We round up the latest employment news.
Labour announces new employment rights and policies
During its recent conference, the Labour Party made further announcements about the scope of its labour reforms. Amongst those mentioned was a “genuine living wage” which would consider the actual cost of living. Shadow women and equalities minister, Anneliese Dodds, announced Labour plans to introduce mandatory disability pay gap reporting as one of the ways to tackle inequality and pay gaps.
The Labour party has also pledged to repeal the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, which requires employers in certain essential sectors to operate a minimum service during industrial action and the Trade Union Act 2016, which introduced longer notice periods for industrial action, higher ballot thresholds for public services and a six-month expiry deadline for ballot mandates.
Third of employees experienced sexual harassment
A recent survey conducted by The Barrister Group revealed that almost a third of 2000 workers surveyed experienced sexually inappropriate behaviour from a colleague in their workplace. 69% of those said that the perpetrator was someone more senior. The survey revealed that the unwanted attention included groping, stroking, inappropriate comments, and threats. Some workers said it would harm their career if they did not return sexual advances. The survey also showed that almost half of the victims have not reported the matter.
The survey asked equal numbers of men and women to share their experiences and participants came from a range of sectors.
Government announces National Living Wage rate rise
The Chancellor has announced that the NLW, available to adults aged 23 and over, will rise to two-thirds of average earnings from April next year and has told the Conservative Party conference that it will increase the rate to at least £11 per hour. The existing rate is £10.42 an hour.
New rates for the NMW and NLW will be announced in November 2023.
Fit note moves into the digital age
The fit note has had another re-fit. The latest change embeds fit notes in primary care settings (GP's IT systems) which should make them available to everyone obtaining a fit note from their GP, and efforts are being made to make them available in secondary care settings such as hospitals.
The government has updated its guidance on fit notes to reflect these changes and we’ve written a longer blog explaining the detail.
New guidance for employers monitoring workers
The Information Commissioner has published Guidance: Monitoring workers to help employers comply with data protection laws. The guidance covers any form of monitoring of staff, whether on work premises (or elsewhere) and both during and outside of working hours.
It addresses issues employers need to consider if they are using monitoring tools that use solely automated processes and biometric data for time and attendance monitoring. It includes checklists and links to other helpful information.
39% of working parents want workplace mental health support
Two-in-five (39%) working parents of children under 18 would like mental health support available to them at work, according to new research from Working Families and Bright Horizons.
The findings, released to coincide with National Work Life Week (2-6 October), revealed that 89% of working parents believe access to flexible working arrangements has or would have a positive effect on their wellbeing, while 37% said subsidised childcare or back-up care was important.
Seven-in-10 parents agreed a culture that encourages work-life balance was an important workplace benefit, with higher pay (65%), managers with the skills and knowledge to support them (58%) and access to their preferred flexible working pattern (57%).
Women and Equalities Committee looking into the rights of older people
The House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee has launched a new inquiry into the rights of older people. It wants to examine a number of issues that impact older people, including stereotyping and discrimination, and labour market access.
The deadline to respond is Tuesday 31 October 2023.
Read more – October 2023
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