28 April 2006
Older
employers want to keep working
The Guardian, 26 April 2006
Many people around the world want to keep working after retiring to
help fund their later years, a survey of 21,000 people in 20 countries for HSBC
has found. However, many wanted to work on a more flexible basis, with one third
of respondents wanting to work fewer hours as they near retirement.
Friday
is national work from home day
Personnel Today, 26 April 2006
Friday 5 May has been designated ‘National Work from Home Day’ by
Work Wise UK, the campaign promoting the adoption of smarter working practices.
This is part of Work Wise Week (3-9 May) which aims to highlight the benefits
of improved working practices.
Parents take more maternity leave yet find it easier
to return to work
Policy Studies Institute, 31 March 2006
A new survey of 2504 families carried out for the DTI and DWP by the Policy Studies
Institute showed that the increases in maternity leave and pay introduced since
the last survey in 2002 have been matched by increased take-up of leave, up from
4 to 6 months on average.
20 April 2006
UK
organisations embrace flexible working arrangements
People Management Magazine p11, 20 April 2006
A survey of European organisations, conducted by the European Foundation for
the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions has found that the UK is ranked
fourth in terms of flexibility, with more than half of UK private companies
and public organisations having flexible working arrangements in place.
NHS
organisations not ready for age legislation
Personnel Today, 20 April 2006
Two-thirds of NHS organisations are failing
to properly prepare for new age discrimination legislation,
according to NHS Employers.
Fast
food giant says no to ‘McJobs’
The Guardian, 20 April 2006
McDonald’s is aiming to tackle its “McJob” image
as a poor employer with a nationwide poster campaign
highlighting the company’s work-life balance policies.
13 April 2006
Family size shrinking due to
cost of children
The Daily Telegraph p9, 10 April 2006
The average family in Britain now has 1-3 children, down from 2-4 30 years
ago. The major factor is financial with 16 per cent saying they would not be
able to return to work due to the cost of child care.
More mothers shun work to spend
time with their families
The Daily Telegraph p9, 10
April 2006
A study of 7,471 families for the Department
for Work and Pensions has found that 53 per cent of
mothers do not work because they wanted to be with their
children – a rise of 5 per cent on 2003
Stethoscopes
and baby bottles
The Guardian 7 April 2006
Beth McCarron-Nash describes her role juggling motherhood and being a doctor.
7 April 2006
International
Labour Process Conference
10-12 April 2006, London
The International Labour Process Conference is a
forum for the analysis of all aspects of workplace life. The
2006 conference includes an emphasis on work-life balance issues.
Who
Cares Wins
The Times p2, 6 April 2006
Companies that provide flexible
working for employees who care for elderly or disabled relatives
can boost productivity, attract skilled staff and reduce
absenteeism, according to a study by the University of Sheffield
Hallam's Social Inclusion Centre.