New research from Learning and Work Institute shows that insecure work grew between 2011 and 2016 and may be reducing productivity growth. Insecure work is one of the topics of our time. For some, increased flexibility over work can be a real benefit. For others, insecurity can make it difficult to make ends meet, to…
Low pay; zero-hours contracts; the gig economy; the introduction of employment tribunal fees. We are living in an age in which the agency, rights and dignity of a significant part of Britain’s workforce are being stripped away. Just last week, we had headlines telling us that the plight of today’s workforce had a lot in…
A few weeks’ holiday each year and some time off when you’re sick aren’t big asks. Most of us take them for granted. Too often, insecure workers, however, are forced to work while sick and avoid taking holidays. Hundreds of people recently told us about their daily experiences of insecure work. The cost of being…
To their advocates, zero hours contracts offer flexibility for both the employer and employee. But such a simple summary strips away the human aspects and power dynamics that make insecure work so stressful for the employee. Hundreds of people employed in insecure work recently told us about their experiences. What they told us was strongly…
We often assume that a job will provide us with financial stability. Work is supposed to give us a stable income, a dependable budget, and the relief of not having to stress about the next month’s rent. However, for those in insecure work, jobs don’t necessarily guarantee this peace of mind. In a recent survey,…
Imagine turning up to work only to be sent home without pay. It would be frustrating, wouldn’t it? It would be more frustrating still if you had already paid for childcare that day; or if you’d cancelled other plans so you could work; or if not receiving that day’s pay would make it difficult to…
Forget socks, slippers or the latest gadget. This Sunday, the government should give fathers the perfect Fathers’ Day gift and help them spend time more with their families – by making sure all fathers can access well-paid paternity leave. One in four working fathers aren’t entitled to take paid paternity leave when their child is…
One of the strongest themes we’ve heard on the North West leg of our Britain Still Needs A Pay Rise tour has been what’s happening to wages in the public sector. Traditionally seen as a sector of “good jobs”, the years since the crash have seen a dramatic reversal. In Wallasey, I talked to council…
Are you thinking “why wasn’t I at home today?” As we struggle home from work, we are often driven to wonder why we are making the journey in the first place. There is a lot that can upset us – delays, congestion, thoughtless road users, having to stand on public transport and a general sense…
Today is the International Day for Families, so it’s timely to think about the types of support that working families need to spend more time together. As a starting point, it’s imperative that working parents don’t see their existing rights undermined following Brexit. EU employment law provides key safeguards for working parents including the right…