Pay
Dromey’s legacy in council history
The recent untimely death of Jack Dromey reminds Michael Burton of the former union leader’s key role in abolishing compulsory competitive tendering and creating Best Value for council services.
Council named for not paying minimum wage
Hampshire CC has been named as one of 200 employers that has failed to pay the minimum wage in some cases.
Boosting opportunities for Islington’s businesswomen
Cllr Asima Shaikh explains the steps being taken in Islington to help female entrepreneurs reach their full potential, build back differently and create a more equal borough.
Pay.UK: the next step in Bacs’ evolution
Pay.UK was created to bring together the UK’s foremost payment schemes, including Bacs, in 2018. Chief payments officer Dougie Belmore explains how the company is committed to supporting the the needs of all those who rely on its crucial systems.
The future of social care remains precarious
The adult social care reform White Paper misses the opportunity to resolve the pressing issues of pay and the funding gap to meet demand, says Amanda Kelly of PA Consulting.
Government must act now to meet urgent housing-with-care needs
The Government’s pay and career development proposals for care staff do not go far enough, and the UK lags behind other countries on access to housing-with-care, says Kris Peach.
Reasons to be cheerful
The MJ and Penna’s annual survey of council chief executives reveals resilience and the ability to adapt have become reasons for the sector to celebrate, yet respect and recognition outside the sector is still lacking. Heather Jameson reports.
Social care reform plans fall 'woefully short'
The Government has ‘fallen woefully short of the mark’ with its proposals for social care reform, according to shadow minister for social care Liz Kendall.
Councils' USP is their focus on employees as people
Sue Atkinson, Anne Sullivan and Sonia Tanda at Penna say it's time to talk about your council's diversity and inclusion strategy, physical and mental health initiatives and your organisational culture.
Social care reforms ring alarm bells for council finances
Michael Burton says the Government's decision to rush through last-minute changes watering down the cap on social care costs for poorer householders rather than letting them be properly debated will cause long term damage politically and financially.
Social care reform: what lies ahead?
Sally Warren lays out four principles that should be at the centre of a ‘radically realistic’ White Paper on social care reform and asks if its vision will be the right one?
EXCLUSIVE: No deal from last-ditch pay talks
Last-ditch talks between local government employers and trade unions over this year’s 1.75% pay offer have broken up without agreement, The MJ understands.
Much more to do to tackle the endemic image problem with care work
Kris Peach of Housing 21 outlines how the sector needs to address care worker shortages and what more needs to be done to tackle the image problems surrounding careers in care.
Care staff should receive £1,000 winter bonus, directors argue
Social care workers in England should receive a £1,000 winter bonus to protect struggling services, directors have said.
Birmingham could face new equal pay claims
Birmingham City Council is facing an equal pay ‘crisis,’ a trade union has warned.
We need a long term and strategic approach to funding
The Spending Review 'underlines the desperate need for Government to view local government as a critical component of our state infrastructure, performing a serious role, and to fund it as such', says Claire Kober.
Don’t forget London in the levelling up debate
A new report by a partnership of eight councils in east London makes the case for levelling up support and provides a compelling evidence base for it, says Cllr Darren Rodwell.
Grasping the thistle
So much of the pandemic’s huge challenges involve workforce issues, as Steven McNab, outgoing president of the Scottish HR directors' society, tells Michael Burton.
Budget 2021: Sunak unfreezes public sector pay
Rishi Sunak has confirmed that the Government will unfreeze public sector pay and raise the national living wage.
Wages and good and bad government
Many communities in the UK would benefit from higher wages, says Mike Emmerich, but does the Prime Minister have a strategy for delivering them?
