Labour ministers begin work on employment issues

The Labour government has begun its first week in power with a number of announcements and key meetings related to its election pledges on employment. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer announced most... Read more »

Second four-day week pilot to begin in UK this autumn

A second pilot of a four-day week is scheduled to launch this autumn as campaigners urge employers to sign up. The organisers are hoping the Labour government will be more receptive to... Read more »

Government launches Back to Work plan to tackle economic inactivity

Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall has said the new Labour government’s Back to Work plan will include a new national jobs and careers service, a youth guarantee, and local plans to... Read more »

Increase in sustainability questions in job interviews

More than three in five employers (62%) have noticed an increase in sustainability-related questions from candidates during job interviews, as green credentials rise up the list of priorities for job seekers. The... Read more »

Software company will ‘onboard’ AI employees

HR software company Lattice has announced it will ‘onboard’ AI employees to ensure they fully integrate with the rest of the workforce. Lattice CEO Sarah Franklin claimed the company wanted to “be... Read more »

REC to MPs: Hard work on the labour market starts now

Kate Shoesmith, deputy chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), writes an open letter to MPs urging them to understand today’s people and labour market challenges. Dear Members of Parliament,... Read more »

Avoid salary history questions in recruitment, guide urges

Employers and recruiters should not seek salary history from job candidates in any manner, including by asking applicants about their current pay and for their desired salary, according to new guidance. The... Read more »

Disability pay gap wider than in 2014

The disability pay gap has widened since 2014, new figures from the Office for National Statistics show, although there was a slight narrowing between 2019 and 2021. In 2021 the gap between... Read more »

MPs vote against further NHS workforce planning requirements

Organisations representing doctors and nurses have expressed their disappointment at MPs’ decision to reject a proposal for greater NHS workforce planning requirements. During a final reading of the Health and Social Care... Read more »

EasyJet tackles staff shortages with seat tactic

EasyJet plans to remove a row of seats from its planes in a bid to cope with labour shortages. By removing the last row on its A319 aircraft, it can cut the... Read more »