The inauguration of the first Labour Government since 2010 was the most important event for HR in 2014. It was no surprise that the government acted within a few months to strengthen unions and improve workers’ rights. The government also kept its promise to not raise income taxes, but due to the current state of the economy it was necessary to find a way to raise money. This meant that employers’ national insurance would be the target of the chancellor – much to the alarm and concern of many business organizations. The world is moving towards greener technologies, which has led to major redundancies within the steel and vehicle manufacturing industries. The major scandals surrounding sexual harassment fueled demands for greater action. This was bolstered with the introduction of the Worker Protection Act.
Post Office Scandal in January – Public Awareness
2 Jan Doctors Strikeleaves NHS “skating on thin ice”
10 Jan Social worker wins case
11th January Post Office Scandal reveals serious leadership flaws. The ITV drama Alan Bates vs. the Post Office brings to light the massive miscarriage in justice.
Capita withdraws of the real Living Wage
Tata Steel announced it would close its blast furnaces on 19 January
24 Jan Amazon fined EUR 32m for excessive employee monitoring
25th January Government spending increases on Unpaid wages and Redundancy Pay
Since 2019, the number of allegations of bullying at MoD has risen dramatically.
Employment Tribunal fees will be introduced
February: Elon Musk’s pay hike is snared by thrash metal drummer
1st February Shortage of candidates affects two thirds of businesses
2 February Deutsche Bank plans to cut 3,500 jobs worldwide
February 2 Thrash Metal drummer Elon Musk’s pay hike
Transfer to Barclays of Tesco Bank employees on 9 February
13th February Body Shop Enters administration
15 Feb Third women’s request for flexible work Rejected in the public sector
20 Feb Increase in the number of low paid jobs
21 Feb Fall in Median Pay Awards as UK enters recession
22 February Most flexible employers
22 Feb UK trial of four-day work week success after one year
26 Feb More people are moving into “severely unsecure work”
27th February One fifth of large companies have not analysed the gender pay gap
Tata Group announces that it will create 4,000 new jobs in the new Somerset EV Battery Plant on 28 February
Zero-hours contracts reach record highs in March
7th March Boots for Office Workers to End Hybrid Working
8th March Still’shockingly common’ sexual harassment in City firms
18th March Grenfell worker who suffered from PTSD wins record of PS4.6m
France will implement minimum wage for ferry operators on 20 March
20th March teacher recruitment in critical states in England
20th March Pay Awards At lowest level for 18 months
Record numbers of zero-hours contracts on 22 March
26th March Guidelines for Use of AI in Recruitment Published
27th March CBI used non-disclosure agreements in order to silence sexual harassment victims
April: UK Immigration Rules slammed for being harmful to business
2nd April The use of NDAs in order to prevent the reporting of a crime is to be banned
3 April London Mayor Sadiq Khan Announces Huge Jobs Plan
5th April men working from home Less likely to be promoted
9 April 1 in 5 highly skilled contractors Not working due to IR35
Businesses have labelled the new UK immigration laws, which came into effect on 11 April , as damaging to the economy
17 April UK law which offers no protection to workers who participate in industrial action, is incompatible with human rights law.
22 April Aslef Drivers May Strike
P&O employees paid French minimum wage
KPMG Cancels Job Offers for Foreign Graduates
May: Labour releases New Deal for Workers; NDAs are banned in sexual harassment cases
1 May Visa numbers drop after curbs on dependants introduced
Goldman Sachs Removes bonus cap for London Employees
15th May Government rejectsban on NDAs
NHS England employees launch of a wellbeing program
16th May HSBC, Deloitte Pulling job offers for foreign graduates
24th May Former Post Office Chief Executive names five colleagues that ‘let Her Down’
The Labour Department publishesplan for a New Deal for Workers
29th May Junior Doctors Announce Pre-election Strike
June 2010: real wages only 16 PS higher than 2010.
7th June UK Teacher Vacancies Increase by a fifth
11th June Unemployment increases unexpectedly as wage growth holds
The 14th of June Insecure Work Record-high
14th June UK below Honduras in tech and business skills ranking
25th June Wages in real terms Only 16 PS a week more than 2010
July: Labour wins election; strikes ended
1 July Millions of fit notes issued last year for mental illness
5th July HR Responds to Labour’s landslide victory
9th July Dyson will cut a quarter of UK jobs
17th July GMB misses out on Amazon union recognition
17th July Employment Rights Billconfirmed by King’s Speech
Skills England ‘galvanise’ local economies
29th July Jobs advertised fall to lowest level since March 2021
29 July Junior doctors agree 22% pay deal
Rachel Reeves Confirms 5-6% pay increases for public sector
August: race riots, steep fall in visas affects health and social care
On Wednesday, 7 August 2024, one of the counter-protests which defeated far right rioters.
Photo: SOPA Image / Alamy
On 1 August the GPs decided that they would ‘work by rule’
7th August Government repeal of Strikes Act gains wide support
8th August Shared parental leave is at a record high
9th August Racist abuse against Muslim health workers on the rise
BBC asks Huw to return his salary as they review the workplace culture
14 August Street cleaner ‘wins’ holiday after employer denies gift
21 August Median award falls to 4.5%
21st August McDonald’s creates 24,000 jobs in UK & Ireland
22 August Concern over regional variations
22 August The number of young people who are not working or in education has risen to 872,000
23 August A steep fall in visas will trigger a “skills crisis” for health and social services
29th August 2/3 of nursing staff migrant to UK are considering leaving due to costs
29th August 2,000 employees apply for voluntary redundancy in Wales at Tata Steel
Mohamed Al Fayed: Sexual harassment allegations surface
UK unemployment drops to 4.1%
Boeing strikes 33,000 workers without tools
16 September Junior doctors accept 22% pay settlement
17th September Amazon Orders Full-Time Office Return
Vote to accept 15% pay deal Train drivers 19th September
20th September Mohamed Al Fayed allegation: Harrods claims it failed to protect employees from sexual assaults
Rail disputes ended on 26 September RMT members voted in favor of pay offer
30 Septembre Signs of modern slavery Missed by McDonald’s, and others
First Rachel Reeves budget published in October
3 Oct 5 key questions on the Employment Rights Bill
11 Oct Employment Rights Bill 12 key takeaways
16 Oct Sponsor license numbers up 44%year-on-year
Launch of a national conversation by the Government on 21 October on the future NHS
21 Oct Impact Employment Rights Bill as published consultations launch
23 Oct New duty for employers to prevent sexual harassment
29 Oct ONS: Real wages increased 2.9% in the year up to April 2024
29 Oct LinkedIn reports that 10% of new hires are in positions unheard of back in 2000
Budget for 2024: Employers National Insurance up to 15%
Personnel Today Award Winners announced for November
The King’s College London team receives the overall winning trophy at Personnel Today Awards in 2024.
Telling Phtography
5 November Boeing workers accept 38% pay deal
7th November Nissan cuts9,000 global jobs and halve CEO’s salary
8th November Bolt Drivers Win worker status at Tribunal
Rachel Reeves Announces pension megafunds
FTSE100 gender pay gap still stubbornly high
20th November Winners announced of Personnel Today Awards; King’s College London is the overall winner
21 Novembre Ford to cut 4,000 jobs across Europe
Launched Retention Payments on 22 November
26th NovemberVauxhall closing Luton plant
Rise in Over-65s at Work
28th November Sharp drop in net migration due to fewer dependents arriving in UK
28th November Employment Rights Bill:
Gregg Wallace leaves BBC TV after allegations of sexual misconduct
Can ONS figures on labour force be trusted in December?
Women on Boards
Liv Garfield is the CEO of Severn Trent. She is one of four women who hold top leadership positions in the company.
Photo: Servern Trent
2 Dec International nurse recruitment Slowdown in the UK
4th December Labour Force Survey : Policymakers Could remain in the Dark until as late as 2027, says ONS
9th December The proportion of women on board has increased significantly
5th December Airbus will cut 500 UK jobs 5% of the global workforce
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Birmingham City Council To settle 6,500 equal pay claims
11th December Unions react with anger to the government Public sector pay recommendations
