News & Blog

It’s something we see every day, people on their phones while driving. From people holding their phone to their ear, having a conversation, to people thinking they are able to subtly check Facebook while stopped at the lights. But what are the laws around mobile phone use while driving and why does it matter? What…

Whether it’s the daily commute to work, the school run or a long journey to a holiday retreat, driving in the summer has its challenges. As well as glare, which can also be treacherous in winter, you’ve got high temperatures to contend with, which can make your car behave differently. Roads are often busier, especially…

Wimbledon is a great British Institution. There are so many iconic moments to come out of Wimbledon – among our favorites are John McEnroe’s infamous outburst, Andy Murray’s win which ended Britain’s 77 year wait for a men’s champion, and who can forget Cliff Richard’s singsong in the rain. Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament…

After falling for several years, knife crime in England and Wales is rising again. So, what is happening? Police-recorded knife crime has been rising consistently since 2014, with 39,818 incidents in the 12 months ending September 2018. This is a two-thirds increase from 2014. Out of the 44 police forces in England and Wales, 42…

What is Sexual Orientation? “Sexual orientation” is a term frequently used to describe a person’s romantic, emotional or sexual attraction to another person. Sexual orientation is different from gender identity, which refers to the internal sense of whether one is male or female. The concept of sexual orientation refers to more than sexual behaviour. It…

Most fires can be prevented, by taking some basic and common sense precautions. Those responsible for workplaces and other buildings to which the public have access can avoid them by taking responsibility for and adopting the right behaviours and procedures. Causes of Fire in the Workplace Fire is a chemical reaction requiring the combination of…

Equal pay is your entitlement to the same wage as someone doing work of equal value to you, the same or broadly similar work as you or work rated as “of equivalent value” by a job evaluation study. This is often, but not exclusively, a gender issue. Women are sometimes paid less than men for…

Feelings of wellbeing are fundamental to your overall health, enabling you to successfully overcome difficulties and achieve what you want out of life. Past experiences, attitudes and outlook can all impact wellbeing as can physical or emotional trauma following specific incidents.  A child’s wellbeing will be affected by the wellbeing of their parents so it…

Work-related skin problems are very common but they can be very costly. This is not just through the suffering individuals experience, who’s careers can be ended, but also the employer who has to cover sickness absence, recruitment, training and compensation expenses. Work-related skin problems can happen in most workplaces although there are some jobs which…

In the past Britain’s kings and queens were incredibly powerful. They controlled the decisions that affected everyone in the country. Today, most of the important decisions that affect us are made by MPs and Members of the House of Lords. The Monarch Monarchy is the oldest form of government in the United Kingdom, with a king…

Bullying, in the traditional sense is considered to be a physical act of contact. However, as technology has advanced, bullies have found new ways to torment their victims. Text, email and social media are a great source of communication, however they have now also become some of the most common channels for bullies to use….

Flexible working is a way of working that suits an employee’s needs such as having flexible start and finish times, or working from home. The government would like to make employment practices in the UK more flexible and family-friendly. Flexible working allows employees to have a career that fits in with other commitments. By agreeing…

Winter driving is different to driving any other time of the year. Bad weather and longer periods of darkness makes driving more hazardous. Sometimes conditions can be extreme with prolonged periods of heavy snow and floods. Different weather conditions create different hazards. A single journey may take you into very different weather, road and traffic…

What is Nomophobia? Nomophobia is a fear of ‘No Mobile Phone’ According to the latest figures some people can spend over three hours on their smartphones.  For anyone who has been on public transport and noticed nearly every passenger glued to their smartphone, this research is hardly surprising.  Call it dependency or a full-blown addiction,…

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is equipment that will protect the user against health or safety risks at work. It can include items such as safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses. It also includes respiratory protective equipment (RPE). Why use PPE? It is important that a workplace is made safe….

Operation of Parliament The main functions of the UK Parliament are to: Check and challenge the work of the Government (scrutiny) Make and change laws (legislation) Debate the important issues of the day (debating) Check and approve Government spending (budget/taxes)   Parliament is made up of three central elements: the House of Commons the House of Lords the…

Well-designed, organised and managed work is good for us but when insufficient attention to job design, work organisation and management has taken place, it can result in work related stress. Work related stress develops because a person is unable to cope with the demands being placed on them. Stress, including work related stress, can be…

It is unlawful for your employer to dismiss you because you are pregnant or for reasons connected with your pregnancy or maternity leave. It is also unlawful for your employer to deny you access to holiday pay, sickness pay, training or any other contractual benefit that all employees are entitled to. Pregnancy is not an…

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is a general term used to describe the pain felt in muscles, nerves and tendons caused by repetitive movement and overuse.  Repetitive action is when you do the same movement over and over again for long periods of time. Where it first causes strain, and then injury. Which is why we…

A forced marriage is where one or both people do not or cannot consent to the marriage and pressure or abuse is used. It is important to note that forced marriages differ from an arranged one where the couple willingly agree to the marriage. Forced marriage is recognised in the UK as a form of…

Anyone who is in the UK for any reason has fundamental human rights which government and public authorities are legally obliged to respect. These became law as part of the Human Rights Act 1998. You can download the Human Rights Act from here Human Rights Act The Human Rights Act 1998 gives further legal effect…

Manual Handling includes a range of activities including lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying, supporting and transferring a load by bodily force.  A load can be an inanimate object, a person or an animal.  The weight of the item is an important factor, but many other factors can create a risk of injury, for example the…