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UK Edition
4th October 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Medical conditions leave one in five jobless or limit their ability to work
According to a report by the Commission for Healthier Working Lives, Britain's ill-health crisis is significantly impacting the workforce, with over 8m adults either jobless or limited in their work capacity. The study reveals that one in five working-age individuals suffers from health conditions that hinder their employment, with those affected being three times more likely to be unemployed. The report highlights a 37% increase in such cases since 2013, with 4.3m people currently out of work due to health issues. It goes on to call for reforms in sick pay and urges the government to incentivise employers to support workforce health. Some 60,000 women are currently off work due to symptoms relating to the menopause, costing the UK economy £11bn annually. Sacha Romanovitch, chairman of the commission, said: “If we intervene early and provide the right support, people can stay at work for longer. That is a goal that is great for individuals, great for businesses and great for society.”
WORKFORCE
UK firms still overlook working-class talent
In the UK, many firms are failing to tap into the working-class talent pool, with only half actively seeking candidates from less advantaged backgrounds. The Social Mobility Commission highlights that adults from lower working-class families are three times more likely to remain in working-class jobs compared to those from higher professional backgrounds. The Sutton Trust suggests that improving social mobility could add £170bn to the UK economy annually. Alun Francis, chairman of the Social Mobility Commission, said: "It's not true that social mobility is getting worse on all counts, nor does our country compare badly with others. In reality, the picture is complex. But we don't need a crisis to recognise that opportunity can be improved." The Times notes that law firm Linklaters, Nationwide, KPMG and PwC are among those taking part in this week's Somo Awards, which highlight the work done by organisations actively supporting working-class talent.
REMUNERATION
Wage growth and inflation expectations steady
Recent data indicates that businesses' expectations for wage settlements and inflation rates remain largely unchanged, with finance directors predicting a 4.1% wage increase over the next year. Rob Wood, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, noted that the data does not provide a "green light" for quicker interest rate cuts, as wage growth and price rises remain "stubborn."
LEGAL
Labour's rights reforms boost business optimism
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is set to introduce the Employment Rights Bill next week, with key proposals including protections against unfair dismissal, immediate sick pay access, and a ban on zero hours contracts. A survey by Opinium reveals that 66% of business leaders believe the reforms will positively impact their operations. Commenting on the survey, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: "Most managers understand that if you treat your staff well they will perform better." Additionally, Dr George Dibb from IPPR highlighted that secure employment benefits both workers and businesses. Elsewhere, Tesco's chief executive, Ken Murphy, has urged the government to collaborate with businesses on the new rules to ensure they don’t inhibit growth.
GP surgery manager wins age harassment and victimisation claim
A 62-year-old GP surgery practice manager is set to receive significant compensation after being subjected to derogatory remarks by staff, including comparisons to the Kardashians. Employment law judge Rachael Harfield described the treatment of Catherine Clark as "degrading and humiliating," highlighting that Clark was referred to as an "old knacker" and her family as "narcissistic" in WhatsApp messages. The judge said: "The Claimant and her family . . . became a source of entertainment and gossip." Clark, who had previously complained about colleagues accessing her medical records, successfully sued for discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and unfair dismissal. The tribunal will determine her compensation amount at a later date.
The new Conservative class war
The FT's Robert Shrimsley notes Conservative leadership campaign hopeful Kemi Badenoch’s disdain for the bureaucratic class, including HR staff, "whose growth and status is bolstered by rafts of employment law."
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Teachers hesitant to switch to secondary
According to a recent Department for Education study, 60% of primary teachers are unwilling to transition to secondary education, citing concerns over their subject knowledge and respect from students. Only 19% expressed interest in making the switch, with just 12% saying they will consider it within the next three years. The report highlights potential incentives. A ‘sign-on bonus', salary increase, or a bursary or sponsorship for training were all noted as potential financial motivators for making the switch. Many teachers believe that support from experienced mentors could ease the transition, while others suggested that specific training to enhance subject knowledge would be beneficial. Despite these suggestions, a significant number remain firm in their decision, with many saying that “there was nothing that would motivate them to move from their current role to secondary school teaching.”
HEALTH & WELLBEING
How to make workplace well-being programmes better
The World Health Organization (WHO) says mental health issues among employees lead to a staggering loss of $1 trillion in productivity annually. The WHO urges employers to implement effective well-being programmes to address this growing crisis. However, a UK study involving 46,336 employees from 233 organisations found that many common initiatives, such as mindfulness classes and mental health coaching, fail to improve employee well-being. Despite global investments exceeding $60bn in these programmes, their impact remains minimal. "Avoiding generic self-help approaches will enhance their overall impact," the WHO report says. To truly benefit employees, well-being initiatives must be tailored, effectively implemented, and focus on promoting flourishing and purpose in life, writes Jolanta Burhe, senior lecturer, Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin.
CYBERSECURITY
PSNI faces hefty data breach fine
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has expressed its "extreme disappointment" after the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) upheld a £750,000 fine related to a significant data breach. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher described the fine as "regrettable," especially given the PSNI's current budget shortfall of £34m. The breach, which occurred in August last year, involved the accidental release of personal details of all 9,400 officers and staff, later accessed by dissident republicans. Information Commissioner John Edwards said: "A lack of simple internal administration procedures resulted in the personal details of an entire workforce, many of whom had made great sacrifices to conceal their employment, being exposed."
HYBRID WORKING
Google reaffirms its commitment to hybrid work
Google has reaffirmed its commitment to a hybrid work model, dismissing concerns about a full-time return to the office, as per Amazon's recent decision on the issue. During a town hall meeting, John Casey, Google's vice president of global compensation and benefits, said: "We believe that the current policy strikes a good balance between flexibility and productivity." Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining productivity while working from home. However, some employees, particularly in hardware teams, are required to be in the office four days a week. Google has also tightened its rules regarding in-office attendance, implementing hot-desking and piloting new workspace designs called "neighbourhoods."
INTERNATIONAL
Amazon India workers report being mistreated in heatwave
Amazon workers in India say they are feeling pressured to skip breaks for water and restroom use, especially during peak hours. Despite Amazon's claims of compliance with safety regulations, workers describe a culture of fear and pressure, particularly during the heatwave that struck northern India between April and June. India's semi-governmental National Human Rights Commission has since intervened. In a statement, Amazon says the company complies with Indian law, and there is “nothing more important than the safety and wellbeing of the workers." The emailed statement adds that Amazon keeps all its facilities cool, managers can temporarily suspend work if it gets too hot, and the company “ensures additional breaks when temperatures are high.” Amazon also says it curtails deliveries during the hottest parts of the day during the heat wave.
FBI agrees to pay $22m over sexual discrimination
The FBI has agreed to pay over $22m to settle a class action lawsuit involving 34 female recruits who alleged harassment and discrimination at the bureau's  training academy in Virginia. The lawsuit claimed that women faced a hostile environment, with instructors making inappropriate comments and subjecting them to harsher scrutiny than their male counterparts. “These problems are pervasive within the FBI and the attitudes that created them were learned at the academy,” said David J. Shaffer, the lawyer for the women. “This case will make important major changes in these attitudes.” The settlement, pending judicial approval, could be one of the largest in the bureau's history. “Through passive tolerance,” the lawsuit said, “the FBI has intentionally allowed the Good Old Boy Network to flourish unrestrained at the FBI Academy.”
OTHER
DfE is urged to restore expert group to tackle absence crisis
The Attendance Action Alliance, which was established by former education secretary Nadhim Zahawi to “supercharge efforts to improve school attendance,” has not convened since May. The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) is urging the Labour government to restore this group, which previously met monthly to tackle the underlying causes of school absence. Julie McCulloch, ASCL's director of policy, emphasised the importance of collaboration, saying: “Improving attendance, and tackling persistent absence, does require a coordinated, multi-agency approach.” Rob Tarn, the attendance tsar, also expressed hope for the continuation of the alliance's model. Meanwhile, the Department for Education is focusing on collaborative efforts with families and local partners to address the root causes of absence, including providing access to mental health professionals and introducing free breakfast clubs in primary schools.

 
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