We round up the latest employment news.
A third of employers are seeing more employee grievances
According to recent research, nearly a third (30%) of employers have seen an increase in the number of grievances over the last two years.
The top three reasons for employee grievances are bullying or harassment (67%), relationships with managers (54%) and relationships with colleagues (49%). However, 37% of respondents reported pay and grading as the main cause of grievances.
Health and wellbeing support comes out top in workplace benefits table
Health and wellbeing support with 24/7 access to a personal doctor, was the number one employee benefit for almost half (48%) of UK workers in 2022, according to new data from HIVE360. Health and wellbeing services were also popular, particularly access to personal mental health counselling services and crisis support helplines. The data is based on Hive’s app-based platform.
Committee looking at human rights protection at work
The Joint Committee on Human Rights has opened an inquiry looking into the manner in which rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights are protected and upheld in workplaces across the UK. It has invited written evidence on a series of questions relating to topics such as freedom of association and right to strike, the right to privacy, freedom of thought conscience and religion, labour market exploitation, retained EU Law, and international human rights treaties.
The inquiry was launched on Friday 10 February 2023 and will accept evidence until Friday 24 March 2023.
Changes to right to work checks
The Home Office has updated its guidance for employers carrying out right to work checks. The guidance was updated late in the day on Tuesday 28 February 2023 to reflect legislative changes and current practice.
Key points:
- Employers should carry out on an online check for those with a pending Home Office application, administrative review or appeal.
- Employers should explain the circumstances where they need to contact the Employer Checking Service and what to do if employers are presented with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) with an expiry date of Tuesday 31 December 2024.
New survey makes depressing reading for female equality
The multinational market research company, IPSOS, has recently released results from their global survey on female equality based on over 22,500 responses. In the UK, 1000 people took part in the survey and UK responses indicate that:
- 58% of those surveyed believe that gender equality will not be achieved unless men take actions to support women’s rights, and only 47% believe gender equality will be achieved in their lifetime. Over half agree that gender equality is good for both men and women.
- Just under half agree that when it comes to equality, things have gone too far in UK, 38% believe men are expected to do too much, and 43% think changes to ensure women’s rights now mean men are being discriminating against.
- 12% said they had seen examples of gender discrimination at work and 10% had witnessed someone sexually harassing a woman at work.
- 12% said they have discussed gender equality at work in the past year and only 7% talked to their employers or senior managers about examples of gender discrimination at work.
Menopause tsar urges business to introduce policies to support women
Helen Tomlinson, England’s first-ever menopause employment champion, has called on businesses to develop policies and to normalise discussing the subject, saying that she has witnessed ‘the transformational power’ that talking about menopause can have in a workplace. Ms Tomlinson is Head of Talent in the UK and Ireland at the human resources provider Adecco Group. She was appointed to the role on a voluntary basis by the Department of Work and Pensions earlier this month.
Lack of affordable childcare forcing UK women out of work
A lack of affordable childcare in the UK is forcing women out of work and hampering career progression. According to PwC’s annual women in work index, which looked at data from 2021, the UK fell five places to be ranked 14th for women’s employment outcomes across the 38 member countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Net childcare costs represented almost a third of the income of a family on the average UK wage, compared to as little as 1% of income in Germany.
The Chancellor announced that 30 hours of ‘free’ childcare will be expanded to cover children under five years old by September 2025 in an attempt to help parents get back to work. This could allow 60,000 more parents of young children to enter the workforce.
UK more attractive to highly qualified workers
The UK has risen up the rankings of countries most attractive to highly qualified workers and is now in seventh place, according to new research. The UK ranked above US and Canada. The researchers attribute the increase to changes in the immigration system post Brexit, which scrapped caps on the number of highly skilled workers who could come into the country.
Chancellor’s plans to get over 50’s back to work
The Chancellor announced a fund of £63 million to encourage retirees over 50 to return to work.
Read more - March 2023
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