Unite wins recognition agreement with Siemens Mobility
Workers on the factory floor will now have formal union recognition for areas like health and safety and disciplinary hearings.
Latest
Billingsgate Market cleaning staff to be outsourced, says GMB
According to the union, Mitie Group PLC has a track record of poor pay and conditions, including underpaying workers and withholding pay.
Corrective action: Avoiding the Asda headache
Susie Al‑Qassab at Bellevue Law reflects on what employers can learn from Asda's ongoing equal pay dispute.
Government opens industry conference to kickstart SME exports
Hosted by UK Export Finance (UKEF), the event welcomes speakers from the CBI, British Chambers of Commerce and Invest in Women Taskforce.
British Steel engages with unions on plan to save jobs, calls for Government action on carbon costs
GMB, Community, and Unite met with bosses from British Steel and presented their plan to maintain a two-blast-furnace operation.
Third of firms hiring for permanent marketing and creative teams, survey finds
This demand is likely being driven by the growing need for digital transformation in the marketing remit.
Retirees need around £37,000 annually in 2025, study finds
The study suggested that nearly £50,000 will be needed yearly for a comfortable retirement.
Compensation & Benefits
Tribunal rules 12 out of 14 Asda retail roles have equal value in equal pay case
Asda shop floor workers have now won two out of the three key stages in their equal pay claim.
Aon selected as global benefits adviser for Netherlands-based Nexperia
Nexperia will use Aon’s employee engagement platform, The Benefit Solution, for a range of initiatives.
Recruitment & HR
Gloucestershire consultancy founder crowned HR Professional of the Year
Kelly Tucker, founder and managing director, received the accolade for innovative strategies and deep understanding of people.
Government urges businesses to use Jobcentres to fill vacancies and boost growth
Ministers are encouraging businesses to work with Jobcentres to fill thousands of vacancies, with retailers like B&M.
North Lincolnshire Council rebrands action station service to jobs team
The jobs team acts as a one-stop shop for individuals seeking employment or career advancement.
Maximus celebrates job support impact in Wrexham
So far, more than 900 Wrexham residents have been supported on their journey into work.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
Bangladeshi female entrepreneurs embark on landmark trade mission to the UK
During the visit to UK, they will be showcasing their businesses, meeting investors and exploring new opportunities.
LGB business executives form alliance to protect employees with gender-critical beliefs
The group was formed in response to the increasing influence of external organisations promoting ‘equality index’ schemes.
Two in five LGBTQ+ employees still feel the need to hide their identity at work, research finds
More than one in four (26%) LGBTQ+ people experienced verbally abusive conduct from customers or clients because of their identity.
Employment prospects for neurodiverse people set to be boosted with launch of new expert panel
The panel will develop recommendations for ministers this summer, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
Technology
L&G reports 79% increase in digital health service usage
62% of employees using L&G’s Virtual GP (vGP) said it helped them avoid time off work.
CIPD to lead Government-funded research into responsible AI adoption
The research will help shape frameworks for ethical and responsible use of AI, and employers’ understanding of skills.
Digital Workforce Services launches online learning platform to accelerate AI literacy
Digital Workforce Services Plc has launched agentacademy.ai, an online learning platform designed to meet the growing demand for AI literacy.
Health & Wellbeing
Caring for loved ones takes toll on employees’ mental health and relationships, research finds
A survey of 1,000 people aged 45-75 providing care for a relative revealed that three-quarters feel ‘on-call’ for at least half the week.
Three in 10 employees admit to calling in sick despite no illness, research reveals
Three in 10 (31%) employees cited the need for time away from the workplace as their excuse for taking a sick day.
Cancer overtakes mental health as most common condition supported by RedArc
According to RedArc, no two cancer journeys are identical, and the experience of an individual can vary daily depending on their diagnosis.
27% of employers concerned about cancer for older staff, GRiD finds
The concern about cancer was echoed by 18% of all staff themselves, rising to 27% of those over 55.
Employee Relations
Union targets industry water conference as campaign against Veolia escalates
Unite members working in Sheffield have been on continuous strike for months in order to get their union recognised for collective bargaining.
Investment conference hit by protests over ‘fire and rehire’ accusations for sponsor Pemberton
The Miami Global Alts investment conference has been hit by protests against sponsor Pemberton’s links to exploitative employment practices.
Unite secures recognition agreement for Advocacy Service Aberdeen staff
Unite Scotland has secured a union recognition agreement covering workers based at the Advocacy Service Aberdeen (ASA).
Unite secures recognition agreement for security workers at Sullom Voe terminal
The recognition agreement covers around 20 workers providing security services on site for EnQuest.
Global HR
Trump administration orders federal employees to report DEI initiatives or face consequences
The BBC reports that the Trump administration has instructed federal employees to report diversity initiatives within their agencies, prompting concerns among staff.
HR leaders may face expertise gap amid retirements and tech disruption
Gartner, Inc. has predicted key challenges that HR leaders must act on to ensure their organisations remain competitive.
EWE NETZ partners with OverIT to digitise workforce management processes
EWE NETZ GmbH partners with OverIT to enhance workforce management, streamline operations, and support sustainable energy goals.
Nearly half of U.S. remote workers say they’d quit if forced back to the office, Pew finds
A Pew Research Center survey reveals that 46% of U.S. remote workers say they’d be unlikely to stay at their job if their employer required a full return to the office, highlighting growing resistance to in-person work mandates.