Opinion – Page 4
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OpinionHolly Navarro: Supporting Muslim staff during Ramadan
In today’s richly diverse society, employers must demonstrate an understanding of the cultural variances of employees, and foster an inclusive working environment, ensuring multi-faith workforces are listened to and respected. An openness to making reasonable adjustments during this time will help improve employee satisfaction and embed inclusivity and diversity within ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Embracing equity on International Women's Day
On Wednesday, we celebrated International Women’s Day. The theme of this year’s campaign was ‘embrace equity’, aiming to get the world talking about why equal opportunities are not enough, and the importance of equitable actions if true inclusion and belonging is to be achieved.Many employers have already recognised this need, ...
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OpinionDanielle Ayres: The changing face of flexible working
The number of people working flexibly has increased drastically since the pandemic; however, as we move on from that, it seems more employers are asking staff to return to workplaces on a regular basis.Many employees have become reliant on not having to travel into work, or deal with the costs ...
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OpinionHelen Burgess: Long-term hybrid working plans key for many employers
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was commonplace for most employees to spend their full working week in the office, but it would seem now that hybrid working is here to stay. While up until recently many businesses have been flexible with their policies around hybrid working, more are now ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Could a four-day week become the new normal?
Would a reduced working week be right for your organisation? This week saw the publication of the results of a six-month-long trial of a four-day working week with no loss of pay in 75 organisations.Following the trial, which was led by Four Day Week Global, Four Day Week Campaign and ...
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OpinionEmma Burroughs and Tania Goodman: Is there a decrease in remote working jobs being advertised?
It has been widely reported that the number of fully remote roles available has dropped significantly; this is a continuing trend month on month, making the job market more competitive for those seeking such roles.Initially, many employers have taken a more relaxed approach to the return to the office, but ...
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OpinionAvneet Kaur: Diversity, equity and inclusion policies must align with employee benefits
A global pandemic and economic volatility, along with Black Lives Matter and trans rights movements, have all brought about seismic shifts in attitudes. Added to this, the modern workforce is multi-generational and diverse in culture, experience, and identity.Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies must therefore align with employee benefits in ...
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OpinionYvonne Gallagher and Morag Ofili: Handling requests to work abroad
The way people want to work has changed drastically since the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. A period of forced hibernation showed even the greatest of sceptics that rather than being confined to office desks, it is possible to work from anywhere.However, despite employers encouraging in-office working, employees are demanding more flexibility ...
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OpinionMartin Williams: Making the sums add up for a four-day week
In a way, four-day working is already with us. Many people do not work what is currently regarded as the full, or standard, working week of five days, Monday to Friday.It is the form of the four-day week that is the cause of debate. Should it be the standard? Should ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Navigating Christmas celebrations in 2022
Christmas party season is well and truly underway. With so many celebrations cancelled over the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year, many are relishing the opportunity to celebrate with friends, family and colleagues. But, given the volatile economic climate we are currently living in, and the ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Committing to flexibility
The government’s announcement earlier this week that it is committed to introducing a day one right to request flexible working has been welcomed by many, not least those that have campaigned for such a move in recent years.In its response to the consultation Making flexible working the default, the government ...
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OpinionJoanne Frew: Open communication is key as employees given more flexibility
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has published the government's response to the consultation ‘Making Flexible Working the Default’, confirming that millions of employees will receive a day one right to request flexible working, empowering them to have a greater say over when, where and how they ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: An own goal or winning formula?
Last Sunday saw the Fifa World Cup 2022 kick off in Qatar. With many matches scheduled to take place during the working day, this year’s tournament poses something of a challenge for employers.According to research published by bookmaker Paddy Power last week, 47% of the 2,002 football fans surveyed said ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Should Elon Musk retain home working at Twitter?
Elon Musk has certainly made an impression – and headlines – during his first few weeks as owner of Twitter. After letting approximately half of the workforce go, this week he announced that employees must return to the office to work if they are able to do so. Those who ...
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OpinionSyma Spanjers: What support should employers provide for menopause in the workplace?
There is growing momentum among employers to support employees affected by the menopause in the workplace.In July 2022, the government produced its response to the Independent report on menopause and the workplace. For employers, the key recommendations include promoting open conversations and training line managers to recognise symptoms of the ...
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OpinionLee McIntyre-Hamilton: How to manage a globally remote workforce compliantly
The rise of globally remote workers and digital nomads is a lasting legacy of Covid-19 (Coronavirus). Employers are now grappling with how to embrace or at least accommodate the new landscape, not least in order to attract and retain scarce talent. The UK Office of Tax Simplification’s consultation on globally ...
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OpinionJoe Aiston and Ruth Moffett: Uber's revenue increase could shift the gig economy's take on workers
In February 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that Uber drivers are workers and not independent contractors. This judgment has inevitably led to higher costs for Uber, with the ride share business now being required to ensure compliance with national minimum wage, holiday pay and put in place minimum pension contributions ...
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OpinionClaire Haworth: A remote working law may not solve the UK’s labour shortage
It is rumoured that the government is thinking of implementing a law extending the existing right to request flexible working. This would give employees greater flexibility in terms of how they work, including the right to remote working, as set out in the 2019 Employment Bill.At present, only employees with ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: Should the UK move to a four-day week?
Last week, The Telegraph featured an article focusing on the experiences of several organisations currently participating in the UK’s pilot of a four-day working week.During the pilot, which is running between June and December 2022, more than 3,000 employees from 70 organisations across the UK will work 80% of their ...
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OpinionLovewell's logic: The great talent conundrum
In a week that saw A-level students receive their exam results and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) publish its latest Labour Market Statistics, it is perhaps unsurprising that talent recruitment and retention have been the subject of much discussion.While the ONS report showed that vacancy rates in the UK ...