National living wage pushes nurseries towards insolvency August 30, 2016 The national living wage has contributed to almost doubled the number of school nurseries falling into insolvency in the last year according to research released today. Accountancy firm Moore Stephens said that 29 nurseries had become insolvent in the year to March 2016, compared to 16 the year before. “The introduction of the national living wage has [...]
May under pressure to ditch target as net migration still above 300,000 August 25, 2016 Theresa May has come under fresh pressure to scrap her target to cut migration as the latest figures showed net migration is still running at more than three times the government's official "tens of thousands" target In the year to March 2016, net migration – the difference between the number of arrivals and departures – came in at 327,000 [...]
From the gender pay gap to the minimum wage, the politicisation of pay threatens the UK’s business-friendly reputation August 19, 2016 Economic logic suggests that free determination of employment contracts, like free trade, normally benefits both parties and leads to high levels of employment and economic growth. But this view has never been popular. Fifty years ago, it was the accepted belief that governments should determine pay increases, leading to the dead end of incomes policies [...]
High pay red tape likely to cause a muddle, warns new research August 19, 2016 Politicians who wade into regulate pay could wind up doing more harm than good, a report out today warns. The Institute of Economic Affairs' research found previous attempts to rule against high pay had backfired and governments would be better off focusing on cleaning up complex tax systems and closing up loopholes. In particular, the report noted [...]
Union courts M&S staff as retailer’s pay row rolls on August 17, 2016 Shopworker's union Usdaw is urging M&S staff to join its ranks as the retailer's pay row between staff and management intensifies. The union has been having meetings with M&S staff over the company's proposed cuts to pay and pension contributions. Usdaw have held around 11 meetings so far across the UK in places such as Liverpool, Manchester and Stockport, and have so far contacted [...]
Sharp downturn would spell trouble for nearly one million renters in London August 16, 2016 There's no housing safety net to catch almost one million renters in London should the economy turn sour, a report out today warns. Analysis by Royal London of government’s family resources survey data for 2013-14 – the most recent full set of figures the researchers had available to them – showed 5.5m working adults across [...]
Three ways life has actually improved for millennials since last year August 15, 2016 Millennials… they might get a bad rap for being lazy, whiney and selfishly obsessed with selfies among other things, but it's a generation that's been saddled with debt, spiralling living costs and lower wages than any previous generation. And the socio-economic situation of young people has remained largely unchanged over the last year, new research reveals, while the bad news is, some areas [...]
Deliveroo drives into pay row with warning on minimum wage August 14, 2016 Deliveroo has ridden into trouble with changes to the way it pays delivery drivers, prompting a warning from the government over adhering to rules on the minimum wage. Drivers last week took to the London streets to protest the changes, which they argue leaves them being paid less than the £7.20 National Living Wage (NLW), and which the [...]
M&S chief Steve Rowe comes under pressure from MPs over proposed pay cuts for shop staff August 11, 2016 M&S boss Steve Rowe has received letters from six MPs asking him to reconsider cutting pay for his shop staff, City A.M. understands. One letter sent to Rowe from Alison Thewliss of the SNP read: "It is clear that there is increasing cross-party condemnation of businesses who seek to exploit their employees at a time [...]
M&S pay row intensifies as workers and management engage on proposals this week August 10, 2016 M&S management are set to respond to staff concerns about cuts to premium pay this Thursday, City A.M. understands. M&S are planning to remove extra pay for employees working on Sunday and have been hearing alternative proposals from staff as part of an ongoing consultation. Read more: M&S accused of threatening to sack staff who reject [...]