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Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · Apr 3

In April 2015, parents of babies or people adopting were able to share the mother’s maternity leave for the first time. But 10 years on despite employers offering it, uptake of Shared Parental Leave is low.

Emelia Williams looks at the barriers: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

Balance fo statutory and enhanced leave policies provided by employers

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Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · May 22

📢 Today, we release new research with @mssocietyuk.bsky.social‬ ‬‬‬on the experiences of 1,125 people with multiple sclerosis. It explores the barriers & enablers to accessing & staying in work with 96% of respondents stating MS impacted their ability to work. (1/10) lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

Front cover of No Compromises: Supporting people with MS to thrive in and out of work. Partners: Work Foundation and MS Society. Authors: Aman Navani, Asli Atay and Jon Fitzmaurice. Date: May 2025.

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George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · May 22

🚨 Amazing new report out today from colleagues at the @workfoundation.bsky.social on the experiences of people with MS in the labour market.

Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · May 22

📢 Today, we release new research with @mssocietyuk.bsky.social‬ ‬‬‬on the experiences of 1,125 people with multiple sclerosis. It explores the barriers & enablers to accessing & staying in work with 96% of respondents stating MS impacted their ability to work. (1/10) lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

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George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · May 13

📈Some interesting insights into todays labour market statistics - including from the @workfoundation.bsky.social

Job vacancies plunge as employers brace for tax rises

Vacancies have plunged to a seven-year low outside the pandemic as employers freeze hiring in the wake of Rachel Reeves’s tax raid.

www.yahoo.com

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George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · May 7

Attended an event today in Parliament hosted by IOSH on protecting platform workers in the age of AI.

Some great insights on how we can ensure the fair treatment of gig workers and provide transparency and worker autonomy in AI decision making processes.

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George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Apr 3

🚨Excellent blog from my @workfoundation.bsky.social colleague Emilia Williams on Shared Parental Leave

Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · Apr 3

In April 2015, parents of babies or people adopting were able to share the mother’s maternity leave for the first time. But 10 years on despite employers offering it, uptake of Shared Parental Leave is low.

Emelia Williams looks at the barriers: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Feb 24

Really sad news R.I.P

Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye

YouTube video by Roberta Flack - Topic

www.youtube.com

George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Feb 5

🚨 🦺 Check out my new blog for the @workfoundation.bsky.social

the Government has promised long overdue reforms to strengthen health and safety regulations and enforcement.

But if they are to succeed, they must think carefully about how to navigate a hostile press and create a positive narrative.

Health and safety gone mad? Policymakers need to create a positive health and safety narrative to deliver improvements to workforce health - Lancaster University

Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the Health and Safety Act. The landmark legislation has improved health and safety standards but the UK faces new challenges with rising levels of long-term s...

www.lancaster.ac.uk

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George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Jan 28

Really worrying news

Landlords of the Prince Charles Cinema are demanding the inclusion of a break clause in their new lease. Which could see PCC kicked out with only 6 months notice if landlords get planning permission to redevelop.

If you have a sec please sign the petition.

shorturl.at/nIqMD

Save The Prince Charles Cinema

The iconic Prince Charles Cinema in London’s West End future is under serious threat! We are beyond disappointed that our landlords Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their ultimate parent company Criterion Capital...

shorturl.at

George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Jan 14

Troubling report in @metrouk.bsky.social on predicted evictions before the no-fault evictions ban kicks in.

1.4 million people in severely insecure work live in the PRS.

They will find it especially challenging to cover the cost of an unwanted move and to find a new home they can afford.

More than 15,000 renters could lose homes before no-fault ban comes into force

The Renters' Rights Bill is due to pass its final stages in the House of Commons today.

metro.co.uk

George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Jan 13

I have a new article in the FE on the UK's ongoing struggle with economic inactivity due to ill-health.

And how new WF research points to greater access to secure and stable employment as a key part of the solution.

Secure Work and Employer Support are Vital to Keep Britain Working

Once again, the UK has become the ‘sick man of Europe’, but this time in a very literal sense. The UK is currently the only…

www.fenews.co.uk

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Rebecca Florisson @rebeccaflorisson.bsky.social · Jan 9

Bank of England's monthly survey asked what businesses expect to do to meet the increased cost of National Insurance Contributions in April.

Over half (54%) said they'd raise prices. With wage growth slowing and prices already high, that could add additional pressure to households.

This graph using Bank of England's Decision Maker Panel data from December 2024 shows the reaction to the increase in national insurance contributions that will come in, in April 2025. Multiple answers were possible. The figure shows that 41% of businesses expect to lower employee wages, 53% expects to decrease the number of employees, 54% will pass on the cost through raising prices, and 64% expects to have lower profit margins.

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George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Jan 6

The Work Foundation has just joined Bluesky - give us a follow!

@workfoundation.bsky.social

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Alice Martin @alicepmartin.bsky.social · Dec 18

Great to see our finding in @thetimes.com today - that half the people who leave employment due to illness do so in the first year following their decline in health. This is a critical period, requiring good sick pay, leave and adjustments
www.thetimes.com/article/why-...

Why can’t more than 800,000 job vacancies be filled?

There are four times as many people potentially able to work as there are jobs

www.thetimes.com

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George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Dec 5

You can find the full report here: www.lancaster.ac.uk/media/lancas...

www.lancaster.ac.uk

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George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Dec 5

If we want a healthier, more inclusive workforce, we need a ‘national reset’ on workforce health.

That’s why we propose moving attention from downstream measures to more upstream measures.

Some of our key recommendations are:
(7/7)

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George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Dec 5

UK: Does not allow people to claim sick pay if they return to employment. Disincentives staggered returns to work.

Finland: People in ill-health who can undertake reduced or modified tasks through part-time work, can qualify for partial sick allowance, at 50% of the full benefit.

(6/7)

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George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Dec 5

UK: Statutory Sick Pay set at £116.75 per week up to 28 weeks. Among Europe's least generous, replacing just 17% of average weekly earnings.

Germany, France, Italy, Poland:
(5/7)

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George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Dec 5

UK: European outlier as it does not place legal requirements on employers to provide occupational health (OH) services to their workers. 45% of workers have access to OH.

Germany, Denmark, Netherlands...: mandate employers provide OH. Near universal coverage.
(4/7)

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George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Dec 5

UK: Some of the weakest working time laws in developed world. Workers can opt out of 48 hour week limit and not entitled to overtime pay.

France: 35 hour working week, maximum 48 hours with overtime. Workers paid 125% of their salary for the first 8 hours of overtime and 150% thereafter.
(3/7)

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George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Dec 5

UK: Labour have committed to making flexible working the 'default'. However, employers will still be able to exercise considerable discretion in who can access it.

Finland: A recent law has granted most workers the right to work remotely for at least half of their working hours. (2/7)

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George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Dec 5

The UK has near record levels of economic inactivity due to ill-health and is the only G7 nation with a smaller workforce than before the pandemic

Our new report examines approaches taken by other nations to support healthy work and the overall health of their working age populations

A thread...

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Asli Atay @asliatay.bsky.social · Dec 5

Our report on tackling economic inactivity is finally out and it’s one we’ve been working on for a while.🥳

The key takeaway? Flexibility, autonomy, and support during the first year after ill health onset are game changers for keeping people in work.

A ~long~ thread to unpack our key findings🧵

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George Williams @gdwilliams9.bsky.social · Dec 5

🚨📝 New Work Foundation report!

A near record 2.78 million people are out of the labour market due to ill-health in the UK.

Our latest briefing shows how Government & employers can work together to help retain more people in work when they face health issues.

www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

Stemming the tide: Healthier jobs to tackle economic inactivity - Lancaster University

New Work Foundation research aims to provide new evidence, insights and policy direction for how Government and employers can work together to retain more people who experience health issues in employ...

www.lancaster.ac.uk

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Asli Atay @asliatay.bsky.social · Dec 1

The Get Britain Working White Paper mentions 'mission' 30+ times & 'growth' 40+ times—showcasing its role as a vehicle for the government’s mission-driven approach.

Not the light Sunday read I planned, but here we are! Read my take on mission-driven policymaking:
open.substack.com/pub/asliatay...

Labour’s Plan to Get Britain Working: A Test for Mission-Driven Governance?

What Is Mission-Driven Governance, and How Does It Shape Labour’s White Paper?

open.substack.com

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Alice Martin @alicepmartin.bsky.social · Nov 29

To kick off my account, here's an article I wrote yesterday for @uk.theconversation.com on why direct job creation should be a part of the government's youth guarantee, rather than the spectre of benefit sanctions.

Let me know your thoughts!

theconversation.com/the-uk-wants...

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