Blogs

Guest blog by Nigel Lloyd, Senior Research Fellow - PHIRST Connect, University of Hertfordshire Employee health and wellbeing in the UK is far from ideal. Post-pandemic, there has been a rise in the number of working-age people leaving the workforce, with long-term sickness the leading cause. If we…

Guest blog by Grace Gimson In today’s work environment, prioritising the physical and mental wellbeing of employees is essential for any organisation aiming to thrive. Companies are increasingly recognising the importance of adopting a proactive, integrated approach to health that goes beyond simply…

Guest blog by Lynne Drumm, Lisa Harrison and Jo Vallom-Smith Supporting employees in their return to work (RTW) is a core function of occupational health physicians (OHPs) and occupational health advisers (OHAs). Often, these conversations happen in brief, one-off consultations, making efficiency…

Guest blog by Cat Blake 98% of mothers want to work, dispelling the myth that women do not want to return after having children. But, within three years of having children, 85% leave full-time employment, and 19% leave the workforce altogether. Pregnant women also face challenges, with 1 in 5…

Guest blog by Dr Paul J Nicholson OBE The SOM report Occupational Health: The Value Proposition (OHVP) collates the evidence to substantiate the business, financial, legal and moral imperatives for providing employees with access to occupational health services. This broad approach to ‘value’ is…

Guest blog by Emma Persand, SOM Diversity & Inclusion vice chair World Menopause Day provides an opportunity to advance workplace support for women’s health. This week SOM launched its Women’s Health at Work Network. Professor Dame Lesley Regan, the first Women’s Health Ambassador for England: Women…

Guest blog by Affinity Health at Work as part of the Project OSCAR team Stress accounts for almost half of all cases of work-related ill-health and of all working days lost due to illness ( HSE, 2023). Deloitte’s mental health report ( 2024) surmises that mental health concerns cost the UK workforce…

Guest blog by Janet O'Neill, Deputy Head of the National School of Occupational Health Before I entered occupational health (OH) I felt stagnant. As a school and agency nurse at the time, I focused on the next shift and not much else. Nurse accreditation and Continuing Professional Development (CPD)…

Guest blog by Clare-Louise Knox, Founder & CEO at See Her Thrive For most of my career, I have been battling Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). PMDD is not just “PMS". It is a crippling condition that, at times, completely derailed my life. As an Organisational Psychologist specialising in…

Guest blog by Phil Webb, CEO TAC Healthcare In today's work environment, Occupational Health (OH) has never been more crucial. As businesses navigate the complexities of employee wellbeing, regulatory compliance, and productivity demands, OH providers have elevated their services to meet these…

The Smart Clinic is a specialist provider of occupational health and corporate wellbeing packages to organisations around the UK. We explore one of their client case studies to see how occupational health made a difference to their client’s business, reducing absence costs by 60% and saving them…

By Nick Pahl, SOM CEO Occupational Health Awareness Week aims to raise awareness of occupational health (OH) and explain the value it provides. Have a look at the plethora of resources on our website, engage with SOM social media content, use posters under free resources, release your own press…