Written by Ian MacArthur, Director of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter (January 2024)

When the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter was first developed it was deeply informed by the work of Matthew Taylor and the other members of the review team that were commissioned by the then Prime Minister Theresa May to review modern work practices. Published in July 2017, the Taylor Review explored a range of topics including the legal framework, flexibility, the role of responsible employers, enforcement and incentives. The report developed a seven point plan which set out that ‘Good Work’ should be for everyone, that fairness should be a golden thread throughout all forms of work, that employment law should be supportive of good employment standards, that employers should develop great people managers and leaders, in work progression should be possible for all, that work place health should be practice priority and that the then, national minimum wage would be used as a baseline to ensure people stuck in low paid sectors could see progression.

Those familiar with the work of the Charter since its launch in July 2019, will recognise that many of the priorities and its activities reflect the issues raised by the Taylor Review. The Charter has endeavoured to create an environment where ‘Good Work’ shouldn’t just be the preserve of well-paid white collar and professional jobs, but something that should be the norm across all parts of the Greater Manchester economy.

We know that the Charter provides a solid framework for engaging employers and helping them raise employment standards and generating the resultant social and economic benefits. However, the world of work and the shape of the employment market has changed dramatically over the past four years or so. The labour impacts of Brexit coupled with the radical changes that the COVID-19 pandemic brought, have distorted the landscape and if Matthew Taylor was to consider good work today undoubtedly the review would provide a deeper focus on areas such as flexible and agile working, on mental health and on areas not even discussed in 2017 like the role of artificial intelligence.

Greater Manchester has a long history of Charterism. We know that to be successful Charters must be living movements that continually push boundaries and lead thinking and that is why during 2024 the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter will be working with our Supporters, Members and many stakeholders to ensure that the Charter remains fit and relevant for the challenges ahead.

We understand that despite a stagnant national economy, Greater Manchester continues to deliver dynamism and innovation. However, job quality and fair pay are essential if the city region is to move on from the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis and remain key priorities. Key to this must be how we design work moving forward. In truth many job roles were designed in the last century and are no longer suitable for the way we need to work today. Flexible job design isn’t just a ‘nice to have’, it has now become vital if we are to engage those who have become disengaged with the labour market. To match this approach, much more investment and trust should be placed in the ability of people managers to utilise their softer skills to help create working environments that understand work-life balance and the aspirations of their colleagues.

Fairness runs through the Good Employment Charter, but there is much more that needs to be done in this regard. Equity in the workplace will be the theme of the 2024 Good Employment Week. Working with the Greater Manchester Equality Panels we want to bring together a meaningful discussion on intersectional equity in the workplace that leads to action. For too long, in too many places, and across all domains, lip service has been played to equality, diversity and inclusion policies that clearly have not resulted in the sustained change we need – for employers and employees. The Charter will continue to champion this mission and promote the best practice where it exists.

The Charter has come a long way since that sunny July morning when it was launched in 2019, but it has never been more conscious of the challenges and responsibilities that lie ahead. We know that good work for all will remain a Greater Manchester priority. And to paraphrase the conclusions of the Taylor Review; if policy makers and the public come to recognise the vital importance of good work to social justice, economic dynamism and civic engagement then the efforts of the Charter and all who have supported us will have been richly rewarded. Bring on 2024!