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Workers lukewarm on the ‘New Deal for
Working People’
● Less than half (40%) of UK workers feel the are unsure if aspects of the New Deal were
New Deal for Working People will positively already available to them. This suggests that
impact them, while 44% believe it will have employers could see a limited impact of the
no impact potentially costly changes unless they better
● Many (36% on average) don’t understand communicate with staff.
their employers’ existing position on various Making the investment pay for all
aspects of the deal
Skills and productivity remain of significant
Employees are broadly lukewarm about concern for the growth of the UK economy.
the New Deal for Working People, recently The study revealed that labour productivity,
published in the King’s Speech as the measured by output per hour worked, fell by
Employment Rights Bill, but many are 0.3% on an annual basis in Q2 of this year.
unaware of their current employer’s stance
and offering. That’s according to the latest According to Robert Half, this suggests that
Robert Half Jobs Confidence Index (JCI) – skills are still a big problem for the UK. As a
an economic confidence tracker produced in result, a thoughtful discussion with all parties
partnership with the Centre for Economics – including businesses – is needed to ensure
and Business Research (Cebr). the UK aligns resources in the most effective
way for all to keep pace with the global
Limited impact expected economy.
According to the data, less than half (40%) As Matt Weston, Senior Managing Director
of the UK workforce anticipates that the New UK & Ireland, at Robert Half explained, skills
Deal for Working People will have a positive create an economy that will benefit workers
impact on their daily lives, while almost half and businesses, boosting productivity, wages
(44%) are uncertain as to the impact of the and GDP in the longer term:
proposals. Just 9% said it would have a “We welcome any changes that boost the
negative impact on their working lives. wellbeing of the workforce, however it is
It should also be noted that the younger interesting to note that such a large proportion
generation is more optimistic about the of UK employees are largely lukewarm to the
potential impact of the New Deal, with 51% of impact that the New Deal will have on their
those aged 18-34 indicating that it will have a job. While we expect that younger workers
positive effect. are more likely to welcome change given that
However, the data suggests that there is a they will be employed for a longer period, the
lack of clarity around existing access to many fact that so many are unclear as to what their
of the measures. According to the data, over employer currently offers suggests a level of
a third (36% on average) of UK workers mis-communication exists.”
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