News and Knowledge

Legal rights for women going through the menopause explained

Women going through menopause will have more protections at work from today as the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published new guidance for employers.   The new guidance states that employers could be sued if they do not make “reasonable adjustments”  at work for women going through menopause, if their symptoms amount to being…

Union calls for ban on ‘precarious’ zero-hour contracts

A trade union is calling for a ban on zero-hour contracts as workers are often “stuck” with insecure and low-pay jobs.   The call for the ban comes after figures from Labour’s Market Overview’s latest 2024 report estimate the levels of employment across the UK. The Trade Union Congress said employers are “parking workers on…

Deliveroo and Uber Eats workers to strike on Valentine’s Day

Deliveroo and Uber Eats riders are set to strike on Valentine’s Day to demand improved working conditions and better pay.   The industrial action will impact four food apps, and is thought to involve around 3,000 drivers and riders between 5 pm and 10 pm on Wednesday, February 14. One cyclist taking part in the…

Tata Steel: 3,000 jobs at risk as blast furnaces expected to close

Thousands of workers could be at risk of losing their jobs as steel giant Tata plans to shut down blast furnaces at its Port Talbot plant.   It is thought that more than 3,000 jobs could be lost as Tata plans to cut the jobs to press ahead with proposals for a greener form of…

Age discrimination most prevalent at work, study finds

Age discrimination is most prevalent in the workplace than anywhere else in society, new research has revealed.   According to the data, from a campaign launched by Centre for Ageing Better to tackle ageism, 37% of people in their 50’s and 60’s experienced age discrimination at work in the past 12 months.     People…

BrewDog abandons real living wage for employees

BrewDog has announced it will no longer pay the real living wage to new employees in a bid to get profits back on track.   The craft beer giant released a letter to staff, which has been posted by the Unite Hospitality union on X,  stating that new bar staff will now be hired on…

Bosses tolerated sexual harassment at UK-based fire service, report reveals

A top fire chief has stepped down after a damning report revealed that sexism, criminal conduct and homophobia was tolerated at a UK-based fire service.   An external review into the culture at South Wales fire service was commissioned after a media outlet reported that colleagues had experienced abusive behaviour at the service.    …

Almost 2 million workers suffered from ‘work-related’ illness this year, figures reveal

Almost two million workers in Great Britain reported suffering from work-related ill health over the past year.   The statistics, revealed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also showed that almost half of the cases were down to stress, depression or anxiety. The figures show that from 2022 to 2023 1.8million workers reported that…

Minimum wage to rise in ‘highest ever’ increase from next year

The government has announced that the national minimum wage will rise next year in its highest-ever increase.   As part of the changes, more people than ever will receive the National Living wage – which is currently only available to those over the age of 23. At present, the National Living wage in the UK…

McDonald’s faces one or two sexual harassment claims every week, admits boss

A McDonald’s boss has admitted that the fast-food giant receives ‘between one and two’ sexual harassment claims a week following, a BBC investigation.   McDonald’s UK chief executive, Alistair Macrow told MPs the restaurant chain had sacked 18 people since July, after receiving more than 400 complaints from staff. A BBC investigation discovered that workers…