in the coming weeks with further changes and relaxation in regards to Covid-19 testing and isolation, we will update you accordingly.

It is important to note that the content of this article does not constitute to legal advice. If you have a specific query, then please do get in touch with us.

#Covid-19
#Scotland
#HR
#HRConsultancy
#Glasgow

17Apr

Happy Easter!

Ehsan AhmadGeneral, Other

From all of us at Reshape HR, we would like to wish you a Happy Easter!

We hope that its a day full of happiness, joy and most importantly 🍫🐣!

#HappyEaster
#EasterSunday

15Apr

It’s Good Friday!!!

Ehsan AhmadGeneral, Other

Have a lovely break!

07Apr

World Health Day

Ehsan AhmadGeneral, Other

Background

World Health Day is celebrated globally on the 7th of April on an annual basis.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), which was founded in 1948 created World Health Day to “mark the founding of WHO since 1950”. According to www.who.int, “it is estimated that more than 13 million deaths around the world each year are due to avoidable environmental causes”. These environmental causes include climate change, pollution and more.

This day intends to spread awareness of a specific health theme which the World Health Organisation views as a priority.

7th April 2022

For 2022, the theme is “Our Planet, Our Health” which focuses on cleaner air, water and food.

How can you play your part?

It is quite simple to do small things in our day to day lives, some of these are listed below:

Recycling our plastics, paper, glass and cans
Reusing plastic tubs, bowls and shopping bags
Converting food waste into compost
Instead of driving small distances such as to the shops, walk instead
Purchasing biodegradable and compostable products – which are much more friendly to our environment

These changes can help our planet gradually over time, if we lower our plastic usage and begin to instead
purchase or use biodegradable alternatives such as bee’s wax paper, biodegradable straws and more, we can collectively lower our world’s pollution by producing less plastic and our carbon footprint overall.

How can I Improve my health?

We have listed a few tips that could help you improve your health below:

Going for walks – according to a study by the University of Cambridge: “just a brisk 20 minute walk each day could reduce your risk of premature death by between 16-30%”.
Eating a balanced diet – According to the NHS “eating a more healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health, and can help you feel your best”.
Drinking more water – drinking more water per day will keep you hydrated and helps to improve your skin.

How Do I Join in World Health Day?

You can join in World Health Day by:

Organise a conversation in your community or workplace – WHO offers free information toolkits for organisers. Take the challenge and lead a conversation in your workplace or your community about current healthcare or world issues.
Read up on past year’s themes – With over 50 years of health days in WHO’s archives, it can be an interesting exercise to look at how far we have come in healthcare.
Raise awareness about climate change – You can raise awareness through awareness posters, sharing news and articles on social media.

If I can’t join in World Health Day, is there any other way to help?

If you would like to help, then please donate to a charity focused on our world’s health, or to a charity which will help our medical professionals with tools and daily essentials. We have listed some charities below:

Earth Island Institute – “Earth Island Institute provides support to environmental action projects and to the next generation of environmental leaders in order to achieve solutions to the crises threatening the survival of life on Earth.” If you would like to donate to the Earth Island Institute, then please go to https://earthjustice.org.
World Food Programme – “The Leading Humanitarian Organisation Fighting Hunger. WFP Delivers Food Assistance, Builds Resilience & Improves Local Sustainability.” If you would like to donate to the World Food Programme, then please go to https://www.wfp.org.
Marine Conservation Society – The Marine Conservation Society is a UK-wide community of ocean lovers all working together towards cleaning and recovering the health of the ocean. If you would like to donate to the Marine Conservation Society, then please go to https://www.mcsuk.org.

02Apr

Ramadan Kareem

Ehsan AhmadOther

From all of us at Reshape HR, Ramadan Kareem ☪️.

May this Ramadan bring joy, health and prosperity 🤲!

#RamadanKareem
#RamadanMubarak

01Apr

Walk to Work Day

Ehsan AhmadUncategorized

Background

We do know with the vast ways of travelling it may be difficult for some of us to walk to work, whether it is the distance, our physical condition and sometimes other factors and priorities may affect our decision.

Most of our day-to-day activities would often require us to sit in one place, with little to no movement due to working in an office chair or at an office desk with your colleagues.

This inactive lifestyle is not healthy, as it can lead to weight gain, heart problems and more.

When is it?

On Friday the 1st of April this year, it is Walk to Work day.
Walk to Work Day is an exciting and valuable day, since walking is one of the simplest and enjoyable exercises in the world, it:

burns calories
exercises our muscles
refreshes our mind.

According to walkingforhealth.org.uk “Walking improves self-perception and self-esteem, mood and sleep quality and it reduces stress, anxiety and fatigue”.

Do I need to walk to work?

No, you don’t need to walk the complete distance to work, even walking to your bus stop or train station also counts. The focus of Walk to Work Day is to celebrate being more active.

Here are a few tricks which you can use to make your walk to work much more enjoyable:

Listen to your favourite music – walking to the beat of your favourite music will make the walk more enjoyable.
Slow down and look around – there are a lot of small details which we miss when we are driving to work and are in a state of tunnel-vision, like the blooming of the dandelions and beautiful flowers.
Fresh perspective – take this time to admire the sky and the world around us.

Additionally, there are no annoying traffic jams or construction slowing you down, so you can enjoy your
leisurely travel to work without a problem.

What benefits will I gain from walking to work?

There are multiple benefits to walking to work, some of these are:

Saving money – By not driving your car to work or taking public transport, you will save money by not using fuel. An additional bonus is that your carbon footprint is reduced.
Becoming more physically active – According to the NHS “A brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise”.

How can I celebrate Walk to Work day?

Here’s a few steps which we would recommend:

Leave your car at home – By leaving your car at home, you are telling yourself that you will walk to and from work, you will cherish the sunlight, breathe in the fresh air and enjoy yourself. You are not just helping your body; you are also helping the environment by lowering your carbon footprint.
Invite your friends, neighbours and colleagues – Make a day out of the occasion by getting your friends, neighbours and colleagues involved. You will enjoy the walk more, stop by a local café or a shop to grab some snacks and a drink on the way.
Make a habit out of it – There is no better way to honour the day than by walking to work on a daily or a weekly basis.

It can benefit you for years to come, and you will also save money on fuel, car maintenance, and costs related to using public transport.

How can I celebrate while working from home?

You can go on a 30-minute walk around your neighbourhood. By breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the walk, you will gain the same feeling and exercise that you would get from walking to your workplace.

If you are not able to leave your home due to certain reasons or restrictions. You could give yourself some
walking breaks throughout the day by getting up from your work desk, stretching and walking to other areas of your house.

Reshape HR is here to assist. We work with a variety of clients based across the UK, so if you are looking for HR or Payroll support or simply looking to run something past us, please do get in touch with us via:

T: 0141 471 5510
E: info@reshapehr.com
W: reshapehr.com

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