From April 2022 there will be a 1.25 per cent uplift in National Insurance Contributions (NICs) for all working age employees, self-employed people and employers, which will be added to the existing NIC contribution.

The 1.25 per cent increase was announced by the Government in September 2021 (the Health and Social Care Levy) to fund investment in the NHS, Health and Social Care.

If eligible, the increase will take effect in your April 2022 pay packet. 

Do you want to play your part in helping the Organisational Development, Leadership and Learning (ODLL) team build a positive workplace culture where everyone at Hounslow is able to flourish?

We know that all our people have skills, talents and strengths to offer, and we want to tap into them to create a cohort of supporters from all departments, levels and roles across the Council. As a supporter, you’ll act as an ambassador for the ODLL team, driven by your desire to make Hounslow the best it can be for everyone.

If you’re interested in getting involved, please complete a short form via the link below.

We're in the process of rolling out a new system called Modern.Gov, which will help streamline the formal report process for all Officers.

If you are ever involved in writing single member decision reports or chief officer decisions, then it is important that you take part in our training sessions for Modern.Gov. 

If you've been invited to attend a training session please accept the invite, or let Pauline Jones know if you are unable to attend.

The final training session will take place on Friday, 22 April. If you have not yet received an invite, but want to attend, please contact Pauline Jones as soon as possible. 

You can find out more about the Modern.Gov rollout here.

The Public Health Team is conducting three important surveys to help shape the future of health services in Hounslow. If you are a local resident, and would like to have your say, you can find out more and take part below.

Would you like to help oversee the governance of your pension? Think you have what it takes to ask questions and make sure the board is following pension rules and regulations?

If you answered yes, and yes, then you’ll be interested to know your local pension board is recruiting for a new Employee Representative.

Our pensions and how they work have changed. We want to ‘pass on the power’ and give you the opportunity to be more involved.

Find out more and how to take part here: Employee Representative role - pension board.

We can all experience a certain amount of stress in every day life. Sometimes it can cause you to take action to make a positive change, but prolonged high levels of stress can be harmful to your health.

Check out the latest information sheets from our Employee Assistance Programme provider, Validium, for top tips on how to cope with stress and how to get better sleep:

Dealing with stress at work - download

Getting better sleep - download

You can also find lots more resources and support here: Validium newsletters.

Connected Futures Young Leaders is a nine month mentoring programme for 18-24 year olds to support them in starting or continuing their careers.

The programme is looking for new mentors from Hounslow to work with mentees each month, helping them to reach their goals and objectives. 

If you'd like to help out, you'll need to commit one to two hours a month, predominantly online, but there are plenty of opportunities to meet face to face. You'll be provided training and support from the Connected Futures Programme team throughout the nine month period. 

If you'd like to get involved, sign up here. For more information contact Bea Angier on bea.hounslowspromise@gmail.com.

Menopausal women are the fastest-growing demographic in the workforce according to the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM). The menopausal transition causes serious symptoms for one in four women and has contributed to over 900,000 women leaving the workforce. But it doesn't have to be this way.

Join this webinar on Thursday, 28 April from 1pm to hear more about how we can put in place the right support tools for menopausal women. 

Sign up here: menopause matters.

Are you looking to give back to your local community through volunteering? Do you want to offer your skilled support, or would you like to try something completely new?

Ealing and Hounslow Volunteer Centre is promoting a range of skilled volunteering roles, within different voluntary and community organisations in Hounslow. Check out the latest roles on offer below:

• Trustee PA at Hounslow Pensioners Forum
• PA/Researcher (Major Donors Fundraising) at The       Mulberry Centre

Find out more and apply: skilled volunteering roles.

Project Search is a transition to work programme for young adults with Learning Disabilities and Autism. Hounslow has proudly hosted the initiative since 2015 with great success.

To support this year's Project Search, we're looking to connect with departments from across the council who can offer our young people work experience.

If you'd like to get involved, or find out more, please contact mica.hutton@hounslow.gov.uk (Programme Tutor and Co-ordinator) or nicky.bitar@hounslow.gov.uk (Host Business Liaison).

Regular exercise has huge benefits.  Not just for our physical health, but mental health as well.  Now is a great time to venture out for that lunchtime walk, bike ride, run or whatever physical activity you enjoy.

Through BetterPoints, colleagues can earn rewards for every physical activity they take part in. Each time you’re active, you'll be awarded a point and entered into the monthly prize draw. 

For more information and detailed instructions on how to download the app, please visit our BetterPoints page: get active with BetterPoints.