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“It’s Business”: A Qualitative Study of Moral Injury in Business Settings; Experiences, Outcomes and Protecting and Exacerbating Factors (PDF, 804 Kb)

Moral injury has primarily been studied from a clinical perspective to assess, diagnose and treat the outcomes of morally injurious experiences in healthcare and military settings. Little is known about the lived experiences of those who have had their moral values transgressed in business settings....

The business case for investing in health and wellbeing (PDF, 708 Kb)

Taking an integrated approach to mental health and wellbeing brings gains to health, performance and retention. We provide a summary of the latest research and share cost calculations you can use to estimate the overall cost of poor mental health in your organisation. Our review shows that investing...

Protocol for a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial of a multicomponent sustainable return to work IGLOo intervention (PDF, 4.4 Mb)

Long-term sickness costs businesses in the United Kingdom (UK) approximately £7 billion per annum. Most long-term sickness absences are attributed to common mental health conditions, which are also highly prevalent in people with acute or musculoskeletal health conditions. This study will pilot...

Using technology responsibly to manage people - A series of guides on how people professionals can lead on the responsible use of technology within organisations

Each guide focussed on the common uses of technology, as well as the benefits and risks across six key Human Resource areas:

  • Recruitment and workforce planning
  • Performance management
  • Employee wellbeing
  • Employee voice
  • Learning and development
  • Equality, diversity and inclusion

Through literature review, interviews...

Developing a competency framework for integrated care working (PDF, 199 Kb)

In July 2022, a statutory requirement for all NHS and social care systems to be organised into integrated care systems came into effect. Integrated care systems are partnerships that bring together healthcare, local government and other agencies to collectively manage service planning, improve health...

Moral Injury - Doing the right thing (PDF, 313 Kb)

"Moral injury is not only detrimental to the mental health of individuals but also has significant implications for organisations"

The majority of research into moral injury has been focused on high-risk sectors such as the military, emergency services and healthcare sectors, so we recently conducted...

The recovery and return to work experiences of workers with long COVID (PDF, 865 Kb)

The severity and longevity of long COVID that has also affected the working population, raises the important question, how organisations can support workers with long COVID to stay and thrive in the workplace. In the present study, we used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to explore the lived...

Supporting employees with non-pay offers through the cost-of-living crisis (PDF, 1.4 Mb)

The 'cost-of-living crisis', defined as the fall in 'real' disposable income that the UK has been experiencing since late 2021 is having a profound impact on the nation. Inflation reached a 40 year high in October 2022 (ONS, 2022a) and the fiscal year 2022-23 saw the biggest one-year fall in living standards...

Digital Training Program for Line Managers (Managing Minds at Work): Protocol for a Feasibility Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Line managers hold a primary role in preventing poor mental health within the workplace and, therefore, need to be equipped with the skills and knowledge to effectively carry out this role. The Managing Minds at Work (MMW) intervention aims to increase line managers' knowledge and confidence in preventing...

Coaching culture: an evidence review and framework for future research and practice

Given the colossal interest in creating 'coaching cultures', we update the 2014 literature review by Gormley and van Nieuwerburgh and extend this work by applying a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology. In doing so, we detangle definitions and the conditions under which 'coaching cultures'...

Outcomes of Senior Leadership Disclosure of Mental Health Lived Experience

Speaking out on mental health and 'leading by example' is often easier said than done. For those who consider share their experience, the worries round vulnerability, stigma and being judged have historically often been justified. This report examines the research evidence on the outcomes of senior leader...

Thrivers, survivors or exiteers: A longitudinal, interpretative phenomenological analysis of the post‐return‐to‐work journeys for workers with common mental disorders

The research on return to work for workers with common mental disorders has primarily focused on the pre-return journey. Relapses and recurrent sick leaves are prevalent and call for research on how we can support workers stay and thrive at work after long-term sickness absence due to common mental disorders....

Work fatigue during COVID-19 lockdown teleworking: the role of psychosocial, environmental, and social working conditions

During national lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, previously office-based workers who transitioned to home-based teleworking faced additional demands (e.g., childcare, inadequate homeworking spaces) likely resulting in poor work privacy fit. Previous office research suggests poor work privacy...

Introduction to the Working Well Maturity Framework (PDF, 1.1 Mb)

The rapid increase in the number of wellbeing frameworks available has given rise to a bewildering choice for organisations. The Working Well Maturity Framework was developed in response to calls from Affinity's Research Consortium, to develop a clear picture on how frameworks differ and to develop a...

Meta-synthesis of qualitative research on the barriers and facilitators to implementing workplace mental health interventions

Purpose: There has been a rapid increase in the number of mental health interventions implemented in the
workplace. The efficacy of these interventions has been mixed. The factors influencing implementation may offer
insights to why some interventions fail to be effective.
Method: We conducted a meta-synthesis...

Digital Mindsets Summary Report (PDF, 120 Kb)

The Digital Mindsets project aims to develop our understanding of people's attitudes and beliefs regarding technology and change in the workplace (their digital mindset) and use this understanding to help support people through change, thus ensuring a more inclusive workplace.

Affinity Health at Work...

Employees' experience of supervisor behaviour - a support or a hindrance on their return-to-work journey with a CMD? A qualitative study

Supervisors play an important role in supporting employees to return to work following sickness absence due to common mental disorders; stress, anxiety and depression, however, employees may not always feel supported. We examined employees' perceptions of their supervisors' attitudes and behaviours pre,...

Managing duty of care for wellbeing within a hybrid workforce (PDF, 1.7 Mb)

Remote working has become increasingly common in the modern workforce, hugely accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning that support for wellbeing in organisations has had to adapt to a new context. The aim of this research, carried out by Affinity Health at Work on behalf of the International SOS...

"What can I do for you? Line managers' behaviours to support return to work for workers with common mental disorders"

Sustainable return to work remains challenging for workers returning after long-term sick leave due to common mental disorders (CMDs): stress, anxiety and depression. Line managers play a significant role in supporting returned workers. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to examine...

Physical Workplace Adjustments to Support Neurodivergent Workers: A Systematic Review

This review examined the extent, nature and quality of the current empirical evidence for physical workplace adjustment to support occupational longevity, performance and health/well-being in ND workers because of their specific sensory needs. Our results indicate that the research is generally not well-developed,...

Long COVID and Return to Work - What Works? A position paper from the Society of Occupational Medicine (PDF, 685 Kb)

This paper provides guidance on the identification and management of Long COVID - particularly regarding return to work. This guidance has been produced by members of The Society of Occupational Medicine Long COVID Group, of which our Managing Partner Jo Yarker is a member, and other work and health...

Managing Minds at Work: Development of a Digital Line Manager Training Program (PNG, 496 Kb, 1130x1604)

Mental ill-health is the leading cause of sickness absence, creating a high economic burden. Workplace interventions aimed at supporting employers in the prevention of mental ill-health in the workforce are urgently required. Managing Minds at Work is a digital intervention aimed at supporting line managers...

Your Job Can Be Good For You (PDF, 5 Mb)

We were pleased to be BITC's research partner to create the 'Your Job Can Be Good For You' report which sets out how businesses can revolutionise the way employees work while supporting broader responsible business goals. It also includes recommendations to begin post-pandemic re-sets of employee wellbeing...

Developing an Understanding of Moral Injury in Business Settings Summary (PDF, 240 Kb)

Moral injury refers to the lasting strong cognitive and emotional response that is caused by performing, witnessing, or failing to prevent an action that violates one's own moral beliefs and expectations (Litz et al., 2009; 2019). Typically, moral injury research has been conducted within military settings,...

Developing an Understanding of Moral Injury in Business Settings (PDF, 584 Kb)

Moral injury refers to the lasting strong cognitive and emotional response that is caused by performing, witnessing, or failing to prevent an action that violates one's own moral beliefs and expectations (Litz et al., 2009; 2019). Typically, moral injury research has been conducted within military settings,...

Future Teleworking Inclinations Post-COVID-19: Examining the Role of Teleworking Conditions and Perceived Productivity (PDF, 1.2 Mb)

This study investigated the relationships between the context of home-based teleworking during the pandemic (pandemic-teleworking conditions), productivity perceptions during home-based teleworking, and employees' future teleworking inclinations (FTI) beyond the pandemic. Specifically, the study examined...

Working with long COVID - guide for colleagues (PDF, 104 Kb)

Drawing on Affinity Health at Work's research with the University of Sheffield and CIPD, these guides produced by the CIPD offer advice and practical recommendations to provide support to employees with long COVID. This guide is for colleagues to help them support workers with long covid. There are also...

Working with long COVID - guide for employees (PDF, 114 Kb)

Drawing on Affinity Health at Work research for the CIPD, involving returning workers, line managers, occupational health, employment advisers, and rehabilitation professionals, HR professionals and the Long COVID Support group, these CIPD guides offer advice and practical recommendations to provide...

Working with long COVID - guide for line managers (PDF, 1.2 Mb)

Drawing on Affinity Health at Work research for the CIPD, involving returning workers, line managers, occupational health, employment advisers, and rehabilitation professionals, HR professionals and the Long COVID Support group, these CIPD guides offer advice and practical recommendations to provide...

Working with long COVID - guide for people professionals (PDF, 373 Kb)

Drawing on Affinity Health at Work research for the CIPD, involving returning workers, line managers, occupational health, employment advisers, and rehabilitation professionals, HR professionals and the Long COVID Support group, these CIPD guides offer advice and practical recommendations to provide...

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