CSR Europe calls for active age management in the workplace
CSR Europe, together with a group of global companies, has called on businesses and policymakers to take leadership in tackling demographic change in Europe by promoting active age management and better integration of older employees in the workplace. Wellbeing for Ageing Employees was initiated by CSR Europe and led by Johnson & Johnson, bringing together companies from various sectors to identify current challenges and business practices related to the ageing workforce. The group provides practical advice and outlines examples of current corporate practices. It also appeals to the European Union and national governments to work on a more harmonized legislative framework to facilitate the recruitment and employability of older citizens in the EU.
Flexible working is the most valued benefit for employees, ahead of material perks such as bonuses, according to a new PricewaterhouseCoopers survey released 31 May. The findings come as the new Government promises to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees. Managing Tomorrow’s People explores the work aspirations and expectations of 1,167 professionals across the UK. Flexible working arrangements were rated the most important benefit by 47% of those surveyed, above performance related bonuses, which came second (19%). A better work-life balance was seen as more achievable in the long term than vastly increased responsibility and salary, and a good company pension plan was a prime perk for 15% of respondents. Benefits of less significance were paid time off to do social/humanitarian work (7%), exposure to advanced networking/social activities; and paid training and development (both at 6%).
The London Living Wage will rise by 25p to £7.85 per hour, London mayor Boris Johnson announced on 9 June. The increase represents a 3.3 % improvement on last year’s figure and an overall increase of 17 % since the London Living Wage was introduced in 2005, at £6.70 per hour. This year, four major employers – Deloitte, Nomura, Prudential and Standard Chartered – joined the scheme, with nearly 100 organisations having now signed up, including Barclays Bank, KPMG and HSBC, as well as several London boroughs. There is no legal requirement to pay the London Living Wage but the Greater London Authority argues it makes business, as well as moral, sense. A GLA report shows that, in London, an hourly wage rate of 17% above the national minimum wage rate of £5.80 is needed to provide a reliable margin so the wage earner will not fall into poverty.
Chief Executives support women’s empowerment principles
On 21 June the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the United Nations Global Compact announced the 39 lead signers of the CEO Statement of Support for the Women’s Empowerment Principles – Equality Means Business. The statement encourages business leaders to use the Principles as guide posts for actions that advance and empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. Signatories were from all regions of the world and represent diverse global and national companies, including Symantec, US; Infosys Technologies Limited, India; Total, France; The Westpac Group, Australia; Sunjgoo Group/MCM, South Korea; and Copel-Companhia Paranaense de Energia, Brazil. CEOs from consulting and investment companies added their support underlining the business case that investment in women results in more sustainable and profitable companies.
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