Highlights – 12 November

The growing worry - and rising cost - around the rising rates of economic inactivity due to ill health and disability has been back in the headlines this past week or so with the publication of the final report of the Keep Britain Working Review. 

Led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, the review found that ill health is now the biggest driver of economic inactivity, costing the UK economy an estimated £212bn a year.

Forbes ran an article on the review that featured extensive commentary from Petra Wilton, CMI’s director of policy and external affairs. Petra backed the review’s finding that a lack of support for managers was a big part of the problem. She emphasised that line managers are “the people best placed to prevent” losing employees to ill health. They can do this “by spotting problems early, making adjustments and helping people to be productive through staying in work”.

In a separate letter to The Times, Petra reiterated the need to offer those managers proper support through training – because the measure of whether or not the recommendations in the review are successful will hinge on “what happens between an employee and their manager”.  

“It’s the manager, not employers or ministers, who ultimately decides whether a bad back means a phased return or a lost career,” she wrote. “Ninety-seven per cent say they need line management training to do it well, yet only a third get it. Until we fix that, Britain will stay on sick leave.”

Enlightened managers

Members of the CMI community are living proof of the value of management training. 

In this week’s newsletter, Joe Swindells CMgr MCMI shares his journey from trainer to head of L&D at The OM Group, a Coventry-based firm that provides consultancy and training to the UK’s construction sector. Joe explains how a CMI Level 7 qualification helped him step back and examine his processes and practices, and why he spends “a lot of time directing people to CMI qualifications”.

According to The Enlightened Manager, a new book we feature this week, some elements of management can be taught, others can’t. Joe has a similar take. “You go through your career absorbing best practice and theories almost by osmosis,” he says. “But having a CMI qualification brings some kudos.”

We also meet Tariq Musaji FCMI MIC, who has diligently pursued his management development while self-publishing a book on management consulting and running a driving school. 

Employment Rights Bill

On 5 November, Angela Rayner MP mentioned CMI in the House of Commons. She called the UK government’s Employment Rights Bill a “pro-business and pro-worker” measure and noted that CMI as a supporter. 

While not specific to the Bill, new CMI polling shows that UK managers are largely supportive of measures to improve employer/employee relations.

In case you missed it, last week we featured a write-up of a CMI event where we welcomed Kate Dearden MP, Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection, to discuss her path into politics and the new Bill with CMI chief executive Ann Francke OBE CMgr CCMI.

Fertile ground

Of course, measures that are pro-worker tend to benefit the wider organisation too. Take supporting people through fertility treatment. Petra has also spoken to The Guardian about the hidden costs firms may incur if they fail to offer staff support. Petra said managers should create “open, supportive cultures where staff feel able to speak up and access flexibility without fear of stigma”. 

Organisations also derive real benefits from a focus on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). At a recent CMI event on the gender pay gap, a panel of experts shared their ideas for driving equity through evidence, transparency and compelling stories. Meanwhile, at this year’s Global Talent Conference, senior leaders reflected on CMI’s Filling in the Gaps report and explored how to reiterate the benefits of EDI – while still listening to critical voices. 

Here’s to working together, as skilled managers, to return the country’s workforce – and our organisations – to a state of good health. 

Best,

Matt Roberts CMgr FCMI

Director of membership and professional development, CMI