Guest contributor Gail Irvine, Senior Policy and Development Officer at Carnegie UK Trust, discusses Carnegie's findings relevant to our latest Webinar. The coronavirus pandemic has severely impacted lives and livelihoods. Millions of workplaces have been shut down and workers furloughed, and business models and ways of working have been disrupted on a near-universal scale.

With recent lockdowns and tier system restrictions, many of us have experienced change and uncertainties around what the future might bring. Financial insecurity can be a big part of this. Our January Supporters Network Webinar was on the topic of financial wellbeing, and how employers can create actionable plans to address the financial burdens of their workforce. 

Our recent Supporters Network Webinar was on the topic of age-friendly employment, and looked specifically at how employees over 50 can be supported and valued – sharing ideas and good practice to overcome potential issues. This was delivered with speakers from the Centre for Ageing Better, Rest Less and Electricity North West. This blog details the key findings from the event, alongside resources including the presentation slides, and full video recording. 

For employers in the hospitality sector, it is an incredibly challenging time on many fronts. While furlough may seem on the surface to be a simple fix, we recognise that furlough isn’t free for employers – and for those making tough decisions, it may be difficult to find the balance between seeking immediate solutions and considering the potential long-term impact. Our last Supporters Network Webinar was a hospitality support session, delivered in partnership with Acas.

Joeli Brearley is the founder of charity and campaigning group, Pregnant then Screwed, which works to end the motherhood penalty and supports mothers who face discrimination. Our recent ‘In Conversation with: Joeli Brearley’ event covered the barriers and discrimination pregnant and working mothers experienced before the pandemic hit, and how those have changed or amplified during this time. She shared with employers best practice lessons, areas for consideration, and the strong business case for addressing these issues.

While many aspects of our lives have changed this year, a hard day’s work still deserves a fair day’s pay. The business case for paying the real living wage hasn’t changed, but we recognise and acknowledge that the context has. Our latest Supporters Network Webinar, in partnership with the Greater Manchester Living Wage Campaign, was on the topic of living wage accreditation in the current climate. Our panel - made up of representatives of the Living Wage campaign, employers who have been through the process and a trade union voice, provided guidance through accreditation.