Page 11 - Gi flipbook - October 2018

Four-day working week for all is a

realistic goal this century, unions say

ADVANCES IN technology I believe that in this century available to work.” concerns, after pay.
mean that a four-day we can win a four-day More than 1.4 million Unions have pointed to
working week is a realistic working week, with decent people work seven days companies such as Amazon
goal for most people by pay for everyone. It’s time a week, with 3.3 million as being part of the
the end of this century, the to share the wealth from working more than 45 problem, where warehouse
leader of the UK’s trade new technology, not allow hours a week, according to workers are allegedly
union movement has said. those at the top to grab it the report. “treated like robots” and
According to The for themselves.” TUC polling has also have been treated by
Guardian, Frances O’Grady, A report by the identified stress and long paramedics for health
the General Secretary of organisation says post- hours as workers’ biggest issues at work. ■
the Trades Union Congress war economists promised
(TUC), used her speech to employees would be
the organisation’s 150th working a 15-hour week by
annual gathering to insist now and that polls showed
that evolving technology a four-day week would be
and communications most people’s preference.
should cut the number “Instead, new technology
hours spent at work. is threatening to intensify
Speaking in Manchester, working lives. For some,
O’Grady said: “In the 19th the on-demand economy
century, unions campaigned has meant packaging work
for an eight-hour day. In the into ever-smaller pieces
20th century, we won the of time,” the report reads.
right to a two-day weekend “This is a return to the days
and paid holidays. of piece-work, creating a Some fear new technology is
“So, for the 21st century, culture where workers are threatening to intensify working lives
let’s lift our ambition again. required to be constantly

One in seven older workers thinks in practice,” she told People
Management.
their age has cost them a job adopt a zero-tolerance
“Organisations need to
approach when it comes to
AS MANY AS one in seven in the Community (BITC) Friendly Employer report age discrimination and bring
older workers thinks their and the Centre for Ageing included a YouGov poll of their policies in this area to
age has cost them a job, a Better UK has revealed. more than 1,100 employees life by developing an age-
new survey from Business The Becoming an Age over the age of 50, which positive culture.”
found one in seven (14 per Almost one in three
Many older workers hide their age in job applications cent) believed they had workers in the UK are aged
been turned down for a job 50 and over, with Mercer’s
due to their age. Workforce Monitor
In addition, almost one forecasting one million
in five (18 per cent) older more over-50s will enter
workers had hidden or the workforce between
considered hiding their age 2018 and 2025.
in job applications, with However, almost half
Claire McCartney, Diversity (46 per cent) of BITC
and Inclusion Adviser at the survey respondents said
CIPD, describing the results they thought their age
as “extremely disappointing”. would be a disadvantage
“It’s concerning that in applying for a job, and
despite employees believing one in four (27 per cent)
their organisation has had been put off applying
a policy to prevent age because the roles sounded
discrimination, most think as though they were aimed
this has made no difference at younger workers. ■

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News.indd 6 20/09/2018 12:15