Opinion – Page 7
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OpinionMartin Williams: The impact of Amazon mandating a return to the office
Amazon recently announced that it wants all staff to return to the workplace and no longer work from home. Granted, those in the warehouses do not work from home, but there are a large number of keyboard workers who do. How easy is it for employers to ...
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OpinionLovewell’s logic: Embracing authenticity
It was lovely to see so many of you at this week’s Employee Benefits Live. I always find the event invaluable for meeting new contacts, catching up with old friends and delving into the current trends in reward and benefits. Over the course of the two days, I had so ...
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OpinionKeely Rushmore: What can employers learn from the Next employment tribunal judgment?
Keely Rushmore Source: From Keystone Law Keely Rushmore, employment partner at Keystone Law The employment tribunal judgment in the case of high street retailer Next serves as a reminder that roles that may seem very different can be compared against each other under the equality legislation, to ...
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OpinionAnn Frances Cooney: Potential impact of the draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill
The draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill was announced in the King’s Speech in July. The new Labour government confirmed that the draft bill delivers its manifesto commitments to enshrine in law the full right to equal pay for ethnic minorities and disabled people, and to introduce ...
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OpinionGail Irvine: How can employers encourage staff to save money?
UK Savings Week (9-15 September 2024) is a timely reminder of the financial challenges workers face when it comes to saving. The cost-of-living crisis has made it harder than ever before to set money aside, hitting the UK’s 3.7 million low-paid workers the hardest. For those on the lowest pay, ...
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OpinionAnt Donaldson: How can employers encourage staff to save money?
“May you live in interesting times” may be a clumsy rendering of the Chinese proverb, “It’s better to be a dog in a peaceful time than be a man in a chaotic period”, but it has certainly been relevant in recent years, through the pandemic, soaring inflation, ...
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OpinionJennifer Roberts: How can employers encourage staff to save money?
At Central Co-op, we recognise that helping our employees with their financial wellbeing is an essential part of our staff wellbeing programme, called ‘We’ve got you’. Encouraging employees to save begins with creating a culture that prioritises financial health. At Central Co-op, we leverage our Difference Maker ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: The importance of facilitating conversations around suicide
Trigger warning: This article discusses suicide. This week, rock star Jon Bon Jovi made headlines after he reportedly helped a woman in distress who was standing on the ledge of a bridge over the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee. Along with others, Bon Jovi talked to the ...
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OpinionNick Le Riche: Flexible working changes and a four-day week
The Labour government’s planned changes to give employees the right to request a four-day working week under plans to increase flexible working have hit the headlines. According to reports, the government is proposing to make it easier for employees to request compressed hours, whereby employees work their ...
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OpinionConfessions of a benefits manager: Candid looks into pay transparency
Although the EU pay transparency regulations don’t yet come into force, I am conscious we will have a great deal to do to prepare. To get up to speed on the latest, I register for a masterclass webinar held by our advisers, Smarmy Consultants. I am working ...
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OpinionElouisa Crichton: What to expect from a right to disconnect
The UK government is exploring how to implement the new right to disconnect in practice. This follows moves by countries including France, Spain and Australia where similar policies have already been introduced. This proposed right is unlikely to become law in the statutory sense, but rather a ...
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OpinionLouise Lawrence: Legal implications and requirements of managing sickness absence
Managing sickness absence can be a daunting task for many employers to handle, as it often requires striking a fine balance of having a delicate approach in supporting employees, while considering business needs of minimising business disruption and costs. An October 2023 report from the Chartered Institute ...
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OpinionThe Shared Parental Leave and Pay (Bereavement) Bill and the Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024
On 6 December 2023, the Shared Parental Leave and Pay (Bereavement) Bill was introduced to the House of Commons as a Private Member’s Bill by Chris Elmore, a Labour MP, with support from Darren Henry, a Conservative MP. It enjoyed the support of the government and across ...
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OpinionKaren Hartmann: How can employers incorporate family life into the workplace?
Business reaps rewards with family-friendly policies and more women at work.The good news is that the growing proportion of women in the labour force since 2019 has added around $1.5 trillion to global income, according to Moody’s published research.The disappointing news is that despite progress in recent decades, the participation ...
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OpinionCharlotte Watmore: How can employers incorporate family life into the workplace?
At Wates, we reimagine places for people to thrive and that applies as much to our workplaces and employees as it does to the buildings we create.As the UK’s leading family-owned development, building, and property maintenance company, it is important to us that our family values are reflected in how ...
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OpinionRachel Gothard: How can employers incorporate family life into the workplace?
Supporting our colleagues' family lives is a cornerstone of our values at Meallmore. We understand that fostering a balanced and inclusive work environment not only benefits our employees but also enhances the quality of care we provide to our residents.This commitment was recently reflected in our celebration of a successful ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: The right to switch off from work
How easy do you find it to switch off from work? Although this is not a new issue by any means, since the Covid-19 pandemic, the blurring of boundaries between work and home life has become more pronounced as a greater number of employees spend at least ...
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OpinionRichard Branson: Prepare for proposed increases to national minimum wage
In April 2024, the previous Conservative government increased the national minimum wage (NMW) for people over the age of 23 from £10.42 per hour to £11.44, a rise of 9.8%. The NMW rate for 21 and 22-year-olds also moved to £11.44 per hour from its previous rate of £10.18, representing ...
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OpinionAmanda Glover: Impact of new flexible working laws on employees
The employment law changes that came into effect in April 2024 are likely to have been overshadowed for many by the general election and the multitude of proposed employment law changes that have been put on the table by the Labour party.The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023, which came ...
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OpinionNigel Peaple: What does the new government's reform agenda mean for UK pension schemes?
The government’s pensions reform agenda could reshape the rewards and benefits landscape, presenting both opportunities and challenges for employers. So, what could this mean for the UK workforce? The newly announced pensions review presents an opportunity to improve pension adequacy. Likely to be considered during 2025, employers ...