The Work Agenda

In this episode of the Future of Work Hub’s In Conversation podcast, Lucy Lewis speaks with Till Leopold, Head of Work Wages and Job Creation, at the World Economic Forum's Centre for the New Economy and Society. Till shares key insights from the latest Future of Jobs report examining the five major trends that are expected to transform the world of work by 2030. They discuss the nuanced impa...

In this month’s discussion, we share our thoughts about the government’s consultation on introducing ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting, as well as the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on the meaning of “sex” in the Equality Act 2010.

Sweden has been running annual pay surveys since 1994 — so are they ahead of the curve, or just assembling the directive with their own set of instructions? Tom and David are joined by Jenny Hellberg from Elmzell Advokatbyrå to unpack Sweden’s draft implementation of the Pay Transparency Directive. From strained IKEA metaphors to real-life enforcement mechanisms, they explore categorisation, union...

Poland’s equal pay regime may be minimal, but with the EU’s Pay Transparency Directive on the way, employers won’t be able to shrug and move on like it’s someone else’s circus. We’re joined by Bartek Raczkowski to explore what happens when a famously pro-employer system, a refreshingly direct legal culture, and a total lack of pay reporting requirements meet a sweeping new EU obligation. And if yo...

Human skills, agility and proactive workforce planning In our launch episode, Julia Paulding, Chief People Officer at Lewis Silkin, sits down with Rob Worrall, Head of People at BDO UK, to explore the future of work - and it’s looking optimistic. They discuss how organisations can stay ahead by investing in human skills , embracing flexible working models , and engaging future talent from day one....

In this episode, Lewis Silkin’s Lucy Hendley and David Regan are joined by special guests Tom Pridmore, Head of Reward, Benefits and Wellbeing at BDO, and Ed Thompson, Founder and CEO of Uptimize. The panel explore what steps employers can take to optimise the performance of neurodivergent employees and grapple with tricky issues concerning performance management. Tune in to discover how employers...

Our Beyond Borders podcast series is designed to help you manage your international workforce and navigate the quirks of international employment law. In this episode, we focus on Belgium, exploring its tightly regulated employment laws, rigorous language requirements, essential employment documentation, the role of works councils, significant dismissal protections for certain employees, and much...

Beyond its famous chocolates and beers, Belgium is now addressing the challenge of pay transparency. Historically without gender pay gap reporting mandates, the nation is witnessing its first steps in this arena - the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles has initiated the transposition of the EU Pay Transparency Directive, focusing on select public sector organizations. Pay Attention regular hosts Tom He...

In this month’s discussion, we share our thoughts on the practical implications of the new amendments to the Employment Rights Bill. 

Our Beyond Borders podcast series is designed to help you manage your international workforce and navigate the quirks of international employment law. In this episode, we focus on Italy and discuss how employment cases are handled, including sanctions and compensation, the mandatory disciplinary procedure and risks resulting from employees going on sick leave during their notice period. 

Creating inclusive workplaces: diversity, ageing populations, and socioeconomic equity In this episode of the Future of Work Hub’s In Conversation podcast, Lucy Lewis speaks with Dr. Grace Lordan, Founding Director of the Inclusion Initiative.  Lucy and Grace discuss whether DE&I is good for business and why, amidst political shifts, employers are reframing their efforts to focus more broadly...

Join David Lorimer, Anna Bond, Tom Heys, and Sally Hart in this special podcast episode recorded at The Work Agenda conference in February. They discuss Labour's upcoming reforms to pay reporting in the UK, including changes to gender pay gap reporting and the introduction of ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting. Tune in for practical advice on gathering and reporting data, and insights...

This month’s discussion shares our thoughts on the practical implications of the Court of Appeal’s decision in Higgs v Farmor’s School along with an update on the new amendments to the Employment Rights Bill. 

Our Beyond Borders podcast series is designed to help you manage your international workforce and navigate the quirks of international employment law. In this episode, we focus on Germany and discuss the significant role of works councils, signature requirements, navigating dismissals and much more! 

Shaping the future workplace: insights on people, AI, leadership and flexibility In the latest episode of our “In Conversation…” podcast series for 2025, Lucy Lewis speaks with Peter Cheese, Chief Executive of the CIPD. Lucy and Peter revisit their 2021 conversation, exploring how the workplace focus has evolved since the pandemic. They discuss the importance of people in organisations, evolving e...

Why can’t you just use a standard employment contract for an apprentice? Must parents sign the contract as well? Who should manage your apprentices and what are the legal risks when the apprenticeship comes to an end? Join our two apprenticeship experts, Abi Frederick and Saffron O’Gorman, as they answer these questions and more in their conversation about the top tips for employing apprentices.

This month’s podcast features David and Tarun discussing the practicalities of neonatal leave, which is coming into force in April, and what the rolling back of DEI initiatives in the US under President Trump could mean for UK employers.

Strategic Workforce Priorities for 2025 and Beyond – What matters most? In the first episode of our “In Conversation…” podcast series for 2025, Lucy delves into the findings of our recent survey and report, "Strategic Workforce Priorities – What Matters Most?". Lucy explores the major shifts shaping workforce planning and HR strategy, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges bu...

France is famous for its worker protections - strict rules, a 35-hour workweek, and a lunch break that even revolutions dare not disturb. But how does the Pay Transparency Directive fit into an already labyrinthine labour code, complete with one of the EU’s toughest pay reporting regimes? In this episode, Pay Attention regulars Tom Heys and David Lorimer are joined by Guillaume Bordier from Capsta...

In our first episode of 2025, join Sarah McWhinney and James Walters as they explore the importance of having clear performance management from day one. They discuss the common mistakes made by employers before considering the transformative changes to day 1 unfair dismissal rights in the Employment Rights Bill. They talk through the implications the Bill will have for managing new joiners and som...

Our first episode of the year sees Lucy and Sally discuss what we can expect from the world of employment law this year ranging from the changes to NMW, new family leave rights, consultations on the Employment Rights Bill and some key cases to watch out for.

In this episode of Pay Attention, Tom Heys and David Lorimer are joined by Jessica Jacobi from Kliemt to delve into Germany’s approach to the Pay Transparency Directive. Known as the land of bratwurst, precision engineering, and a harmonious relationship between labour and business, Germany’s implementation offers fascinating insights into pay equity. The panel explores how Germany’s legal framewo...

In this special episode of Pay Attention, we step back from the details of the Pay Transparency Directive to take a big-picture look at whether pay transparency actually delivers on its promise. Regular hosts Tom Heys and David Lorimer are joined by Hannah Grayson and Siobhra Rush to explore the historical journey of pay equity — from the early days of gender pay gap reporting to the latest develo...

In this episode of Pay Attention, Tom Heys, David Lorimer and Siobhra Rush lace up the gloves to examine how the Pay Transparency Directive is reshaping the landscape across the Republic of Ireland and stirring debate in Northern Ireland. From the Republic’s recent rollout of reporting measures, to the post-Brexit question of whether Northern Ireland will have to follow suit, we break down the cha...

Our last episode of the year sees Colin and David discuss a Court of Appeal decision on workforce consultation in small-scale redundancies, an EAT decision on the correct application of priority status during a redundancy plus some festive jokes!