Most people are used to receiving regular monthly pay cheques, hopefully with the occasional bonus and an annual rise. But while this is often taken for granted, for other workers the size and timing of their pay cheques are far more volatile – with knock on effects on their ability to pay bills, save, plan ahead and smooth their living standards over time. But with Brits notoriously adverse to talking about pay, the scale of earnings volatility across the country is unknown. How many workers are subject to volatile earnings, and how much does the timing and size vary from pay cheque to pay cheque? Who is most likely to experience earnings volatility, and in which industries is it most prevalent? What are the wider living standards consequences for families? And what can policy makers do to mitigate the impacts of unpredictable earnings? The Resolution Foundation is hosting an in-person and interactive webinar to debate and answer these questions. Following a presentation of groundbreaking new research on earnings volatility that examines data on hundreds of thousands of workers’ payslips, as recorded by HMRC, we will hear from leading experts on what this phenomenon means for people’s living standards, and how policy makers should respond. The event will be open for people to physically attend, alongside being broadcast via YouTube and the Resolution Foundation website. Viewers will be able to submit questions to the panel before and during the event via Slido. The research is funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
