This
week’s news in brief
Strike
toll doubles
The
number of working days lost to strike action doubled this year. The Office of
National Statistics recorded days lost to strikes in the year up to October,
not including the firefighters dispute, doubled to just over one million. www.ons.gov.uk
PPP
deal agreed
A
landmark public private partnership deal was signed last week to upgrade part
of the London Underground. The Tubelines consortium will fund refurbishments
and repairs on the Underground’s Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines in
return for a 30 year revenue stream. Read next week’s issue for an interview with Tubelines’ HR
director Andy Goode
Parents’
rights pushed
Ministers
have launched a campaign to remind millions of parents that they will soon be
able to demand more flexible working hours from their employers. A telephone
hotline will advise workers about their new rights. www.dti.gov.uk
Flexibility
choice
A
third of jobseekers would rather have flexible working options than receive
extra cash, according to research by the Department of Trade and Industry. The
survey, carried out in conjunction with recruitment website reed, also finds
almost half of the 4,000 respondents look for flexible working hours when
hunting for a new job. www.reed.co.uk
New
jobs disappoint
More
than half of employees strongly regret accepting a new job immediately after
joining a new organisation, finds a survey. The study also reveals 26 per cent
of respondents voluntarily left within one month because they were so
disappointed with their treatment. www.uknetguide.co.uk
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