Workers' rights

Government plans right to request four-day work week

The UK government has announced plans to give full-time workers the right to request a four-day work week, the Telegraph reported (30 August).

Huge increase in migrant care workers reporting exploitative contracts

The number of migrant care workers who have reported being employed under exploitative contracts rose from 22 to 134 between 2021-2022 and 2023-2024.

Shakespeare Festival actors incorrectly classified as volunteers

Leaders of the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival wrongly classified two actors as volunteers when they should have been classified as workers, the BBC reported on 15 August.

Employer bars street cleaner from taking crowdfunded holiday

An employer has banned a street cleaner from accessing a £3,000 holiday fund raised by the local community in Beckenham, stating that staff are prohibited from accepting “gifts or incentives”.

Overseas worker visa applications drop by a third

The number of overseas workers and students applying for UK visas fell by 35% between January and July 2024 compared with the same time last year, statistics from the Home Office released have shown.

UK riots: How can HR support employees amid crisis?

Civil unrest has broken out around the UK, as mobs have targeted shops, mosques, and hotels accommodating asylum seekers. We asked commentators how HR can support employees amid the crisis.

Amazon faces union-busting legal challenge for QR code ploy

More than 900 Amazon employees are taking the company to court for allegedly breaking the law by using union-busting tactics. A unionisation ballot at Amazon’s Coventry site fell short of a majority...

Caring responsibilities impact over half of employees

Over half (51%) of employees reported that their career has been negatively impacted by caring responsibilities.

Coughing in employee's face was harassment, tribunal finds

A boss of a car sales property business who deliberately coughed in an employee’s face during the Covid-19 pandemic has been ordered by a tribunal to pay the employee £26,000.

Labour's first 100 days: What HR wants from employment law

The Labour Party has pledged to introduce its 'new deal for working people' within its first 100 days in government. The party’s election manifesto stated that current employment law was “not fit for...

Who is on strike in July and August 2024?

Find out who is striking, why, and what services will be affected in our July and August roundup.

Key election pledges: What HR needs to know (part two)

In the run up to the general election on Thursday (4 July), we look at the key policy pledges that would impact HR. Today, we focus on apprenticeships, skills, pensions and benefits.