On 5 April 2015, parents of newborn babies or children matched or placed for adoption were able to choose for the first time whether they wanted to share the mother’s maternity leave. But ten years on, what impact has it had on parents and children? 

After weeks of briefings and rumours, the Government launched its Green Paper on reforming welfare benefits. Set against a backdrop of working age health benefits rising by £19 billion in real terms over the last five years – and due to continue to rise – and 2.78 million people economically inactive due to long-term ill physical and mental health, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions outlined a ‘pathways to work’ agenda that aims to build on the Get Britain Working White Paper.

Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the Health and Safety Act. The landmark legislation has improved health and safety standards but the UK faces new challenges with rising levels of long-term sickness as the Government aims to Get Britain Working. But as some people claim health and safety has gone too far, what role can modernised regulations and a new, positive narrative on health and safety play in improving the health of workers and the economy?

This month’s UK labour market statistics paint a mixed picture as 2024 draws to an end. Employment and unemployment remain largely unchanged but pay growth exceeded economists’ expectations. Vacancies continued a downward trend of the past two and half years. The Government faces an uphill task in reaching its ambitious target of an 80% employment rate, which would be the equivalent of getting approximately two million people back to work. 

Ahead of the King's Speech on 17 July 2024, the Work Foundation has set out three key tests to help judge whether the policies and measures announced are likely to make working lives better.

Although time off in the UK has become widespread, access to it is unequal. Alina Toma, 40, has a chronic medical condition which at times means she’s simply unable to work. And yet because the amount of money Alina receives as sick pay is significantly lower than her pay, she continues to work so that she can simply pay her bills. 

With all of the parties now having published their election manifestos, or for Reform, their contract, it is now possible to assess how their employment related policies compare. So, what have we learnt?

Ahead of the King's Speech on 7 November 2023, the Work Foundation has set out three key tests to help judge whether the policies and measures announced are likely to make working lives better.

Over the last year, the Work Foundation has developed insight into the relationship between gender and insecure work. Building on the UK Insecure Work Index 2022, we learned through The Gender Gap, Gender Matters 2022, and Limiting Choices why women are over-represented in insecure work, what impacts their decisions when they look for jobs, and the impacts of being in insecure work. This blog summarises our findings and what needs to be done to ensure women can access and stay in secure jobs.

Recent research conducted by the Work Foundation at Lancaster University has revealed that 1.3million disabled workers find themselves trapped in severely insecure work in the UK.