Stephen Bevan
BSc, PGCE
Head of HR Research Development
stephen.bevan@employment-studies.co.uk
+44(0)1273 763 424
Stephen Bevan is head of HR research development at IES with responsibility for developing innovative new projects and programmes with IES partners and other collaborators. Stephen returned to IES in April 2016 after spending 15 years as Director of Research and Managing Director at The Work Foundation.
Stephen has conducted research and consultancy on high-performance work practices, employee reward strategy, performance management, staff engagement and retention, and 'good work'. He has a special interest in workforce health and wellbeing, having led a number of national and international projects focusing on workforce health and the impact of chronic illness on productivity and social inclusion. He is the Project Director of a major impact evaluation project for the Work and Health Joint Unit which is tracking the progress of health-led trials for people with mental health and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
Stephen is an adviser to a number of UK government departments and has advised employers and policymakers in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Australasia and North America. He has received a special award from GAMIAN-Europe for his contribution to the field of mental health and employment and is a reviewer for several academic journals, including The Lancet. Stephen is a regular columnist for HR Magazine, a judge at the Global Healthy Workplace Awards and an adviser the government’s Mental Health and Employment Review. He is a Board Member of the European HR Director’s Circle and a member of the Britain’s Healthiest Company expert advisory group. Stephen has appeared in HR Magazine's list of Most Influential HR Thinker for the past ten years. He has been an honorary professor at Lancaster University Management School since 2010.
Research publications
- The Conversational Company, Bevan S, , Institute for Employment Studies, Oct 2019
- Obesity and Work, Bajorek Z, Bevan S, , Institute for Employment Studies, May 2019
- Designing and testing a return on investment tool for EAPs, Bevan S, Bajorek Z, Report 515, Institute for Employment Studies, Jan 2019
- Brexit: retaining talent through change, Bevan S, Lucy D, , Adecco Group, Nov 2018
- Slides: What should HR be doing to create organisation agility?, Bevan S, , Institute for Employment Studies, Oct 2018
- Unlocking employee productivity: The role of health and wellbeing in manufacturing, , EEF - The Manufacturers’ Organisation, May 2018
- Improving health and employment outcomes through joint working, Bevan S, , Public Policy Institute for Wales, Feb 2018
- Slides: Productivity: What is it and why does it matter?, Bevan S, , Institute for Employment Studies, Dec 2017
- Slides: Working futures: Trends, myths and challenges for HR, Bevan S, , Institute for Employment Studies, Oct 2017
- Slides: HR next generation: Reflections from UK and French early-career HR professionals, Bevan S, , Institute for Employment Studies, Oct 2017
- Review of DDRB Pay Comparability Methodologies, Brown D, Rickard C, Bevan S, , Office of Manpower Economics (OME), Aug 2017
- Slides: Organisational Change: The Shifting Landscape, Bevan S, , Institute for Employment Studies, Jul 2017
- Slides: Dementia at work: Setting the scene, Bevan S, , Institute for Employment Studies, Jun 2017
- Slides: A history of the future of work, Bevan S, , Institute for Employment Studies, Apr 2017
- Slides: Working futures: When technology collides with culture?, Bevan S, , Institute for Employment Studies, Apr 2017
- Slides: Are line managers damaging your employees' health?, Bevan S, , Institute for Employment Studies, Apr 2017
- Video: Are line managers damaging your employees' health?, , Institute for Employment Studies, Apr 2017
- Dementia-friendly workplaces, Bevan S, HR Network Paper 130, Institute for Employment Studies, Mar 2017
- Beyond Brexit: Assessing key risks to the nursing workforce in England, Marangozov R, Williams M, Bevan S, IES Paper , Institute for Employment Studies, Dec 2016
- A Review of Pay Comparability Methodologies, Brown D, Bevan S, Rickard C, , Armed Forces' Pay Review Body, Dec 2016
- Workplace policy and management practices to improve the health of employees: Evidence Review 1, Hillage J, Holmes J, Rickard C, Marvell R, Taskila T, Bajorek Z, Bevan S, Brine J, NICE guidelines NG13, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Jun 2015
- Workplace policy and management practices to improve the health of employees: Evidence Review 2, Hillage J, Holmes J, Rickard C, Marvell R, Taskila T, Bajorek Z, Bevan S, Brine J, NICE guidelines NG13, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Jun 2015
- Workplace policy and management practices to improve the health of employees: Evidence Review 3, Hillage J, Holmes J, Rickard C, Marvell R, Taskila T, Bajorek Z, Bevan S, Brine J, NICE guidelines NG13, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Jun 2015
- Work and Enterprise Panel 2, Cowling M (IES), Bevan S (Work Foundation), Research Report RR589, Health and Safety Executive, Sep 2007
- Job Matching in the UK and Europe, Bevan S, Cowling M, Research Report RR25, Sector Skills Development Agency, Jun 2007
- How Employers Manage Absence, Bevan S, Dench S, Harper H, Hayday S, Employment Relations Research Series ERRS25, Department of Trade and Industry, Feb 2004
- Costing Sickness Absence in the UK, Bevan S, Hayday S, Report 382, Institute for Employment Studies, Sep 2001
- Reward Strategy: A Practical Guide, Bevan S, HR Network Paper MP11, Institute for Employment Studies, Aug 2001
- What Does Team Pay Have to Offer?, Cummings J, Reilly P, Bevan S, HR Network Paper MP6, Institute for Employment Studies, Jul 2001
- Managing Staff Retention, Bevan S, HR Network Paper MP7, Institute for Employment Studies, Jul 2001
- Attendance Management Strategies, Bevan S, HR Network Paper MP8, Institute for Employment Studies, Jul 2001
- Does it Pay to be Family-Friendly?, Bevan S, HR Network Paper MP9, Institute for Employment Studies, Jul 2001
- A Share of the Spoils: employee financial participation, Reilly P, Cummings J, Bevan S, Report 373, Institute for Employment Studies, Mar 2001
- Performance Review: Balancing Objectives and Content, Strebler M T, Bevan S, Robinson D, Report 370, Institute for Employment Studies, Jan 2001
- Reward Strategy: Ten Common Mistakes, Bevan S, HR Network Paper MP2, Institute for Employment Studies, Aug 2000
- Family-friendly Employment: the business case, Bevan S, Dench S, Tamkin P, Cummings J, Research Report RR136, Department for Education and Employment, Sep 1999
- From People to Profits, Barber L, Hayday S, Bevan S, Report 355, Institute for Employment Studies, May 1999
- Reviewing Attendance in the NHS, Bevan S, Heron P, , Health Education Authority, Feb 1999
- Attendance Management, Bevan S, Hayday S, Report 353, Institute for Employment Studies, Nov 1998
- Keeping the Best: A Practical Guide to Retaining Key Employees, Bevan S, Barber L, Robinson D , Report 337, Institute for Employment Studies, Oct 1997
- Working for Your Health: A Survey of NHS Trust Staff, Bevan S, , Health Education Authority, May 1997
- Who Cares? The business benefits of carer-friendly employment practices, Bevan S, Kettley P, Patch A, Report 330, Institute for Employment Studies, Mar 1997
- Competence Based Management Training, Strebler M T, Bevan S, Report 302, Institute for Employment Studies, Feb 1996
- Measuring the Personnel Function, Hirsh W, Bevan S, Barber L, Report 286, Institute for Employment Studies, May 1995
- Towing the Line: Helping Managers to Manage People, Bevan S, Hayday S, Report 254, Institute of Manpower Studies, Mar 1994
- A Head for Figures?, Stock J, Bevan S, Barber L, Report 262, Institute for Employment Studies, Jan 1994
- Skill Mix and Working Practice in Hospital Pharmacy, Bevan S, Strebler M T, Yeates J, Report 241, Institute for Employment Studies, Dec 1993
- Merit Pay, Performance Appraisal and Attitudes to Women’s Work, Bevan S, Thompson M, Report 234, Institute of Manpower Studies, Sep 1992
- Staying a Head, A Survey of Head Teachers, Bevan S, Stock J, Report 229, Institute of Manpower Studies, Aug 1992
- Pilot Study of Teachers’ Motivation and Attitudes, Bevan S, Report P170, Institute of Manpower Studies, Nov 1991
- Staff Retention in the Inland Revenue, Bevan S, Report 202, Institute of Manpower Studies, Nov 1990
- Staff Retention: A Manager’s Guide, Bevan S, Report 203, Institute of Manpower Studies, Nov 1990
- Women in Hospital Pharmacy, Bevan S, Buchan J, Hayday S, Report 182, Institute of Manpower Studies, Nov 1989
- British Socio-Economic Trends to 1995 and their Employment Implications, Rajan A, Bevan S, Gordon A, Walsh K, Report 189, Institute of Manpower Studies, Nov 1989
- Costing Labour Wastage in the National Health Service, Buchan J, Bevan S, Atkinson J, Report 157, Institute of Manpower Studies, Oct 1988
- What Makes a Manager?, Hirsh W, Bevan S, Report 144, Institute of Manpower Studies, Nov 1987
- Patterns of Retirement, Varlaam C, Bevan S, Report 134, Institute of Manpower Studies, Nov 1986
- The Management of Labour Turnover, Bevan S, Report 137, Institute of Manpower Studies, Nov 1986
- Access to Training and Jobs, Varlaam C, Bevan S, Report 132, Institute of Manpower Studies, Nov 1986
- The Mid-Cheshire Labour Market - Trends and Prospects, Walsh K, Bevan S, Report 116, Institute for Employment Studies, Apr 1986
- Company Perspectives on YTS, Bevan S, Hutt R, Report 104, Institute of Manpower Studies, Nov 1984
Articles and chapters
- Obesity is one of the last acceptable forms of discrimination - but should it be a protected characteristic in the workplace?, Bevan S, Independent, [Online], January 2019
- Cancer survival is on the rise, but return to work rates are not keeping up, Bevan S, The Conversation, [Online], December 2018
- Workforce health: Why 'good work' trumps fruit and pilates evangelism every time, Bevan S, Bajorek Z, HR Magazine, HR Magazine, October 2018, October 2018
- Letters to the Editor: Stigma of obesity, Bevan S, The Daily Telegraph: Letters to the Editor, The Daily Telegraph, 2 June 2018, June 2018
- Obesity at work: Fighting fat or fighting stigma?, Bevan S, HR Magazine, [Online], June 2018
- 21st century workforces and workplaces: The challenges and opportunities for future work practices and labour markets, Bevan S, Brinkley I, Cooper C, Bajorek Z, Bloomsbury Publishing, Bloomsbury, London, February 2018
- The woman who died from overwork and the perils of a low-regulation economy, Bevan S, New Statesman, [Online], October 2017
- Travailler partout?, Bevan S, Les cultures d'entreprise européenes au défi d'un nouveau monde, Éditions des Ilots de résistance, , October 2017
- Can data and technology supplement the human touch?, Bevan S, Reba, [Online], Spring 2017
- Can the grim reality of published pay ratios really curb executive pay?, Bevan S, The Conversation, [Online], September 2017
- Workforce health as a business asset?, Bevan S, Employee Benefits Magazine, Employee Benefits, [Online], May 2017
- Managing fluctuating health conditions at work, Bevan S, What next for health at work? Five years on from the Black/Frost review of sickness absence, Unum, [Online], February 2017
- Next generation HR: Part two, Bevan S, HR Magazine, [Online], December 2016
- What does the future of HR look like?, Bevan S, HR Magazine [Online], November 2016
- HR professionals are still the people who tell you that you can’t do something, Bevan S, Article, Personnel Today [Online], September 2016
- What can we learn from HR's emerging talent?, Bevan S, HR Magazine [Online], June 2016
- Why mental illness at work need not be a solitary journey, Bevan S, Occupational health and wellbeing, Personnel Today (Online), June 2016
- Analysing, monitoring and costing labour turnover, Bevan S, Chapter in Research handbook on employee turnover, EE Elgar, June 2016
- Workplace Health in the UK, Bevan S, American Journal of Health Promotion, May 2016
Conference appearances
- Labour is not a commodity , Bevan S, ADAPT Conference, ADAPT, Bergamo, Italy, November 2019
- Recommendations for SMEs and Impact of Technology on Occupational Health, Bevan S, 6th Global Healthy Workplace Awards and Summit, Global Centre for Healthy Workplaces [Online], October 2018
- Mental health at work, Bevan S, Tartu Healthcare College workshop on mental health and employment, Tartu Healthcare College, Tartu, Estonia, September 2018
- Workforce health, Bevan S, 6th Global Healthy Workplace Awards, Global Centre for Healthy Workplaces, Bergamo, Italy, September 2018
- Workplace health and wellbeing: Where is the ROI?, Bevan S, AIA Regional Employee Benefits Conference 2018, AIA Group, Singapore, August 2018
- Psychosocial health at work, Bevan S, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health Annual Conference, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), Nottingham, July 2018
- Workplace mental health, Bevan S, Jockey Club TourHeart Project inaugural symposium on stepped care services and workplace mental health, Jockey Club TourHeart Project, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, June 2018
- HR, technology and the future of work, Bevan S, European HRD Circle, European HRD Circle, Berlin, Germany, June 2018
- Improving wellbeing and resilience at work - what the evidence tells us, Bevan S, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health: National Health and Safety Conference, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), Nottingham, June 2018
- Future of work, Bevan S, GLC 10th HR Minds Digitalisation Conference, GLC, Vienna, Austria, June 2018
- Discrimination in employment, Bevan S, European congress on obesity, European Association for the Study of Obesity (EOSO), Vienna, Austria, May 2018
- Incentivising better health in the context of economic contribution to GDP, Bevan S, European Association for the Study of Obesity Annual Policy Conference, European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), Brussels, Belgium, May 2018
- Chronic illness and employment, Bevan S, European Network of Fibromyalgia Associations awareness event, European Network of Fibromyalgia Associations, Valletta, Malta, May 2018
- Developing an evidence based health and wellbeing strategy in the Home Office, Norbury H, Bevan S, Health and wellbeing at work conference 2018, Sterling Events, Birmingham, March 2018
- The future of work and ethics in HR, Bevan S, Presentation to Greater Brighton Metropolitan College students, Greater Brighton Metropolitan College, Brighton, January 2018
- Dementia-friendly workplaces, Bevan S, University of Salford OneCPD workplace health and wellbeing conference 2017, University of Salford, Salford, November 2017
- Why psychosocial risk must be a bigger OSH priority, Bevan S, European Health and Safety Management Forum, GLC Europe, Berlin, Germany, September 2017
- Judge, Bevan S, 5th Global Healthy Workplace Awards, Global Centre for Healthy Workplaces, Singapore, September 2017
- How policymakers can help those with chronic pain thrive at work , Bevan S, Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) 2017 Symposium, Social Impact of Pain, Valletta, Malta, June 2017
- Fibromyalgia and employment, Bevan S, European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium, April 2017
- Chair of judging panel, Bevan S, Good Practice Exchange Event and Award Ceremony, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), Brussels, March 2017
- Sorting your staff sickness struggles, Bevan S, Spotlight Webinar, BrightHR, London, March 2017
- Good Work and Good Health - Top Tips for Employers, Bevan S, Health at Work Best Place to Work: Health and Wellbeing at Work Conference 2017, Sterling Events, Birmingham, March 2017
- WorkLife podcast, Bevan S, WorkLife Hub Podcast, WorkLife Hub, Soundcloud, December 2016
- Balancing incentives, regulation and reflective bargaining, Bevan S, Job quality and mental health, OECD, Paris, France, November 2016
- Best practice in employee wellbeing, Bevan S, Spotlight Session, Work & Well-Being, London, November 2016
- The future of work and the issue of sustainability: Framing the issue, Bevan S, The future of work: A matter of sustainability, Adapt and University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy, November 2016
- Health and work: The economic, political, legal and social consequences of ill-health in the workforce, Bevan S, PhD seminar on Health at Work, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy, November 2016
- The true cost of absence, Bevan S, Workplace Health 2016, The @ Work Partnership, Warwickshire, October 2016
- Workforce health strategies – the role of good work and digital health in employee well-being, Bevan S, Employee Benefits Live 2016 Conference, Employee Benefits, London, October 2016
- Identifying the challenges and implementing the strategies, Bevan S, Contributor, Annual Conference: Health and work in a changing world, British Safety Council, London, October 2016
- Fluctuating conditions in the workforce: organisational and individual roles and responsibilities, Bevan S, The Third Annual Work, Health and Wellbeing Conference 2016, University of Salford and the International Disability Management Standards Council UK, Salford, September 2016
- Working futures: Rhetoric meets reality, Bevan S, presentation to the Board of Unum, Unum, London, July 2016
- The strengths and weaknesses of health and work strategies in global companies, Bevan S, Workforce health in global businesses, Willis Towers Watson, London, July 2016
- Interventions – evidence and options, Bevan S, Wellbeing at work, The At Work Partnership, London, July 2016
- Workforce health as an asset, Bevan S, Health at work metrics, World Bank, Washington DC, USA, June 2016
- Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Work Productivity in Europe, Bevan S, Societal Impact of Pain 2016: Time for Action, Brussels, May 2016
- Working Anywhere: Digital Disruption to the Idea that Work is a Place, Bevan S, 6th European HR Directors Circle Forum, Lisbon, May 2016
- How Blue is the Thin Blue Line? - Police officers and mental health, Bevan S, Police Federation Annual Conference 2016, Police Federation, Bournemouth, May 2016
- Overview of the current national policy and initiatives: What employers need to know, Bevan S, Health @ Work Summit, London, May 2016
- Workforce health: what works and why?, Bevan S, Workforce health promotion, Cigna, London, May 2016
- What Does 'Good Work' Look like in the 21st Century?, Bevan S, 2nd Aviation HR Conference, Ground Handling International, Lisbon, April 2016
Advisory roles and affiliations
- Member of the AIA Institute (Hong Kong) expert advisory board on workplace health (2017 - 2020)
- Member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and employment (2017 - present)
- Member of advisory panel for RAND study on health and wellbeing interventions available to employers (2017 - 2018)
- Adviser to the Prime Minister's review of mental health and employment (2017 - present)
- Member of the Department for Work and Pensions green paper expert advisory group (2016 - present)
- Member of the European Brain Council, mental health and employment advisory group (2016 - present)
- Member of Dame Carol Black's expert panel for her review on behalf of the Prime Minister of employment interventions to support people with drug and alcohol addiction and obesity (2015 - 2016)
- Judge at The Global Healthy Workplaces Awards (2014 - present)
- Member of the Britain's Healthiest Company expert advisory group (2014 - present)
- Board member of the European HR Director's Circle (2014 - present)
- Member of the European Parliament Special Interests Groups on both mental health and musculoskeletal disorders (2014 - present)
- Peer reviewer of The Lancet (2014 - present)