FirstAssist to tackle key health and wellbeing issue at 2006 CIPD Conference

The fundamental factors of sleep and health to be addressed, plus how to deal with the issue of discrimination

STAND NUMBER A54

FirstAssist, one of the providers of health and wellbeing, will focus on several key issues affecting organisations and their employees at this yearís CIPD conference.

The importance of good health and good sleep will be at the heart of FirstAssistís message to employers, promoting the belief that wellbeing in the workplace goes way beyond the hours of 9-5. The launch of FirstAssistís new Employee Assistance Programme will be a central feature ñ providing employers with support for their employees and for their business in a market-leading package of 24/7 advice and counselling. The value of sickness absence management to pro-actively tackle staff absence, from day one intervention through to back to work rehabilitation, will also be demonstrated on the FirstAssist stand.

The wellbeing of an organisation will also be addressed, with the thorny issue of discrimination and how to tackle it featured on the stand. Racism, sexism, disability and the new age discrimination laws are all issues that no employer can afford to ignore and a number of employment experts will be available to provide advice to HR managers and directors to help them ensure that they have fulfilled all their legal obligations.

Key features on the FirstAssist stand will include:

To sleep Ö perchance to dream
Lack of good sleep can have a devastating affect on the health, happiness and the productiveness of an individual, and this in turn can damage the organisation they are working for. Thatís why FirstAssist will be providing sleep advice and giving away pillows at the CIPD conference.

In Rude Health
General good health is another vital factor that not only affects employees, but can make a big difference to the bottom line of a business. Tips from medical advisors and self-help health checks will, therefore, also be featured on the stand to provide delegates with a quick assessment of their own health!

Employment Services Clinic
FirstAssist will also be running an Employment Services Clinic, enabling HR specialists to obtain advice on a wide variety of employment issues. Appointments should be arranged in advance.

For over 20 years, FirstAssist has provided support to organisations and individuals, from expert counselling to legal advice and tailor made employee assistance programmes. Covering every aspect of health and wellbeing in the workplace, FirstAssist helps create a working environment that is right for an organisation and its staff.

ìWe are really looking forward to this yearís conferenceî, confirmed Rory Murphy, Head of Commercial, FirstAssist Services. ìThe themes we will be discussing are of vital importance to organisations and their staff. The importance of sleep and good health may sound obvious, but it is amazing how many people overlook these basic needs of the human body. Yet without these, positive and productive work is impossible.

ìDiscrimination is also an issue that gets bigger every day, and we want to help organisations fulfil their obligations to staff, whilst also protecting themselves from costly litigation. Thatís why our Employment Services Clinic will play a particularly valuable role at the Conference.î