Policy News Journal - 2016-17

The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals ……………………………………………………………Policy News Journal

Supporting parents in the workplace is a priority for the government. Yet it admits that its flagship Shared Parental Leave policy is likely to have a very low take-up rate.

Following our work on the Gender Pay Gap, the Women and Equalities Committee is now asking whether fathers are being failed in the workplace. Clearly more needs to be done. We are keen to hear views from individuals as well as organisations about the changes which they would like to see."

Call for written submissions

The Terms of reference: Fathers and the workplace is seeking evidence on the following issues:

 How well do fathers feel their current working arrangements help them to fulfil their caring responsibilities for children of all ages?  Are there employment-related barriers to fathers sharing caring roles more equally?  Do fathers have the financial support to enable them to fulfil their caring responsibilities?  Are there social or attitudinal barriers to fathers in the workplace which need to be challenged?  Are there changes to the workplace – such as an increase in freelance, agency or casual working – which might have an impact on fathers? Are there challenges for fathers working in particular employment sectors?  What role can government, employers and other stakeholders play in overcoming these barriers? What policy or legislative changes would be most effective in supporting fathers to fulfil their caring responsibilities?  Are there specific issues facing fathers from particular groups or backgrounds, for example because of their income or ethnicity, or fathers of disabled children and young people?  Are there examples (in the UK or internationally) of best practice amongst employers that could be taken up more widely?

Interested parties can send a written submission via fathers and the workplace inquiry page . The deadline is Wednesday 1 March 2017.

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Real pay has stalled at 1.7% for last five months 20 January 2017

Working people want to know how Prime Minister’s ‘fairer Britain’ will improve their pay, says TUC

Commenting on the latest labour market data by the Office for National Statistics, which show real pay growth (excluding bonuses) has stalled at 1.7% for the last five months, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Pay gains are being slowed down by rising prices, and this week’s figures showing a sharp hike in the cost of everyday goods suggests there is worse to come.

If working people are going to feel a difference in their finances, their pay needs to grow faster. They will want to know what Theresa May has planned to deliver the ‘fairer Britain’ she promised in their wages.

Ministers can help directly by raising the minimum wage and giving public sector workers a long-overdue pay rise. The government can also lay the foundations for a higher-productivity, higher-wage economy by using its new industrial strategy to invest more in skills and infrastructure.”

CIPP comment Average weekly earnings for employees in Great Britain in nominal terms (that is, not adjusted for price inflation) increased by 2.8% including bonuses and by 2.7% excluding bonuses compared with a year earlier.

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