The UK’s Worker Protection Act came into force last October; now is the time for all employers to act.
A huge focus of my work is talking to people about engaging employees and what that looks like. There is no one simple solution as to what engages employees best - we are all different and therefore motivated by different things. What engages and motivates one employee is not necessarily going to have the same motivational impact on someone else and part of the answer is therefore to talk more frequently to your employees about what makes them tick.
That being said, it comes as no surprise that recent research indicates that corporate sports event (such as a sponsored 10k run) has a positive impact on employee engagement and well-being. The research points to the fact that a shared experience, which is outside of normal day-to-day duties, increases rapport between colleagues and introduces a strong sense of purpose, as well as the positive side-effects of exercise! Often corporate sporting events have been seen as part of an organisation's corporate social responsibility policy but now it appears there is good reason to consider it as part of your engagement and well-being strategy. So perhaps planning that sponsored 10k run should be moved up the agenda?
It argued that, while a third of firms said they planned to introduce a wellbeing strategy this year, their primary motivation for making this investment and commitment was not health and wellbeing at all. Improving health and wellbeing was certainly a factor, but it was the desire to improve employee engagement, organisational culture and staff retention that were considered the greater catalysts.
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Happy hour? A conversation about alcohol and work – culture, risk and belonging
From post-deal drinks to client events and team celebrations, alcohol is woven into workplace culture. Yet when something goes wrong, it’s rarely seen as ‘just a drink’.
With new duties on employers to prevent sexual harassment, and growing attention on workplace risk and inclusion, it’s time to take a more intentional look at how alcohol shapes workplace culture – and the risks it carries.
This short, focused webinar will explore:
• How alcohol contributes to conduct, harassment and reputational risk
• The assumptions we make about what’s normal, social or expected
• How alcohol intersects with inclusion, wellbeing and boundaries
• What to think about when conducting risk assessments and looking at policies
• Practical steps to build positive connection while protecting what matters
Speakers:
Helen Dallimore
Head of Training, Byrne Dean
An experienced facilitator, trainer and former employment lawyer, Helen works with organisations to strengthen leadership capability and embed respectful workplace behaviours. She brings particular expertise in creating inclusive cultures where people feel safe, respected and able to thrive.
Cicilia Wan
Principal Consultant, Byrne Dean
A former employment lawyer and experienced Head of Employee Relations in global financial services, Cicilia has seen first-hand how alcohol can affect conduct at work, with deep expertise in leadership, culture and people risk.
Steven McCann
Founder and Director, MCG Consulting
A leading voice in workplace addiction and recovery inclusion, Steven advises organisations on addiction awareness, recovery-informed culture and social mobility. He has spoken at the Bank of England and works regularly with law societies, the Legal Services Board and institutions across law, finance and corporate sectors.


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