Throughout March the CIPD had a strong voice on some key issues in the world of work. This included calling on employers to look at ways to improve the financial security of their workers as the cost-of-living continues to bite, as well as championing extended bereavement leave and pay. The CIPD also set up a dedicated resources hub to provide information for employers on how to support their people during the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

Calling for employers to step up support on financial wellbeing

This month the CIPD released new research which found nearly one in five employees say their employer is not doing enough to support their financial wellbeing, highlighting the fragile state of many employees’ finances, even before the cost-of-living crisis fully bites.

The CIPD is urging all employers to have a financial wellbeing policy in place which sets out its commitment to supporting people to achieve a decent standard of living. This should include paying people a fair and liveable wage, as well as providing financial wellbeing support, such as offering targeted benefits and normalising conversations about money.

The new research was covered by HR media including People Management, Personnel Today and OnRec.

The Office for National Statistics’ latest labour market stats showed unemployment continues to fall while employment rises. Job vacancies have also hit another record high, meaning competition for staff is fierce. The CIPD used its response to the stats as an opportunity to call for employers to improve the financial security of their workers by paying a fair and liveable wage, as well as provide financial and wellbeing support. The Financial Times,Personnel Today and OnRec were among media who covered the CIPD’s response.

Calling for extended bereavement leave and pay

The CIPD’s policy and public affairs team co-hosted a parliamentary event with Patricia Gibson MP for MPs and Lords to discuss Patricia’s Bill on bereavement leave and pay, which will have its second reading on 6 May 2022.

The Bill looks at extending Jack’s Law - a legal right to bereavement leave and pay for working parents who lose a child under the age of 18 - to all employees who experience the loss of a close family member. The CIPD has been calling for this change alongside Patricia, Lucy Herd, Lord Knight of Weymouth and other organisations such as Cruse Bereavement Care.

Around 30 MPs pledged their support for Patricia's Bill at the event, with many sharing messages of support on Twitter and their websites, including Kevin Hollinrake MP and Joanna Cherry MP. 

To support the event, the CIPD released new stats around bereavement leave and pay, which showed that three quarters of employers support extending paid bereavement leave to close family members. This was picked up by the likes of People Management, OnRec and Reward Strategy. 

Support for those affected by the Ukraine invasion

The continuing war in Ukraine is having a devastating impact on many lives and employers will want to help their workers who are either directly affected or have family who are affected.

The CIPD launched a dedicated resource hub to support employers and people professionals with this. The webinar 'Supporting your people through times of crisis' explored the implications for employers and advice on how they can respond. People Management also looked at the issue in its piece Ukraine conflict: How can HR help?