Pay and reward

12 months of 2021: July

It was another year of turbulence for people professionals. Our 12 Days of Christmas countdown reviews what made the headlines in 2021.

Over 200 employers named and shamed for paying below minimum wage

Branches of Waterstones and Matalan are among 208 businesses called out by the government this week for failing to pay employees the minimum wage between 2014 and 2019.

Is there such thing as a dream job?

A poll of UK workers this week found the dream job consists of five things: a supportive boss; a 16–20-minute commute; 29 days of holiday; a 21–30-hour work week; and £44,355 pay packet.

12 months of 2021: January

It was another year of turbulence for people professionals. Our 12 Days of Christmas countdown reviews what made the headlines in 2021.

Employers warned not to shirk responsibility for contractors

A majority (88%) of off-payroll contractors have been told by firms that they must work through an umbrella company, despite questions about their credibility.

Record wages for seasonal staff set to climb higher

Companies are paying record-high wages to secure seasonal staff this Christmas, yet may have to pay even more as vacancies lie open.

In what circumstances should a worker’s right to paid holiday be pro-rated?

The Supreme Court is considering in what circumstances a worker’s right to paid holiday should be pro-rated. In Harpur Trust vs Brazel, a music teacher engaged to work during term time only (a...

Black Friday sales must not come at a price to employees

Black Friday represents one of the most hotly anticipated shopping opportunities of the year, for both retailers looking to boost sales and for consumers ready to bag a bargain. But this comes at a...

Unlimited holiday is 'click-bait HR policy'

Stockbroker firm, FinnCapp, HR consultancy CharlieHR and media agency The7stars. Three very different companies with one thing in common: they’ve all implemented unlimited holiday for employees and...

Soaring cost of living prompts calls for financial support for employees

Yesterday’s eye-watering inflation figures – showing the biggest rise in the cost of living for nearly 10 years – have seen renewed calls for employers to do more to support the financial wellbeing of...

Real Living Wage rise: what HR needs to know

The Real Living Wage (RLW), a voluntary salary level independently calculated based on the real cost of living, has today been substantially increased, bringing a much-needed wage boost to hundreds of...

Pandemic has hit disabled workers' finances hard, warns TUC

A new poll from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has found that two in five (40%) disabled workers in the UK have been pushed into financial hardship by the pandemic.