Opinion

Thumbs Up Race Equality iStock/PeopleImages

Mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting: closing the gap towards race equality at work

For nearly 30 years, Business in the Community (BITC) has been working with employers across the UK to help create a fairer world, where everyone feels valued and has equal opportunities for progression, regardless of their background. However, while we have seen many businesses taking vital steps in the right direction, there is still a long way to go before true race equality can be achieved at work and we are tapping into all the talent, skills and potential available. And every employer needs to play their part in getting there.

By Sandra Kerr CBE, Business in the Community (BITC) on 09 December 2024

Older Worker With Bike Centre for Ageing Better

Health conditions should not be a barrier for older workers

Gaps in the labour market can be filled by older workers, but many encounter obstacles in their search for suitable employment. The Centre for Ageing Better is therefore calling upon the Government to help employers recruit more people from this demographic.

By Dr Emily Andrews, Centre for Ageing Better on 05 December 2024

Mike Robinson 3 Med

How can we support our people better in a changing world?

At the end of November, I had the privilege of presenting top-performing organisations with our prestigious Sword, Globe and Shield of Honour awards, recognising their achievements in health, safety, environmental and wellbeing management. It’s something I relish doing every year, and this time was no exception.

By Mike Robinson FCA, British Safety Council on 02 December 2024

    Worker in Wheelchair iStock Edwin Tan

    Reasonable adjustments – understanding the cost and benefits

    Although employers may sometimes be worried about the cost and resource implications, reasonable adjustments to support disabled people to thrive at work are often inexpensive and easy to enact – and provide a major boost to staff productivity, engagement and loyalty.

    By Faye Law, Acas on 26 September 2024

    Grenfell Photo By Flickr Chiraljon

    Can Grenfell’s legacy be 1.5 million safe new homes?

    The new UK Government faces major hurdles on a number of fronts – not least the £22 billion ‘black hole’, which leaves little headroom for the Chancellor in her forthcoming Budget.

    By Mike Robinson FCA, British Safety Council on 26 September 2024

    Happy Woman at Laptop iStock LaylaBird

    Progression, pay and policy: the key to tackling gender inequalities in the workplace

    Business in the Community (BITC) works to create a fairer world to live and work in. We believe gender shouldn’t act as an unfair help or hindrance to someone’s chances of professional or wider life success, but sadly this remains the case in workplaces up and down the country.

    By Charlotte Woodworth, Business in the Community on 24 September 2024

    Asbestos Protection Suit iStock D Keine

    The duty to manage asbestos, the rise in prosecutions and other emerging trends

    In this article, I will explore the impact of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) public awareness campaigns regarding the duty to manage asbestos and consider the resulting rise in prosecutions.

    By Francesca Ledwith, Pinsent Masons on 05 September 2024

    Asbestos Warning iStock Paul D Wade (1)

    Control of Asbestos Regulations: why it’s now time for a review

    Although the UK has a framework for managing asbestos in buildings, a proposed new Asbestos Information Certificate rating dutyholder compliance with the relevant legal duties would place greater emphasis on ensuring building owners are adequately reducing the risk to occupants and tradespeople.

    By Mick Dawson, ATaC on 05 September 2024

    Asbestos Roof Tiles iStock LianeM

    Asbestos: why ‘management in-situ’ is the wrong approach

    The UK has the worst record on mesothelioma deaths (a cancer solely attributed to past asbestos exposure) in the world, primarily because the UK imported more asbestos per capita than any other country.

    By Charles Pickles, Airtight on Asbestos on 05 September 2024

    Engineered Stone Cutting iStock Cagkansayin

    Engineered stone worktops and silicosis: a challenging problem

    The sudden and alarming appearance of silicosis cases among engineered stone workers in the UK, against the backdrop of a ban in Australia and in some US States, has suddenly brought the question of how to regulate for health protection in the workplace to the fore.

    By Kevin Bampton, BOHS on 04 September 2024

    Asbestos Tiles iStock SashaFoxWalters

    Asbestos in schools: we need urgent action now to protect teachers and pupils

    Asbestos was widely used in construction throughout the 20th Century, before finally being banned in 2000 – 50 years after the causal link with lung disease was made.

    By Wayne Bates, NASUWT on 04 September 2024

    Jim Shannon MP

    Silicosis – time to wake up

    Clinicians at the Royal Brompton hospital in London have warned about the dangers of silica exposure in a recent study published in Thorax. They are currently treating the first identified cases of silicosis caused by working with engineered stone in the UK and have called for a ban on artificial stone to ward off the potential for an increase in silicosis cases.

    By Jim Shannon MP on 04 September 2024

    Artificial Intelligence iStock Khanchit Khirisutchalual

    Will we be celebrating AI fifty years from now?

    No doubt you have heard or seen the ads marking the 50th anniversary of that famous fast-food restaurant with the golden arches. Those of you who’ve been paying attention will also be aware that it’s the 50th year since the Health & Safety at Work Act was enacted in the UK. I am sure there is no significance in this. But when I started thinking about it, there are perhaps some parallels we can draw between the success of the aforementioned restaurant chain and the landmark 1974 Act.

    By Mike Robinson FCA, British Safety Council on 02 September 2024

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