ILO reaches first agreement on issue of living wages Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders The very first European Women in Rail Awards were held on 8 March, on International Women’s Day. The initiative, launched as part of the European Year of Rail 2021, is supported by the European Commission’s Women in Transport Platform in partnership with the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER). It seeks to highlight individuals and companies who have made a significant contribution to improving gender balance, equality, diversity and inclusion within the rail industry.
United Kingdom: more and more companies break the menopause taboo in the workplace Corporate practices An increasing number of companies in the UK are taking menopause-related symptoms into account in the workplace, with measures such as flexible work, manager training, consultation with experts and office design. The UK authorities, via the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), have just published a new practical guide and are pioneering the way.
Sanofi takes programme dedicated to employees with cancer to global scale Corporate practices The pharmaceutical group, which has been offering social and financial support to employees with cancer or close to patients in France since 2017, has decided to extend this programme worldwide with 100% salary continuation. The move follows positive feedback on the scheme, Florence Cauvet, HR director for France at Sanofi, tells mind RH.
United States: White House wants to set up workers’ rights diplomacy Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders On 16 November, the US Presidency published an action plan designed to protect and strengthen workers’ rights at home and abroad. In this memorandum,…
EU: real wages continue to fall in member states (study) Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders A study by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) reveals that real wages, i.e. those not adjusted for inflation,…
Bangladesh: pay rise after unprecedented strike by garment workers Corporate practices Textile workers win a 56% pay rise after a week of unprecedented strike action. Ten years on from the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory, the finger is once again being pointed at multinational brands.
Spain: Axa recognises employees’ right to be informed about AI use Corporate practices The new collective agreement at the Spanish business of insurance group Axa, signed on 29 September, introduces an obligation on the part of company management to be transparent with employees regarding data analysis and the use of algorithms in the selection, assessment and career development of individuals. This is the first major company agreement to take account of the challenges posed by the role of artificial intelligence.
Angela Rushforth (Construction Inclusion Coalition chair): “We need to change the perception of women in the construction industry” Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders At the end of September, a coalition designed to strengthen equality, diversity and inclusion in the construction industry was launched. Called the Construction Inclusion Coalition (CIC), it was founded by the chief executives of nine groups* and those of two employers' organisations in the sector (Builders Merchants Federation and National Merchant Buying Society). Angela Rushforth, CIC chair and Managing Director of Toolstation, a subsidiary of Travis Perkins, spoke to mind RH about the origins of this coalition, whose members employ over 250,000 people.
United Kingdom: employers make a commitment on homelessness Corporate practices At a time when thousands of workers are facing housing difficulties, 75 employers in the UK have signed up to the "Homelessness Covenant" in recent weeks. By doing so, they pledge to take broad action to support employees experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their home. Among the signatories are water supplier Thames Water, fast-food chain Pret A Manger and online bank Monzo, which also helped to draft the covenant.
United Kingdom: CIPD issues guide to promote inclusion of transgender employees Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the trade association for human resource management professionals,…
