Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alice Martin @alicepmartin.bsky.social · Jun 30

Employer wellness schemes won’t fix a job that’s fundamentally bad. We need to redesign work to make it sustainable: more control, autonomy, purpose, flexible hours and workplaces, and time off (for rest, leisure, health appointments)

👉 lnkd.in/e7mTR2DY #workandhealth #timeoff #goodwork

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

lnkd.in

Alice Martin @alicepmartin.bsky.social · Jun 30

Pleased to speak to @financialtimes.com on material risks to companies from declining workforce health

New @workfoundation.bsky.social research shows 1 in 5 UK workers report poor health, and 6% might leave within a year because of it. Nearly 1/4 of 16–24-year-olds report poor mental health...

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Reposted by Alice Martin

Rebecca Florisson @rebeccaflorisson.bsky.social · Jun 10

Today’s stats paint a picture of a weakening labour market. Unemployment is rising (4.6%), vacancies are falling, and more people are returning to the labour market—often out of necessity, not opportunity. This should be a red flag ahead of tomorrow’s Spending Review. 🧵(1/6)

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Reposted by Alice Martin

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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Reposted by Alice Martin

Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · May 13

Comment from our Principal Analyst @rebeccaflorisson.bsky.social on zero-hour contract data from the ONS ⬇️

“Today’s data indicates a marked increase in the use of zero-hour contracts in the last year. There are now 1.17 million zero-hour contract workers, the second highest level on record. (1/7)

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Reposted by Alice Martin

Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · Apr 24

Our Head of Research, @alicepmartin.bsky.social joined Sean Farrington on Making Ends Meet on Radio 4 over Easter to talk about people who have to hold down a second job so they can afford to live.

Listen now: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

The key points Alice made were (1/6):

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Reposted by Alice Martin

Iain Porter @iainkporter.bsky.social · Mar 14

Yesterday, a Government press release claimed the number of people “considered too sick to work” had "quadrupled" since the pandemic (a "383% rise"). This is incorrect. In fact, it’s not even close. It's more like 40%.

This thread explains why 🧵1/7

Image of Government press release stating a "383% rise in less than five years" in the number of people considered too sick to look for work.

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Reposted by Alice Martin

Big Issue @bigissue.com · Mar 13

An increasing number of businesses – including Amazon, Boots and JP Morgan – have issued return-to-office diktats 🏢 💻

But such rules could disadvantage more than a million disabled workers, new @workfoundation.bsky.social research warns 👇

buff.ly/60rDedY

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Reposted by Alice Martin

Craig Berry @craigpberry.bsky.social · Mar 11

Looking ahead to the disability benefits green paper, this essay for @citizensadvice.bsky.social makes the case for a system focused on improving health outcomes.

Co-authors @maddyirose.bsky.social, @victoria-anns.bsky.social & Simon Collerton

We challenge the 5 big falsehoods underpinning cuts…🧵

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Alice Martin @alicepmartin.bsky.social · Mar 11

The one year job guarantee for people recovering from health issues is a no brainer.

Our 2024 study found that half of the people leaving work after falling ill do so within the first 12 months, presumably once sick pay runs out. Protecting jobs for longer makes sense and would reduce attrition.

joefd.bsky.social @joefd.bsky.social · Mar 10

Here for @healthfoundation.bsky.social Commission for #HealthierWorkingLives launch, with Chris Rocks setting out recommendations including a 1 year job guarantee.

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Alice Martin @alicepmartin.bsky.social · Mar 11

I've said it before and I'll say it again, cutting PIP - a payment that helps disabled people live independently, including by taking up work, is nothing short of bonkers given the UKs ill-health economic inactivity rate and disability employment gap

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Alice Martin @alicepmartin.bsky.social · Mar 10

@rebeccaflorisson.bsky.social this is handy re our recent convos on low pay and insecurity!

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Alice Martin @alicepmartin.bsky.social · Mar 10

Useful reflections on the wider benefits of improved worker protections - like a more sustainable economy and ensuring technological change results in social progress, rather than deepening inequalities. Good reminder to lift our heads from the day to day and see the bigger picture.

Institute of Employment Rights @ieruk.bsky.social · Mar 10

Experts de-bunk economic myths on the Employment Rights Bill: leading economists and labour lawyers sign an open letter to expose business myths being used to stoke fear around the Employment Rights Bill.

Read the letter here:

www.ier.org.uk/news/ier-exp...

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Reposted by Alice Martin

The Conversation UK @uk.theconversation.com · Mar 7

Understanding what is happening to the health of UK workers is key to helping more people to stay in employment.

Welfare cuts won’t succeed without healthier jobs

Understanding what is happening to the health of UK workers is key to helping more people to stay in employment.

tcnv.link

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Alice Martin @alicepmartin.bsky.social · Mar 7

Why welfare cuts are a bad idea, especially when we have low sick pay & rising health issues. Prevalence of insecure work, and jobs that are physically and mentally draining, mean work isn't viable for a lot of people.

Some thoughts from me and Stavroula Leka theconversation.com/welfare-cuts...

Welfare cuts won’t succeed without healthier jobs

Understanding what is happening to the health of UK workers is key to helping more people to stay in employment.

theconversation.com

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Reposted by Alice Martin

Rebecca Florisson @rebeccaflorisson.bsky.social · Feb 27

📈 Number of NEET increased to 987k.

The focus on mental health makes sense - it's a big part of the problem - but this story misses that the increase we're seeing is driven by young people actively looking for work but not obtaining it = different problem. (1/4)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Number of young people not in work or education hits 11-year high

The latest figure of 987,000 16-24-year-olds not in work, education or training has risen by 110,000 in a year.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Alice Martin @alicepmartin.bsky.social · Feb 13

Side hustle!

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Reposted by Alice Martin

Rebecca Florisson @rebeccaflorisson.bsky.social · Feb 11

New Unison survey finds that quarter of migrant care staff were paid less than the minimum wage + over 50% were not paid for time spent travelling between visits.

Visa system for care workers creates power imbalance and leaves very little room for recourse for workers.

www.ft.com/content/703f...

Care workers routinely mistreated despite UK government efforts to tackle abuses, report finds

Unison survey shows more than a quarter of migrant staff were paid less than the statutory hourly minimum

www.ft.com

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Alice Martin @alicepmartin.bsky.social · Feb 10

ps. I feel strongly that all buildings could be improved by installing a mini soft play area. If we want parents to participate in society without tearing their hair out, it should be a planning requirement... (only half joking).

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Alice Martin @alicepmartin.bsky.social · Feb 10

Since the rise of home-working, there's a real need for local community hubs where workers, and people looking for work, can come together and use facilities like childcare, meeting rooms, computers.

Jobcentres could be this. Let's make them attractive, supportive & welcoming spaces.

The Autonomy Institute @autonomy-institute.bsky.social · Feb 10

🚨 NEW BRIEFING: 'Transforming Employment and Support Infrastructure'

Our latest research reimagines Jobcentres within the UK welfare system: outlining a roadmap for transforming transactional spaces into holistic, empowering hubs 🧵👇

https://buff.ly/3EsgFt9

Transforming Employment and Support Infrastructure

Read our new report outlining how Jobcentres could be transformed from traditionally transactional spaces into holistic, empowering hubs – dynamic community assets that foster empowerment and…

buff.ly

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Reposted by Alice Martin

Rebecca Florisson @rebeccaflorisson.bsky.social · Feb 10

Great to see support for the proposed Employment Rights Bill across the political spectrum, with nearly 3 in 4 in support of banning zero hours contracts, widening access to Statutory Sick Pay and granting employment rights from day one.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Labour urged to defend workers’ rights bill as poll shows huge public support

Exclusive: Poll reveals 72% of UK voters favour ban on zero-hours contracts, including majority of Tory and Reform supporters

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Alice Martin

Anna Dent @annadent.bsky.social · Feb 3

Missed this last week - automatic deductions to pay rent from UC unlawful.

Quote from the solicitor “The computer program is, in effect, a policy which directs DWP decision-makers...”

Automation brings about policy decisions as a direct result of a process being automated - often overlooked!

DWP program that automatically approves landlord benefit deduction requests ruled unlawful

Tenant challenged procedure after £500 docked from universal credit payment at landlord’s request, with whom he was in dispute over repairs

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Alice Martin

Tom Powdrill @tompowdrill.bsky.social · Jan 28

I know there used to be data on use of pension fund surpluses, splitting out contributions holidays/reductions, refunds to employers, benefit improvements etc. Think it was HMRC. But I can’t see it anywhere. Any fellow pension nerds know if the figures are still produced?

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Reposted by Alice Martin

Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Jan 22

The Health Foundation has published new analysis on mental health trends among working age people and invited me to share some thoughts. Taking a more holistic approach to understanding capacity for work seems to be at the heart of it: www.health.org.uk/features-and...

Unravelling the rise in mental health-related inactivity

Dr Annie Irvine on why we need for a much more holistic approach to understanding capacity in order to tackle mental health-related inactivity.

www.health.org.uk

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Alice Martin @alicepmartin.bsky.social · Jan 28

📣We have a fantastic role going in our @workfoundation.bsky.social research team: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

Please share with anyone you know who is committed to changing the world of work for the better - and do get in touch if you're interested in applying and have questions!

Work for us - Lancaster University

Job and freelance opportunities with the Work Foundation.

www.lancaster.ac.uk

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