Top 10 stories from this week: should flexible working come at a price?

Law firm Stephenson Harwood has announced that employees who chose to work from home permanently can only do so with a 20% pay cut, a move that has caused controversy and sparked debate around pay and benefits.

On one hand, remote working has evolved from a desirable benefit to something that is not only expected but demanded – and surely this shouldn’t come at such a hefty price given that working entirely from home is likely to be expensive amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Additionally, the cost of commuting to work has risen so sharply that some people can no longer afford to travel to the office. But, on the other hand, location-based pay such as London Living Wage – which was designed to mitigate the woes living in a capital city have on your wallet – are arguably no longer applicable if remote working is truly on the cards.

The new policy, while doing very little favours for the employer brand, could potentially have a sound reasoning behind it. But should firms penalise their employees for wanting remote working to be seen as a standard practice, without it diminishing their wage at a time when money talks?

For more reward and employee benefits news you might have missed this week, read our top 10 snippets below.

Law firm says staff can work from home - for 20% less pay

BBC A London law firm has offered staff the option to work from home permanently, but the convenience comes at a price. Read more

Experts warn against cutting remote workers’ pay

People Management After a law firm revealed it would reduce salaries for employees who opted to work from home full time, People Management looks at the risks of employing such a policy. Read more

Majority of workers borrowing money to pay bills, union warns

People Management Key workers have been hit particularly hard by the cost of living crisis, despite having widely been praised for their efforts during the pandemic. Read more

Midlifers set to be hit twice by the cost of living

HR News According to new analysis from Legal & General, the financial responsibility of people in midlife (40 to 60 years old) could rise significantly in 2022. Read more

45% of employers find it difficult to make communication of health & wellbeing support relevant

HR News Research by Towergate Health & Protection shows that 45% of employers have found it difficult to ensure that communication of health and wellbeing support is relevant since the pandemic began. Read more

Employee activism pushing ESG up the board agenda

Corporate Advisor Human resource directors have a chance to guide their company’s strategic focus in the context of social sustainability, according to a Mercer report on ‘people sustainability.’ Read more

Menopausal women being let down by employers

Workplace Insight A landmark study by the Fawcett reveals a shocking lack of support for often severe symptoms. Read more

Almost 70% of employees are stressed in the workplace

HR News A recent survey conducted by alldayPA revealed that the majority of people in full-time employment are experiencing high levels of burnout due to work-related stress and pressures. Read more

10% of women leave the workforce due to menopause

HR Review According to research by menopause specialists, Health & Her, 10 percent of women leave the workforce due to menopause. Read more

UK employers outperforming the rest of the world on wellbeing

HR Magazine Employers across the UK are performing better than companies across the rest of the world in implementing wellbeing policies for workers. Read more