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20th November 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Bar Council slams proposed rule change on DEI
The Bar Council has expressed strong opposition to a proposed rule change that would require barristers to “act in a way that advances equality, diversity, and inclusion.” The Council argues that the proposals are "substantially unlawful, unenforceable, and impractical," warning that they could hinder progress in these areas. The Bar Council criticised the Bar Standards Board for not providing evidence of the effectiveness of such changes and suggests a more practical approach, including compliance with the Equality Act and mandatory training. Sam Townend KC, chair of the Bar Council, said: "The Bar Council is deeply committed to supporting and improving equality, diversity and inclusion at the bar. It is because of this commitment that we cannot support proposals for a new positive duty that lacks clarity, is probably unlawful and subject to challenge, impractical in implementation and ultimately likely to hinder progress on these issues.”
WORKPLACE
Starling staff revolt over office return
London based digital challenger bank Starling Bank is facing significant backlash from staff following new CEO Raman Bhatia's directive requiring employees to work in the office for at least 10 days each month. The policy has led to resignations and complaints about the lack of desk space and disruption to work-life balance. With Starling only having around 900 desks available for its 3,231 employees, an internal email acknowledged that the bank “may not be able to accommodate 10 office working days per month for everyone right now.” Mr Bhatia defended the policy, saying that in-person collaboration is vital for creativity and performance.
LEGAL
Sacked HelloFresh workers lose legal challenge
A group of HelloFresh workers who say they were dismissed after complaining about working conditions have lost a legal challenge. During a protest in October, 79 workers said they were let go after raising concerns about toilet break policies and termination procedures at the firm's warehouse in Nuneaton. Last week, a judge ruled that the company did not need to pay the workers while they pursued a possible employment tribunal. A spokesperson for HelloFresh said: "The outcome of the hearing affirms that the recent dismissals were fairly investigated and addressed, and that HelloFresh acted within the best interests of its employees to ensure their safety and wellbeing." Gavin Miller, Regional Secretary for the Midlands at Community Union, which represents the workers, said: "We hold the opinion that these workers were trying to engage with their employer and have lost their jobs as a result of wanting to be listened to." He has called for HelloFresh to commit to an independent review of business operations through Syndex, a consultation firm which assists employee representatives.
WORKFORCE
Government is considering subsidised jobs
The government is contemplating a subsidised jobs programme to address a rise in youth unemployment, Sky News has learned. According to the Office for National Statistics, there are 789,000 individuals aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), the highest figure recorded. Experts attribute this crisis to increasing mental health issues and a lack of skills training. PwC estimates that reducing the NEET rate could boost GDP by £23bn annually.
Guardian staff to strike over Observer sale
Guardian journalists have overwhelmingly voted to strike in protest over plans to sell the Observer to start-up Tortoise Media. Almost 93% of members voted in favour of industrial action in a ballot of more than 600 staff members organised by the National Union of Journalists. Union leaders say strikes can be avoided if the company ends discussions with Tortoise.
STRATEGY
Mulberry reduces HQ headcount as losses climb
Mulberry is cutting 85 jobs at its head office, representing about a quarter of the 350 staff employed in corporate roles. The move comes as the luxury handbag firm reported a 19% fall in revenues to £69.7m in the six months to the end of September. In the same period, losses widened by 23% to £15.7m. Chief executive Andrea Baldo said the first-half results “illustrate the clear need to reprioritise and rebuild the business,” adding: “In response to current market conditions, we have taken decisive steps to streamline operations, improve margins, reduce working capital and strengthen our cash position.”
Deloitte to cut more advisory roles
Deloitte is set to cut 180 jobs across its UK advisory divisions, having already reduced headcount in the same department in October. The firm says job losses have been driven by a restructuring which it said was necessary to navigate “challenging market conditions.” Deloitte said it has had to “carefully consider the shape of our firm,” adding that this means “some proposed restructuring across parts of our UK business” which “ may put some roles at risk of redundancy.” October’s job losses saw Deloitte let go of 250 employees who were deemed to be underperforming.
HIRING
Evri expands workforce to meet demand
Parcel delivery giant Evri has reported a "record year" for deliveries, with profits soaring to £119m, more than doubling from £51m the previous year. The company delivered 730m parcels in the year ending February 29, a one-sixth increase from the prior year. Chief executive Martijn de Lange attributed this success to the rise in online marketplaces and "pre-loved fashion" sites, which have "reshaped shopping habits." Evri plans to hire 8,000 couriers and 1,000 warehouse staff, increasing its workforce to 28,000. The company is also set to nearly double its spending on operational enhancements, aiming to become a "billion-parcel-a-year business" within five years. Following its acquisition by Apollo Global Management for £2.7bn, Evri has secured partnerships with major retailers like Amazon Prime and John Lewis.
INTERNATIONAL
Gen Z workers 'would only report concerns about workplace violence anonymously'
Gen Z workers are more likely to witness workplace violence but not speak up, according to a new report by compliance training company Traliant which found that nearly half of Gen Z workers would only report concerns about workplace violence anonymously. Based on a survey of over 500 full-time US retail employees, the report looks at how retail workers feel about their safety at work and how their employers are approaching workplace violence prevention. “The retail industry is a challenging space as employees are at higher risk for workplace violence and employers have a growing list of requirements to contend with when it comes to keeping their workers safe,” said Michael Johnson, Chief Strategy Officer at Traliant. “Our study identifies critical areas where retailers need to understand generational differences in the workforce so they can enhance workplace violence prevention programs and create safer work environments.”
Insurer slammed for ‘clinically dumb' policies in autism cases
A Hong Kong-based executive at insurance firm Manulife has hit out at his employer for what he described as its “clinically dumb” underwriting policies for people with autism, such as his son. Damien Green, the chairman of Manulife Financial Asia, wrote in a social media post, which tagged Roy Gori, president of Manulife, and Phil Witherington, president of the company's Asia branch: “Desperately sad and frustrated at the treatment of functioning and healthy autistic people, like my own amazing son, by insurance companies including my own employer Manulife Hong Kong and Macau . . . I have tried but the clinically dumb underwriting policies of such companies and their reinsurers are about as relevant as the horse and cart.”  Macy Chong Po-king, the chairwoman of the To Dream Charity Foundation, a support group for people with autism, said it was common for insurers to reject applications at the underwriting stage when risks were evaluated by looking at the applicants' medical history.
Mental health crisis among young workers in Hong Kong
The MWYO, a youth-oriented think tank, says that nearly 30% of young working adults in Hong Kong experience moderate to high levels of anxiety and depression, and only one-third seek help. The survey, conducted with over 400 participants aged 18 to 34, highlighted that financial stress and a lack of work-life balance contribute significantly to mental health issues. The MWYO has called on employers and authorities to implement supportive measures, including interpersonal competence training and mental health awareness initiatives. Angela Yung, the think tank's chief executive, emphasised the need for employers to prioritise employees' mental well-being over performance metrics, saying: “When an employee is facing challenges at work, the employer should [put the employee's] mental well-being first.”
Indian state implements menstruation leave policy
The government of the eastern Indian state of Odisha, led by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, has introduced a menstruation leave policy for female government employees under 55 years of age, allowing them 12 days of leave annually. According to the finance department's notification, employees can take one day of leave per month, which cannot be carried over. "The leave of a month has to be availed the same month," the notification states. The initiative aims to acknowledge the physical discomfort women experience during their menstrual cycles, and supplement the existing casual leave provisions. Women's rights activist Namrata Chadha urged the private sector to adopt similar policies to ensure parity in the workforce. Odisha follows the states of Bihar and Kerala in implementing such leave policies.
 


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