The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic, and numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the UK continue to grow. It’s crucial that employers and employees are aware of the correct steps to take in stemming its outbreak.

Our employer's guide brings together the most up-to-date sources of information and outlines the steps that FirstCare is...

We all know that Monday morning feeling. The start of the week can sometimes feel like an uphill climb. From Blue Monday to Manic Monday, we don’t always see the first working day in a positive light.

So does this make Monday the most popular day to take sick leave? FirstCare’s absence management data reveals something surprising.

• Absence is responsible for huge losses to workforce efficiency.
• Many construction businesses aren’t aware of the extent of the problem.

Despite recent boosts – thanks to large infrastructure projects and new transport links – productivity is a serious issue for the construction sector.

There are several reasons why many organisations choose to deal with their absence management internally. Many believe it’s the only way to guarantee their sensitive information is managed appropriately and confidently.

This content has now been updated. Please click here for our New 2019 Sick Pay Guide for Employers.

Are you confused about the obligations you have to your employees when it comes to time off for sickness? Is absence a problem for your organisation? Are you concerned that sick pay excesses are affecting your overall profitability?

Just over 5 million working days* will be lost over December and January with coughs, colds and flus, as employee absence rates sore by up to 125 per cent compared to the rest of the year.

The Government’s national Fit for Work scheme was unveiled earlier this year in a bid to tackle long-term sickness absence in the workplace across England, Scotland and Wales.

Fit for Work is a new Government-funded scheme aimed at enabling employees to return to work sooner, improve workplace absence management and cut the overall cost of sickness absence.

On June 2nd 2014, NHS Employers published statistics that reveal a year on year reduction in absence rates across the NHS. The rolling nationwide 12 month sickness absence rate to January 2014 was 4.44%, a reduction of 6% compared to the January 2013 rate of 4.72%. It's estimated by NHS Employers that this absence reduction has led to a saving of £97.8 million for the NHS, which is an...

In honour of National Smile Month, FirstCare took the opportunity to review the impact of Dental/Oral health on absence levels, with some surprising results.