Economics, government & business

‘Positive movements in national living wage and so on are fantastic news stories for the worker; however, they come at a huge cost to employers’

A 6.7% hike in the national living wage for 2025 has been confirmed ahead of the Budget, while the national minimum wage rises by 16.3%.

From bus fares to the term ‘working people’ to national insurance rates, speculation around tomorrow’s Budget has reached fever pitch.

New ONS figures show that the median weekly wage for full-time employees was £728 in April 2024; the TUC says this shows a rise of only 0.3% since 2010

Hiring intentions among UK firms increase slightly in October, despite a dip in business confidence ahead of tomorrow’s Budget.

Plans to introduce a ‘pot for life’ for employee pensions will no longer go ahead, according to the Department for...

Uber Eats drivers for McDonald’s in Northern Ireland have been exposed to discrimination, bullying and exploitation, according to the Worker Info Exchange.

With the Treasury reportedly considering an increase in National Insurance contributions for employers in the upcoming Budget, what does this mean for HR?

Next week’s Budget must avoid imposing fresh costs on business in the wake of the Employment Rights Bill, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation has warned.

House of Lords committee finds companies fear investing in training because of the risk of losing staff to other employers.

Businesses may face extra costs with the changes to SSP mooted by the government but these will be neutered by productivity increases and health and morale improvements, say campaigners.

Government launches consultation on how reforms around zero-hours contracts should apply to agency workers.

Employment Rights Bill could cost business £7.4bn over 10 years as government publishes impact assessment and four consultations.

An EU-UK Youth Mobility Scheme is an opportunity to address labour shortages and help the reset of post-Brexit relations.

The number of workers covered by whistleblowing law could be about to expand as Protect's campaign to reform the Public Interest Disclosure Act gains parliamentary support.