Do you believe workplace wellbeing can ever be taken too far? Dr Helen Fitzhugh and Andrea James (University of East Anglia) asked this question of 25 managers from UK-based public, private and charitable organisations. This article offers a ‘sneak peek’ of early findings from this research study. Thank you to all of you who participated in this research – we simply cannot continue bringing you interesting and useful findings without people who are willing to contribute a small amount of their time to supporting evidence-based insight on workplace wellbeing.

https://evolveworkplacewellbeing.org/8538-2/

In this podcast, Dr Helen Fitzhugh speaks with Professor Daiga Kamerāde (University of Salford) and Professor Brendan Burchell (University of Cambridge) about their research on the four day working week and other types of working time reduction. Daiga and Brendan share insight into the research trial carried out recently at South Cambridgeshire District Council which showed how the council was able to maintain or improve performance, according to many of its key performance indicators, during the four day week trial.

https://evolveworkplacewellbeing.buzzsprout.com/2109567/episodes/15787895-the-four-day-working-week

We were very sad to hear news of the death of Professor Karina Nielsen. In 2013, she was appointed Professor of Work and Organisational Psychology at the University of East Anglia and worked with many members of our team, before moving on to join the Institute of Work Psychology at Sheffield University Management School in 2016. She will be missed. The tribute linked below mentions her forthcoming books, Designing, Implementing and Evaluating Sustainable Interventions in Organization: The “How-do” of Improving Worker Health and Well-being, and Work and Health which will capture the legacy of her research and practice.

Obituary: Professor Karina Nielsen (1973 – 2024) | IWP | The University of Sheffield

Apologies – the ‘How to check the value for money of wellbeing initiatives’ insight and discussion session at 11am on Thursday 26^th September had to be postponed for health reasons. Bear with us and we’ll get you a revised date by the end of October.

However, we are delighted to advertise the following session now:

Financial Wellbeing in the UK – what is it and what can we do to promote it? Dr Bryony Davies. 15^th January 2025 – 11:30 – 13:00.

Applications to join the Network are open and membership is free to practitioners with direct wellbeing responsibilities in organisations.

Read more about joining the network here: The Evolve Workplace Wellbeing Network – evolveworkplacewellbeing.org

In this section we compile other evidence-informed links to pieces on workplace wellbeing that we have found interesting. The following are not produced by the Evolve Workplace Wellbeing team.

·        What is it like working for a social enterprise business

·        https://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/content/news/wellbeing-perks-don-t-work-says-investors-in-people-ceo/

·        Expert who coined presenteeism term says employers who force staff back are dinosaurs | Working from home | The Guardian

·        https://www.acas.org.uk/research-and-commentary/managerial-capability-and-staff-engagement

·        https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/sep/19/teachers-in-england-offered-incentives-to-make-job-appealing

·        https://www.employment-studies.co.uk/system/files/resources/files/WH_report_FINAL%20613.pdf