The latest news and updates that our employment support team think you need to know about:

1. Pandemic employment rates continue to increase with permanent job numbers increasing 22% between February 2021 and February 2022. Contract vacancies were also up 26% during this timeframe. According to statistics from APSCo, permanent placements rose 13% last month. Year-on-year comparisons also continue to show significant growth with permanent placements up 62% between February 2021 and February 2022, while contract placements also rose year on year, up by 15%.
2. As self-isolation rules and free testing comes to an end, employers need to consider the impact of these changes on their employees and how they will approach sickness and absence due to covid.
3. A recent study found that 14.1% of UK workers consider themselves to have a mental health problem and that mental illness is the number one reason for sickness absence. Of huge concern is that 95% of those calling in sick due to stress will give another reason, this highlights how crucial it is to create an environment that promotes mental well-being and provides resources and benefits for employees with mental illnesses.
   
4. Menopausal symptoms can have a negative impact on a woman's career, a recent study by Newson Health Research and Education found. 99% of women surveyed said that symptoms negatively impacted their careers. With an increasing focus on corporate social responsibility, the impact on equality in the work place and the gender pay gap must be considered by employers as it will impact every woman at some point in their working life. 
5. 62% of employees in the UK don’t believe that their company’s policies and technologies effectively enable flexible work, according to SAP Concur research. This has impacts on job satisfaction as employees reevaluate their priorities in the wake of the pandemic and a shift to more flexible working.

Remember, if you've not been working because of your illness, or you're employed but feel like you are struggling at work, ourEmployment Support Service can help.

Read more articles from the Employment Support Service