-
Time for straight talking on racism in the workplace
The time has come to have an open and honest conversation about race in the workplace. In fact, the discussion is well overdue. Recent research from the TUC found that a third of ethnic minority workers felt they had been unfairly turned down for a job, compared to just 19 per cent of white workers. […]
-
Beware the dangers of creating a vaccination divide
More than half of UK employees in a recent survey by Glassdoor said Covid vaccinations should be mandatory for those returning to work, with 14% going so far as to state that they would hand in their notice if they were asked to return to the office before everyone has had the jab. The poll […]
-
Teeter-totter of life balance weighted by unpaid work
Despite the push in recent years to create better balance between our work and personal lives, the grind culture that has dominated for decades remains in ascendency. Its reign has no doubt been supported – perhaps even prolonged – by the aftermath of the banking crisis that left many either out of work or clinging […]
-
How to talk about redundancy in job applications and interviews
Looking for a new job after you have been made redundant comes with many worries. One of which is how potential employers will look upon the gap in your employment. You might worry that they will imagine that you lost your job due to poor performance, when in fact you were made redundant due to […]
-
Myth of merit turns on redundant pandemic workers
Having coined the term “meritocracy” more than 60 years ago, sociologist Michael Young crystallised what has become a deeply rooted belief in the power of the individual to command their own destiny, rather than be subject to external forces outside their control. The powerful sway of this doctrine is laid bare in a recent study […]
-
Catch-22 on wages has echoes of the financial crisis
It was around this time last year – mere weeks before Covid swept through the UK – that official figures showed average weekly wages had finally recovered ground lost after the financial crisis to surpass levels from March 2008. After nearly 12 years of economic turmoil and lethargic recovery, living standards for the average worker […]
-
Mental health throws up yet more pay discrepancies
The deadline for larger companies to report on their gender pay gap is on the horizon, though at present there is no clear guidance on whether this will be mandatory after compulsory disclosure was suspended last year in the face of the Covid pandemic. Meanwhile, there is growing consensus that similar reporting requirements should be introduced for […]
-
How to set professional development goals
Continuous learning and development is key to your professional growth, especially if you are hoping to move into a new role or get a promotion. It’s something that many of us have become more focused on recently, with a survey by the Sharp Corporation finding that 63% of workers under the age of 30 feel […]
-
How to be happier working from home
Working from home is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Until restrictions are lifted home working remains the default and may even continue for some beyond the pandemic on a full or part-time basis. If you’ve not managed to adapt to homeworking yet, you’re not alone. Levels of stress, anxiety and depression have risen […]
-
4 positive things in the world of work in 2021
Whatever industry you work in, 2020 no doubt had a big impact on your career. Whether you lost your job, were placed on furlough, had to work under new health and safety measures or switched to working from home full time, it was a year of big changes and hard adjustments. With yet another lockdown […]