Work Foundation

WORK MATTERS 2026 11.00 - 12.00 | Tuesday 24 March 2026 | Online Is the rise in remote and hybrid work in the UK now under threat? Six years on from the first Covid-19 lockdown, working from home has become a mainstream practice, with many employers moving beyond initial emergency measures and actively redesign roles to support flexible working. But more employers are calling staff ‘back to the office’, with a sharp fall in remote vacancies in recent months. Join the Work Foundation at Lancaster University and an expert panel to explore the future of remote and hybrid work in the UK, and how it can be utilised to improve access to secure and flexible employment in the years ahead. Speakers > Baroness Needham -Scott (Chair, Lords Homebased Working Committee) > Dr Paula Holland (Senior Lecturer, Lancaster University) > Ben Harrison, Director, Work Foundation at Lancaster University. Work Foundation logo

ONLINE EVENT: On 24 March, join us and an expert panel to explore the future of remote and hybrid work in the UK, and how it can be utilised to improve access to secure and flexible employment in the years ahead.

Sign-up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/is-the-ris...

Unemployment is on the rise in London. Should the rest of the UK be worried? Unemployment in London is rising faster than the rest of the country. What's causing this and what does it mean for the UK as a whole?

Should we be worried about rising unemployment in London?

@benbrodydc.bsky.social (Director, @workfoundation.bsky.social) reflects on what’s driving these trends in @bigissue.com, and why London’s experience may offer an early warning for the rest of the UK. www.bigissue.com/opinion/unem...

WORK MATTERS 2026 14.00 - 15.00 | Thursday 26 February 2026 | Online No NEET solution? Tackling youth unemployment in the UK The number of young people not earning or learning remains stubbornly close to one million. The Government has responded to the immediate challenge by announcing an £820 million youth participation package, including an investigation into the root causes of youth unemployment. Join the Work Foundation and a panel of experts to review the latest figures on young people aged 16 to 24 years not in education, employment or training, and what it means for young people, local communities, the labour market and the Government. > Ben Harrison, Director, Work Foundation at Lancaster University > Sharon Thompson, Deputy Mayor of the West Midlands > Susannah Hardyman, Chief Executive, Impetus > Shuab Gamote, Researcher and Advisor > Chris Smyth, Public Policy Editor, The Financial Times Work Foundation logo

EVENT: Join us at 14.00-15.00 on Thurs 26 Feb to review the latest ONS figures on young people aged 16 to 24 years not in education, employment or training, and what it means for young people, local communities, the labour market and the Government.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-matte...

The report welcomes the Labour Government’s steps to tackle child poverty but calls for a more holistic strategy that includes expanding access to affordable housing and setting the Universal Credit basic rate at a level where people can afford life’s essentials.(5/5)

Future prospects of reducing poverty rates remain uncertain with 4.1 million households currently going without essentials and 3.2 million households having to cut back on food or go hungry. (4/5)

Some groups are at a greater risk of being in poverty. Over half (53%) of people in Bangladeshi households and nearly half (49%) of people in Pakistani households are in poverty while 28% of disabled people are in poverty, relative to 20% of non-disabled people. (3/5)

Image of chat showing that since 1994/5 the percentage of people in poverty who are in very deep poverty has increased, and now makes almost half of people in poverty

However,deep poverty has increased to 6.8 million. Almost half of the people in poverty are in deep poverty, with an income far below the poverty line. This is the highest absolute number of people and highest proportion since records began, going back to 1994/1995. (2/5)

Front page of Joseph Rowntree Foundation report into UK Poverty 2026: The essential guide to understanding poverty in the UK.

Our #ResearchOfTheMonth goes to @jrf-uk.bsky.social for their annual UK Poverty report.

They find that since 2010/2011, the poverty rate has remained stable at 21%. In fact, since 2005 there has been no progress in reducing poverty. (1/5)

www.jrf.org.uk/uk-poverty-2...

How to prepare for employment reforms in 2026 - Lancaster University As workers and employers prepare for the largest employment reforms in a generation, the Work Foundation at Lancaster University hosted an online event exploring the key Employment Rights Act changes ...

How can employers prepare for major employment reforms in 2026?

On Tuesday, we hosted an online event exploring the key Employment Rights Act changes due in 2026 with leaders from business, law and unions. Find out how organisations and workers can prepare: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

14.00 - 15.15 | Tuesday 27 January 2026 | Online event Getting ready for employment reforms in 2026 The Employment Rights Act represents the largest change to employment legislation in a generation. The Act, which became law in late 2025, features a host of significant legislative reforms designed to improve access to secure and high-quality work. The Government has set-out a two-year implementation roadmap for the Act. Join the Work Foundation at Lancaster University and a panel of experts to explore the key changes coming up in 2026 and how workers and employers can prepare. The event will be chaired by Ben Harrison (Director, Work Foundation) and we're delighted to have an outstanding panel of speakers including: ▪ Claire Burns MCIPD (People Director, Abraham Moon & Sons) ▪ Laura McFadyen (Partner, Stephens Scown LLP) ▪ Sampson Low (Head of Policy, UNISON) ▪ George Williams (Research and Policy Analyst, Work Foundation) ▪ Alice Martin (Head of Research, Work Foundation).

Final call! Join us between 14.00-15.15 on Tuesday 27 January to explore the key Employment Rights Act changes coming up in 2026.

Register for free: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/getting-re...

Rebecca Florisson: Living precariously: The challenge of insecure work Rebecca Florisson discusses the realities of low pay, unpredictable hours and poor protections and how we can improve access to secure jobs.

ONLINE EVENT | 18.00-19.00, Thurs 29 January

Our Principal Analyst, @rebeccaflorisson.bsky.social, is speaking about the realities of low pay, unpredictable hours and poor job protections at a @uniofbathipr.bsky.social event.

Register here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rebecca-fl...

Woman at computer with hand on head

Under the current system for workers, receiving flexibility or compassion during grief is left to chance. As part of the Employment Rights Act, Government plans to strengthen access to bereavement leave.

Jess Redmond asks if proposals go far enough: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

We cannot afford to grieve: The limits of UK bereavement leave expansion - Lancaster University Under the current system for UK workers receiving flexibility or compassion during grief is left to chance. As part of the new Employment Rights Act, the Government has set out plan to strengthen…

Under the current system for UK workers, receiving flexibility or compassion during grief is left to chance. As part of the new Employment Rights Act, Government plans to strengthen access to bereavement leave.

Jess Redmond asks if proposals go far enough: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

Ben Harrison, Director, Work Foundation at Lancaster University One in three people out of work in the UK wants a job (3.86 million) "The situation is complex but the outcome is simple: there are now more people chasing fewer jobs. "That’s why Ministers must act to boost employer confidence, increase investment in growth and support the creation of secure, flexible jobs that people can actually access." Work Foundation and Lancaster University logos

One in three people out of work in the UK wants a job but finding one is another matter, writes our Director, @benrharrison.bsky.social for @lbc.co.uk.

www.lbc.co.uk/article/brit...

Progress on pause: why the labour market is losing momentum and what government can do about it - Lancaster University This month's statistics show a sluggish labour market, marked by growing unemployment and too few job opportunities. But there are levers Government can pull to incentivise employers to create jobs an...

Today, the latest statistics from Office for National Statistics show a sluggish labour market, marked by growing unemployment and too few job opportunities.

@rebeccaflorisson.bsky.social explores the latest data in this article: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

One in three workless adults want to work but face increasingly competitive labour market - Lancaster University The Work Foundation at Lancaster University respond to the labour market figures for January 2026 released by the Office for National Statistics.

"or a Government that came to power 18 months ago pledging to raise the employment to 80%. But delivering on that ambition will require concrete action to boost business confidence, drive investment & create more secure, flexible jobs across the UK in 2026.” (7/7)
www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

"With more people chasing fewer jobs, finding work is becoming harder – especially for those out of work for longer periods or at the start of their career.

“Nearly four million workless people wanting a job should be a major opportunity... (6/7)

"As a key bellwether for the national economy, this is bad news for jobseekers in the capital and risks being replicated elsewhere without intervention.

“Vacancies across the UK are now more than 85,000 below pre-pandemic levels, while redundancies are increasing in some sectors. (5/7)

“For those actively looking for work, young jobseekers and people in London – where figures indicate the unemployment rate has climbed to 7.2% – are facing the biggest challenges. (4/7)

"This includes both more active jobseekers and rising numbers of economically inactive people — such as students and those with long-term health conditions — who say they want a job. (3/7)

"Worryingly for Ministers, there are signs unemployment may not yet have peaked.

“The UK’s ‘tight’ labour market has clearly eased. While recent years were marked by high vacancies and rising wages, we now have around 380,000 more people wanting to work than a year ago. (2/7)

Comment from our Director @benrharrison.bsky.social on the latest release from @ONS ⬇️

“Today’s data shows 3.86 million workless adults want a job, but weak vacancy levels and fragile employer confidence mean jobseekers are facing an increasingly competitive labour market. (1/7)

Getting ready for employment reforms in 2026 14.00 - 15.30 | Tuesday 27 January 2026 | Online event The Employment Rights Act represents the largest change to employment legislation in a generation. The Act, which became law in late 2025, features a host of significant legislative reforms designed to improve access to secure and high-quality work. The Government has set-out a two-year implementation roadmap for the Act. Join the Work Foundation at Lancaster University and a panel of experts to explore the key changes coming up in 2026 and how workers and employers can prepare. The event will be chaired by Ben Harrison (Director, Work Foundation) and we're delighted to have an outstanding panel of speakers including: ▪ Claire Burns MCIPD (People Director, Abraham Moon & Sons) ▪ Laura McFadyen (Partner, Stephens Scown LLP) ▪ Sampson Low (Head of Policy, UNISON) ▪ George Williams (Research and Policy Analyst, Work Foundation) ▪ Alice Martin (Head of Research, Work Foundation)

Next Tuesday 27 January between 14.00 - 15.30, we will be hosting an online event to explore the key Employment Rights Act changes coming up in 2026.

Register for free: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/getting-re...

Graph on national minimum wage rises in the UK, showing that the National Living Wage (aged 21+) is at £12.71, the national minimum wage for those aged 21-22 is at £10.85 and the 16-17 rate is at £8.00.

Is the era of rapid increases in the minimum wage over?

In April, the National Living Wage will rises to £12.71. The 4.1% increase is the lowest in percentage terms for 11 years.

@aman93.bsky.social asks if we are seeing a change of policy direction: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

Aman Navani, Research & Policy Analyst, Work Foundation at Lancaster University Will the Government change tack on Europe? "The Government has struggled to make meaningful progress on its primary mission of boosting economic growth. The labour market is cooling and unemployment is on the rise, especially for young people. "With the Government running out of time to turn things around, will it be bolder in pursuing a closer economic relationship with the EU?" Work Foundation and Lancaster University logos

For our final look ahead to key issues in 2026, @aman93.bsky.social (Research and Policy Analyst) asks whether the Government will pursue a closer economic relationship with the EU.

Read all our key policy areas to look out for in the world of work: lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

For our penultimate look ahead in 2026, @rebeccaflorisson.bsky.social (Principal Analyst) suggests guaranteed hours for zero-hour workers could be a major step forward for employment rights, but that it will be dependent on the fine print.

Read more here: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

Getting ready for employment reforms in 2026 14.00 - 15.30 | Tuesday 27 January 2026 | Online event The Employment Rights Act represents the largest change to employment legislation in a generation. The Act, which became law in late 2025, features a host of significant legislative reforms designed to improve access to secure and high-quality work. The Government has set-out a two-year implementation roadmap for the Act. Join the Work Foundation at Lancaster University and a panel of experts to explore the key changes coming up in 2026 and how workers and employers can prepare. Work Foundation and Lancaster University logos

Event: Join us on Tuesday 27 January between 14.00 - 15.30 to explore the key Employment Rights Act changes coming up in 2026, including on Statutory Sick Pay, parental leave and the introduction of the new Fair Work Agency.

Register for free: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/getting-re...

Jon Fitzmaurice, Head of External Engagement, Work Foundation at Lancaster University Will Government action on cost of living put more money in your pocket? "Despite historically strong regular pay growth, real wages have risen by just £2.73 a week on average in the last year. In response, the Government has promised to cut family energy bills and freeze rail fares to ease inflationary pressures. But with wage growth stalling, will these measures be enough to make a tangible difference for workers struggling to make ends meet?" Work Foundation and Lancaster University logos

Looking ahead to the rest of the year, Jon Fitzmaurice (Head of External Engagement) asks whether Government action on cost of living will put more money in your pocket.

Read all our key policy areas to look out for in the world of work: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

Jess Redmond, Policy Advisor, Work Foundation at Lancaster University Are platform workers left in the lurch? "The Government’s decision to not address the legal question of worker status for platform or ‘gig’ economy workers may come to bite them once the Employment Rights Bill comes into effect. There has been ambiguity around whether platform workers should be considered “limb (b) workers” – a kind of ‘middle ground’ status between employee and self-employed – under employment law, or whether the provisions in the ERB should apply to them." Work Foundation and Lancaster University logos

Next up in our preview of 2026 is Jess Redmond (Policy Advisor) who asks whether platform workers will be left in the lurch by employment reforms.

Read all our key policy areas to look out for in the world of work: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

George Williams, Research and Policy Analyst, Work Foundation at Lancaster University Local elections - a crunch point for the Government "On 7 May large parts of the UK will head to the polls to vote in English local elections, the Scottish Parliament election or the Senedd election in Wales. "Whatever the outcome, the results and ensuing debates on where the Government has gone wrong (or right), will likely shape the political narrative for the coming year.Which could have major repercussions on the Government’s policy agenda on employment, health and welfare." Work Foundation and Lancaster University logos

Looking ahead to the rest of the year, @gdwilliams9.bsky.social (Research and Policy Analyst) thinks the Spring local election will be a crunch point for the Government.

Read all our key policy areas to look out for in the world of work: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...