Today the Young Foundation publishes a major new study looking at people’s needs in Britain. Sinking and swimming: understanding Britain’s unmet needs is based on new analysis of statistical data, case studies, surveys and hundreds of conversations with people across the country. It shows where the most acute needs are and how they inter-relate.  It looks at why some people can cope with shocks and setbacks and others can’t.  And it draws out the implications for policy, philanthropy and public action.

The study looked at the material needs that are still going unmet (jobs, homes, wealth etc.) and the emerging and increasingly significant psychosocial needs (happiness, self esteem, resilience etc.) experienced by many around the country. In addition to the groups who are particularly affected by pressing need and – in many cases – multiple need, we also focused on a relatively under-researched group, whose needs most people are generally unaware of. We decided to look at needs at night. Read more »

   Filed under: Safety, Working time | 1 Comment »

We have now truly bid farewell to summertime. The clocks have changed, the nights are drawing in and the leaves are starting to fall. Wouldn’t it be great if we had another bank holiday today to cheer us all up?

The TUC has joined together with the main voluntary organisations to call for a new bank holiday called ‘Community Day’, on the last Monday in October (i.e. it would be today if we had it this year) to celebrate volunteering and encourage people to take part in community events.

We think the new holiday should be introduced in 2012 to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the London Olympics and Paralympics with a fanfare to seal a triumphant year for volunteers across the UK. Here’s a joint letter we’ve sent to the press: Read more »

   Filed under: Employment law, Work-life balance, Working time | Comments Off

The Irish referendum result couldn’t have been timed better to re-open Conservative wounds over Europe, just as their final conference before the election opened. Trade unions are, of course, principally concerned about Conservative policy on European social issues – workers; rights, employment policy, equality, pensions and so on. And the Conservative policy on this seems to be evolving, but it isn’t becoming clearer. Read more »

   Filed under: Employment law, Europe, Politics, Safety, Working time | Comments Off

If you read “business attacks ruling on holidays” in the FT today, or the Sun’s lurid “fury over sick pay ruling” you might be excused for thinking that this week’s ruling from the European Court of Justice was all about the EU bashing British business. Luckily, much of the business reaction is either spin or bunkum.

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On 17 December there will be a key vote in the European Parliament on the future of the opt-outs from the 48 hour week. I’ve just heard that the ETUC has called a demonstration at the Parliament in Strasbourg on the eve of this vote (16 Dec), starting at 1.30.

Thus its time to check that the UK could manage OK if the opt-outs ended. Here are some key facts:

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   Filed under: Working time | Comments Off

I was saddened to read the FT story that shows that the Government still does not quite “get” the case for the Working Time Directive.

The Employment Committee of the European Parliament is meeting today to discuss a report that includes the end of the so-called individual opt-outs from the 48 hour limit on average weekly working time. If the EP supports this view, and the TUC hopes that they will do, then we can expect votes in the European Parliament in December and a process of consultation between the EP and the Social affairs Council of Ministers in late January 2009. Read more »

   Filed under: Work-life balance, Working time | 1 Comment »

Do you need cheering up after months of reading about the world financial crisis? Would the prospect of another holiday help lift your spirits?

August bank holiday is now just a dim memory and Christmas is still too far away to start counting the days on the wall of my office. This long haul is just one of the reasons why the TUC is campaigning to make the last Monday of October the new Community Day bank holiday.

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   Filed under: Working time | 1 Comment »

Yesterday the Labour Party Conference voted to end the UK’s individual opt-outs from the Working Time Directive. Predictably, the Daily Mail reported this as a ‘lurch to the left’ . It looks to me more like a lurch towards common sense.

The 48 hour limit on average weekly working time is justified by a wealth of scientific evidence that regularly working long hours is bad for your health. The mains risks are heart disease and stress related illness

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   Filed under: Working time | 1 Comment »