Demand for flexible jobs soars as workers seek remote roles Business Searches for jobs with flexible working surged by 132 per cent between July and September this year, according to new figures. Based on 22,000 job searches analysed by flexible work specialist Flexa, the data also shows that 60 per cent more flexible job adverts were posted in the same period compared to the previous quarter. [...]
Workers’ rights package is ‘overdue and welcome’, says Ella’s Kitchen founder Entrepreneurship The government’s workers’ rights overhaul contains positive measures that will allow financially sustainable businesses to flourish, one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs has said, calling for proper consultation with businesses on changes to the probation period. Paul Lindley OBE, the founder of the UK’s largest baby food brand Ella’s Kitchen and a pioneer of the [...]
Workers will bear the brunt of tax rises, OBR says Politics Workers will end up shouldering the majority of the government’s national insurance hike, the fiscal watchdog said, as Rachel Reeves admitted that pay growth will suffer due to her tax plans. The Chancellor announced tax rises worth £40bn yesterday, making it the biggest tax-raising fiscal event since 1993. Changes to employers’ national insurance made up [...]
Workers’ rights reform set to slap British businesses with £5bn bill October 21, 2024 British businesses are set to be imposed with a £5bn additional cost annually as a result of the new workers' rights, with smaller businesses in hospitality and retail set to hit the hardest
Workers’ rights: Business secretary defends ‘rushed job’ bill October 10, 2024 The business secretary has defended the government’s plan to overhaul workers’ rights after a lobby group branded it a “rushed job, chaotic and poorly planned”.
Labour pulls back from ‘day one’ protections as it unveils workers’ rights overhaul October 10, 2024 Labour has pulled away from its pledge to give employees protection from unfair dismissal from the first day in a job, according to reports, as it unveils its long-awaited package of employment reforms today. The Employment Rights Bill, which Labour promised to introduce within its first 100 days, is set to be laid before Parliament [...]
The jobs market is already in trouble – loading employers with new regulations won’t help September 25, 2024 Jobs postings have declined for the 26th month in a row. This isn't the time to disincentivise hiring, writes Reed CEO James Reed.
Reeves to strike positive tone in Party Conference speech September 23, 2024 Rachel Reeves is set to promise a Budget that will “rebuild Britain” in a speech at the Labour Party Conference that will claim that the “work of change has only just begun”. In a notably more optimistic tone than Labour has adopted in recent weeks, the Chancellor will vow to deliver a “Britain of opportunity, [...]
‘Strike right balance’ on flexible working, business groups urge Labour September 17, 2024 Ministers must allow firms to “strike the right balance” on flexible working, business lobby groups have urged. It comes after business secretary Jonathan Reynolds told The Times alternative work schedules “contribute to productivity” and could be “significant” in tackling regional inequality issues, amid debate over the government’s proposed plans for workers’ rights reforms. He said, [...]
The Notebook: A new deal for working people? Labour’s plan risks mass layoffs September 16, 2024 Labour's new deal for workers promises to put employees first, but it risks badly backfiring, writes employment law expert Dan Pollard in today's Notebook.