Articles by Rachael Down
How to WFH with kids
For those who can, working from home (WFH) is now the new norm. And for corporate parents everywhere, everyday is now bring your child to work day. As of 20th March 2020, our UK schools - following government guidance - closed their gates to all students bar those of keyworkers and vulnerable households. So here's 5 ways to WFH with kids: 1. Create structure 2. Talk and replay 3. Set clear boundaries 4. Playtime 5.
Why business agility is fundamental to success
“If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” Believing this has probably saved many a company – maybe yours - from endless, unnecessary reorganisations. We think there's a better way. Let's rewrite the rules and welcome business agility into our organisational strategy.
Working from home: 5 benefits for SMEs
Working from home - or remotely - has benefits for SMEs. And it's not exactly new. In fact, if we look back to Victorian times, many women did just that. Why then is it still the exception and not the rule? We're hoping to change that by exploring 5 benefits for SMEs who work from home.
5 ways to make your business more agile
The word ‘agile’ conjures up images of lightning-fast, nimbly flexible gymnasts or mountain goats leaping effortlessly over rocky outcrops. But when applied to a business - as it is increasingly frequently - what does it mean? In short, it's a way of operating that empowers an organisation to adapt very rapidly and flexibly to external or internal changes to gain competitive advantage.
Jonathan Richards wins Director of the Year
Last week our very own Jonathan Richards was named Director of the Year – SME in the 2019 London and South Institute of Directors' Director of the Year Awards. As Jonathan took a well-deserved break in Ireland on the day of the award ceremony, it was accepted on his behalf by Carl Sadecki and Nick Hardy from Breathe’s marketing team. Check out the full list of winners.
What is mindfulness and why should you introduce it at work?
What is mindfulness? Put simply, mindfulness is meditation. It’s an ancient Buddhist practice which is about paying attention in a particular way, in the present moment, on purpose and non-judgmentally. Now, before you think that all sounds a bit ‘woo woo’, let me explain more. Mindfulness is not a religion and it’s not about sitting cross legged on the floor. It’s about learning to train your mind, accepting and acknowledging your feelings and bringing awareness to the present moment.
What are employee relations?
How you deal with your staff can make or break your business - they are one of your most important assets. Treat them badly and you’ll experience an exodus of talented employees. Treat them well however, and reap the rewards from hard-working, productive staff who enjoy their work and value their employer. In short, happy employees are productive employees.
Work burnout: what is it and how do you prevent it?
Work burnout can creep up on your staff without them even realising it and it can wreak havoc on their physical and mental health. Getting in early, staying late and developing an unhealthy work/life balance in a bid to be the best, most competitive and most dedicated employee can all lead to burnout. And when it hits, it not only throws your employee a curveball, but it has an impact on your business too. What is work burnout?
How to recruit right: 5 ways to attract and retain employees
As the pressures and expectations on workers increase, so do the responsibilities of the organisation. Choice is everywhere and competition is fierce. Recruitment is no different. So what steps can you take to make them want to work for you? With the advent of Google's new job board and an ever increasing array of online recruitment sites and job postings, it's now even easier to take recruitment into your own hands.
Employee satisfaction survey: 10 questions you need to ask
Employee satisfaction surveys are a great way to discover whether your company culture is thriving or merely surviving. If they’re conducted anonymously, they give your staff the chance to say what they really think without fear of being reprimanded or discriminated against. But what questions should you ask employees to herald the best results? We've done the hard work for you. Don't worry, you can thank us later.
Top 5 goals for your business’ company culture
If you want to fill the roles in your business with talented, creative individuals who stick around for the long haul and understand your vision, you need to create a stand-out company culture. There's plenty of positive chatter about the amazing company cultures of Silicon Valley giants like Google, Zappos and Apple.
5 ways you can support your employees' mental health
Right now, 1 in 6 UK employees are fighting mental health conditions, such as stress, anxiety or depression. As a manager and a person, it's well in your interest to understand and proactively support colleagues who are struggling. For us at Breathe, this isn't really news. We put our people first and know that, just like a singleton in search of 'the one', if you can't love yourself, you can't expect to love anyone else.
Breathe reveals insights into 2019 UK sickness trends
Our survey ofmorethan1,500 employees and SME business leaders reveals thatstigma around mental health struggles and burnout is costing the UK economy £1.4bn a year through unexplained sick days. Sickness and absence – trends in 2019 Two years ago, we published the firstBreathe Sick Reportto examine the reasons why employees of the UK’s small businesses are taking time off due to ill-health.
What is employee health and wellbeing?
Employee health and wellbeing is a vital weapon for any successful company. Your staff are people and we believe that putting them first helps to inspire productive and smart work. Start on the inside and you'll soon see it's the secret to navigating your company goals as well as an intrinsic part of running any organisation. Not only is it morally imperative, but it makes good business sense too. Happy employees equal productive employees.
Unfair treatment at work: what can employers do?
Most of us luckily leave the horrors of bullying behind soon after stepping out of school. Whether bully or victim, most have the opportunity to mature and move on. Unfortunately, there are occasions where playground tactics and unfair treatment can stick through to adulthood, then creep into the workplace, boardroom and beyond.
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