Analysis and action on living standards
Why it’s time to stop being polite about the triple lock
This briefing note – the third in a series on precarious work supported by Unbound Philanthropy – examines the balance of informal power between workers and employers in the cleaning, hospitality and warehousing sectors, drawing on a new survey of 2,000 workers and in-depth interviews. The UK labour market is in the midst of the biggest overhaul of employment rights in a generation, as the Employment Rights Act (ERA) begins to take effect. But regulation is only part of the route to better work: the balance of informal power between workers and employers also matters for determining whether workers can push their pay and conditions above the minimum.
The Resolution Foundation is an independent think-tank dedicated to lifting living standards in the UK. We focus particularly on households with low and middle incomes; those on low pay or in precarious work; and those vulnerable to financial shocks.
This briefing note sets out how the Government can reset Britain’s economic policy following disastrous local election results, arguing that an honest assessment of where the country stands is the indispensable starting point for repairing its relationship with voters. The economic backdrop remains highly challenging with the conflict in the Middle East providing another unwanted headwind for growth.
The private rented sector (PRS) has more than doubled in size since the turn of the century, and the people who live within it look very different today compared to those it housed in the early 2000s. As exiting the tenure has become more challenging over time, tenants have aged and often started families. Today, children are more likely to be living in the PRS than working-age adults. Getting policy right in this space is now more important than ever.
The Resolution Foundation calculates the real Living Wage – a voluntary hourly pay rate that is based on what families need to get by. The current national rate is:
Explore our interactive housing indicators or read about our alternative estimate of UK employment.
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Resolution Ventures exists to back innovative start-ups seeking to change the world of work for the better, and early-stage ventures seeking to improve the prospects of low-to-middle income Britain.
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