Flexible sick pay could offset the cost of sickness absence, new study finds
Employees’ mental health issues are notoriously difficult to deal with even for the most understanding and supportive employers. Unlike a cold or a broken arm, mental health problems do not usually have a timescale for recovery. Employees who attend work while unwell do not do favours for either the employer or themselves. At the same […]
Government to overhaul ‘gig economy’ workers’ rights
The government plans to launch a major overhaul of the right of workers in the ‘gig economy,’ including in areas of pay and flexibility. Theresa May to end legal loophole that allows exploitation of agency staff Significant changes are to be made to the UK’s employment laws, led by Prime Minister Theresa May, in an […]
Amazon remove workers’ bonuses to offset pay increase, says union
Amazon has been accused of slashing benefits and bonuses for UK workers to compensate for a pay increase, according to the union GMB. Company had previously been praised for pay rise for lowest paid warehouse workers The online retail giant has been accused of offsetting hourly increases to its lowest-paid workers by removing employee benefits […]
Fast food workers strike over pay dispute
A number of workers from fast food chains including McDonald’s, Wetherspoons, and TGI Fridays are striking for better pay. International industrial action is growing in fast food sector The fast food workers were joined by some of the UberEats delivery drivers, who are also calling for pay increases and better working conditions. UberEat strikes were […]
Manual workers most ‘at risk’ from Brexit
Men with fewer qualifications working in manual industries are more likely to be negatively affected by Brexit and new trade restrictions. Factory workers face consequences of hard Brexit New figures from the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) suggest that workers in factories that rely on EU trade are particularly at risk. 44% of UK exports […]
More than half of UK workers facing workplace discrimination
Younger workers leading charge to improve workplace equality Prejudice against gender, race and age is still commonplace in UK workplaces, according to a survey from Sky to mark National Inclusion Week. A new generation of workers could change this, with under-25s twice as likely to believe that employers must do more to fight inequality than […]
Almost half of zero-hour workers want more hours
More regular work and job security are priorities for nearly half of workers on zero-hour contracts, according to a recent study of 20,000 people on zero-hour contracts in the UK. 44% of ‘gig-economy’ workers want steadier hours Conducted by three labour market economists, the findings of this new survey challenge the assumption that the flexibility […]
Half of employees affected by poor mental health
1 in 2 employees in the UK is affected by poor mental health, according to leading mental health charity Mind. Many workers keep mental health issues a secret Only around half of those who said they had been affected by mental health issues like depression and anxiety said they had discussed it with their employers. […]
Government to decide it misogyny is a hate crime
MPs will vote on making misogyny a hate crime this week after a campaign against street harassment pushed the issue into the spotlight. Misogyny could become ‘aggravating factor’ In a move that will have significant ramifications for the legal landscape, MPs are set to debate an amendment to the ‘upskirting bill’ that would require courts […]
Four-day working week possible in this century, says union
A four-day working week will be made possible in the next hundred years, according to the TUC. Advances in technology could shorten working hours The Trades Union Congress (TUC) claims that fewer working days are needed if firms are forced to share the benefits of technological advances with workers. Robots, artificial intelligence (AI), and increased […]