Workplace welfare

“Workload, lack of support, violence, threats or bullying and changes at work are estimated to be the main causes of work-related stress depression or anxiety…”

“Manual handling, awkward or tiring positions and keyboard work or repetitive action are estimated to be the main causes of work-related musculoskeletal disorders…”

“£15.0 billion: Annual costs of work-related injury and new cases of ill health in 2017/18, excluding long latency illness such as cancer…”

“UK rates of work-related ill health resulting in sick leave were lower than most other EU countries…”

Source: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh1819.pdf

Activity

Access your workplace policies and any practice guidance relating to welfare at work. Review the information and then look for the strongest links to the knowledge, skill and behaviours in your apprenticeship standard.

It is likely, perhaps unfortunate, that at some point in your apprenticeship you will see how these policies apply in practice and what happens if they are not implemented, or followed. The rules are generally created and written following problems and incidents and designed to stop them happening again – to mitigate risk for the benefit of the employee and the organisation. Failing to uphold your organisation’s policies might also be against the law and the regulatory frameworks in your sector.
Where does this fit in with the learning in your apprenticeship standard and what is the mandatory/optional training in place for you?

Reflection

Consider how the trainer, or trainers ended up with their knowledge, role, and incentive to conduct the training? See if you can grab ten minutes to ask about their role in disseminating the policy and training colleagues. What is it like for them in that role? What skills do they need?

Response

Check where your workplace knowledge fits with your Sheffield Hallam University programme – what is the most relevant module this year and which ones seem relevant going forward?

Discuss your motivations with your Work-based Learning Coach and work out how to set SMART developmental targets against the most relevant knowledge/skills/ behaviours in relation to workplace welfare.