Zero hours contracts are not all bad, as staff report being just as satisfied as their permanent, full-time counterparts December 4, 2015 Staff on zero hours contracts are just as contented with their work as their permanent, full-time counterparts. According to research released today from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), 65 per cent of zero hours staff said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs, compared to 63 per cent of employees overall. [...]
Free-market think tank Institute of Economic Affairs slams NHS satisfaction, patient outcomes and funding structure December 4, 2015 A leading think tank is attacking the National Health Service (NHS) with a new paper arguing the service is failing current and future patients. Kristian Niemietz, head of health and welfare at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), said the NHS is a “demographic timebomb” with an unsustainable funding structure that leads to poor health [...]
UK house prices: repossessions drop by 55 per cent as north-south divide narrows December 4, 2015 Home repossessions have dropped by 55 per cent year-on-year across England & Wales, new figures released today show, thanks to the ongoing economic recovery. The gap between home repossessions in the north and south has also narrowed by 80 per cent since the recession to 1.1 per 1,000 households in the north compared 0.7 per [...]
Being in the office over Christmas is no fun, say workers, as 84 per cent believe businesses should do more to embrace the spirit of the season December 3, 2015 If you wish you felt more of that festive feeling while at work, you're not alone. A survey by CV-Library shown exclusively to City A.M. discovered that 84 per cent of employees believe businesses should make more of an effort to embrace the Christmas spirit if they cannot shut the office doors for the festive season. Two [...]
Employees really want some extra annual leave, but finance chiefs think they would like more flexible hours December 3, 2015 A few more days off comes top of employees' workplace wishlists, according to a survey released today by recruitment firm Robert Half. When asked what perks they would appreciate the most from their employer, with the caveat that they were not allowed to plump for extra cash, 40 per cent said they would like more annual [...]
City Moves for 4 December 2015 | Who’s switching jobs December 3, 2015 SHEPHERD AND WEDDERBURN Katie Russell (pictured right) and Caroline Shand become partners at law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn, as it bids to strengthen its position in employment and in the real estate and infrastructure sectors. Having trained at Shepherd and Wedderburn, Katie spent over six years working in the City before returning three years ago. [...]
Eurozone’s woes dragged over the Pond – New York Report December 3, 2015 Disappointment at Mario Draghi’s statement on Eurozone quantitative easing spread across the Atlantic yesterday as the S&P 500 suffered its biggest drop since late September. The European Central Bank move triggered a spike in the euro that caught investors by surprise, forcing them to shift positions that hit most asset classes. At the same time, [...]
UK house prices: Stamp duty reforms have saved homebuyers £1.9bn since last year December 3, 2015 The chancellor’s stamp duty reforms may have added to the bill for high-end homes. But for the vast majority who have bought homes under £1m, the measures have represented huge savings. UK homebuyers have collectively saved £1.9bn since the old slab system was abolished last December and replaced with a more progressive tax system, figures [...]
Landlords opting to be companies after Osborne shakes up buy-to-let with stamp duty hikes and mortgage interest claim caps December 3, 2015 The Chancellor's recent changes to the buy-to-let rules have caused landlords to rush to incorporate. According to figures released today by Kent Reliance, a quarter of the demand for buy-to-let mortgage finance the banking company receives now comes through limited companies. Across the total buy-to-let market, Kent Reliance predicts that 56,800 buy-to-let loans will be issued [...]
Saudi Arabia set to come under fire at OPEC meeting but not expected to back down over production levels December 3, 2015 Smaller nations are expected to put further pressure on Saudi Arabia to reduce oil production levels later today when cartel members meeting in Vienna. OPEC made the historic decision to maintained its production levels last year despite a more than 50 per cent fall in price over the past 18 months. City A.M. understands Saudi Arabia [...]