Ocado delivers first profit of £7.5m but cuts bonuses by 40 per cent February 12, 2015 Grocery delivery service Ocado reported its first profit yesterday, of £7.5m for 2014, up from the £5.1m loss in 2013, although top executives had their bonuses slashed by around 40 per cent. Executive directors only reached half their targets, resulting in total bonuses paid dropping nearly £800,000 compared to 2013 totals. Group sales went up [...]
Kate Robertson: Who do you think is sorting out youth unemployment anyway? February 9, 2015 Understandably, David Cameron vaunts the 1.75 million jobs created on his watch. Though this makes those on the opposition benches squirm – I'd just like to point out who's doing the creating. As the political back-and-forth of an election season gains momentum, it’s something we are likely to hear more and more members of [...]
Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct faces million-pound claim over bonus scheme which excluded zero-hour contracted staff February 3, 2015 Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct faces legal claims over its bonus scheme from hundreds of staff working at its stores which could run into millions of pounds. Nearly 300 workers on zero-hours contracts were excluded from a bonus scheme which gave around 2,000 staff who were permanently employed a windfall share of £160m worth of shares [...]
32 charts showing every unemployment rate in every Eurozone economy January 30, 2015 The Eurozone has finally had some good news: unemployment is down to 11.4 per cent, its lowest rate since August 2012. Although admittedly, 11.4 per cent would cause a mutiny in the UK. The figure’s drop was relatively small: it was 11.5 per cent in November and 11.8 per cent in December. And chipping fractions [...]
IFS: Top earners’ wages worse affected by the financial crisis January 30, 2015 High earners saw their pay packets pinched the most during the global financial crisis, but pay will pick up across the board this year, according to new research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). Wage increases would be buoyed by pay rises alongside the low rate of inflation, which is being dragged down by [...]
European Central Bank eyes bankers’ bonuses and share options January 29, 2015 The European Central Bank (ECB) has cast its eye over bankers' bonuses and share options, saying banks should pay more attention to their capital ratios when they dole out this kind of variable remuneration. In its relatively new role as the Eurozone's chief bank adviser, the ECB said it would "thoroughly examine" banks' policies regarding [...]
David Cameron and Ed Miliband clash as UK unemployment hits a six-year low January 21, 2015 Unemployment has dropped to its lowest rate since 2008 according to official figures, which also show pay continuing to beat inflation. The jobless rate dropped to 5.8 per cent in the three months to November, according to data released yesterday by the Office for National Statistics. Pay including bonuses rose 1.7 per cent [...]
UK unemployment rate falls to 5.8 per cent as wages rise again January 21, 2015 The UK’s unemployment rate has dropped again between September and November, falling from six per cent in the previous three months to 5.8 per cent. The news will further cheer the Conservative party, as it seeks to build an election campaign based on its economic record. There was more good news too: wages were up [...]
The Bonus Isa: Why we should make tax-efficient saving even more flexible January 20, 2015 Our ability to save varies considerably within a lifetime. When we can put money aside, the government plays a role in encouraging and influencing how we do it. The last five years have seen some notable increases in the generosity and flexibility of tax-efficient savings vehicles, but this can go much further. That is why [...]
David Cameron renews pledge to lead UK to full employment, but what is it? January 19, 2015 David Cameron has said that he and the Conservatives are committed to full employment in Britain. The UK, Cameron said, would be a "jobs factory," with benefit caps lowered and immigrants' access to welfare limited. To achieve this goal, Cameron pledged to help small businesses, saying: “we’re the party of the roofers and the retailers; [...]