Podcast appearances and mentions of frances o grady

The pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives but one of the biggest is the way we work– with 46% of people working from home last year. Perhaps no group has been more impacted by this than the young - from unemployment to the mental health pressures of working from small homes and a tough jobs market, this generation has been dubbed 'the Covid generation'. But at the same time there are also opportunities – could apprenticeships be part of the solution?  On this sponsored podcast, Katy Balls talks to a panel of strong women about the challenges and opportunities facing young people in professional life. She's joined by Gillian Keegan, the Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills; Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC; and Michelle Blayney, Chief Culture and Talent Officer at Lloyds Banking Group.Sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group.

The pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives but one of the biggest is the way we work– with 46% of people working from home last year. Perhaps no group has been more impacted by this than the young - from unemployment to the mental health pressures of working from small homes and a tough jobs market, this generation has been dubbed 'the Covid generation'. But at the same time there are also opportunities – could apprenticeships be part of the solution?  On this sponsored podcast, Katy Balls talks to a panel of strong women about the challenges and opportunities facing young people in professional life. She's joined by Gillian Keegan, the Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills; Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC; and Michelle Blayney, Chief Culture and Talent Officer at Lloyds Banking Group.Sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group.

The U.K. has kept a lid on its unemployment rate so far during the coronavirus pandemic but, scratch beneath the surface, there are worrying trends that will likely see the jobless total soaring by the end of the year.As department store Debenhams announced another 2,500 job losses on Tuesday, official figures showed that the number of people in paid employment in the April-June quarter fell by the most since the global financial crisis more than a decade go.That didn’t lead to an automatic increase in the unemployment rate, which held steady at a historically low 3.9% as workers need to be actively looking for a job to be counted as jobless. But as a key government salary support package is being phased out, there are concerns that the number of people officially labeled as unemployed could at least double toward the 3 million mark last struck in the 1980s.“Some parts of the economy are undoubtedly showing great resilience but clearly there are going to be bumpy months ahead and a long, long way to go,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.The stable jobless rate is largely due to a government salary support scheme that will end in October, a cliff-edge moment that many economists think will lead to an almost immediate doubling in unemployment.Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the government has been paying a large chunk of the salaries of workers retained rather than fired. Some 1.2 million employers have taken advantage of the program during the lockdown to furlough 9.6 million people at a cost to the government of 33.8 billion pounds ($44 billion).The government has started phasing out the furlough program, with firms now having to cover some of the costs of the plan. The government has said it will end the program in October on the grounds it gives “false hope” to furloughed workers while at the same time limiting their prospects of getting new jobs as their skills fade.While admitting that not every job can be saved, Treasury chief Rishi Sunak said Tuesday's figures said the support measures, have helped to “safeguard millions of jobs and livelihoods that could otherwise have been lost.”The big question is how many of those furloughed workers are being kept on as lockdown restrictions across sectors, including retail and hospitality, have been eased, and how many will be kept on the payroll after the October cut-off date. It’s a tough call for firms facing a historic cash crunch following one of the deepest economic slumps ever recorded in the U.K.“A wide range of indicators suggest that job losses will crystallize from August, when employers must start to cover some of the costs of furloughed staff,” said Samuel Tombs, chief U.K. economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.In a sign of the weakness of the U.K.'s labor market, employment fell in the April to June quarter by 220,000, its biggest three-month decline since the 2009 recession. Figures due for release on Wednesday are set to show the economy contracted by nearly 25% in the second quarter of the year from the previous three-month period.The statistics agency also reported that the number of people on payroll in the U.K. fell 81,000 in July to 28.27 million. The number of people coming off the payroll since March is now 730,000, with the falls in employment greatest among younger and older workers.The number of firms cutting jobs has accelerated in the past month or two with big companies like British Airways and Rolls Royce announcing big layoffs, in addition to Tuesday's news from Debenhams.Unions are urging the government to at least extend the furlough scheme to sectors still suffering from lockdown restrictions.“The alarm bells couldn’t be ringing any louder,” said Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress.

An editorial in the British Medical Journal reported that one in five harmful and dependent drinkers got the help they needed, and now the proportion will be lower. How do you cope with an alcohol problem under lockdown? We hear the experience of a listener, the journalist Catherine Renton who has been sober for over 3 years, and from Julia Sinclair, professor of Addiction Psychiatry, University of Southampton and consultant in alcohol addiction. She’s also chair of the Royal College of Psychiatry’s addiction faculty. It is fifty years since the Equal Pay Act became law. However, it’s proved tricky over the years for women to find out what their male comparators were earning. It’s also proved tricky for women without financial and legal support to use the law. However, cases have been brought over the years and as the law has been strengthened. Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC and Jane Hannon, Employment partner at the law firm DLA Piper discuss. The writer Michele Roberts discusses her memoir Negative Capability - written after the rejection of a novel by her publisher caused hurt and depression. Lizzie tells her story of giving birth during lockdown. We also hear from the obstetrician Dr Kenga Sivarajah. Council cuts have meant that there are 50% fewer public toilets than a decade ago. Coronavirus has caused even more closures – albeit temporarily. But where does that leave people who need urgent access to the loo? Jo Umbers from the Bladder and Bowel community explains how this issue is affecting women of all ages. Raymond Martin, from the British Toilet Association, discusses the economic and health importance of public toilets in a post-Covid world. Jackie Kay, the National Poet for Scotland, discusses her new online poetry and music festival Makar to Makar, which is streaming via the National Theatre of Scotland's YouTube channel. We also hear poetry from Gerda Stevenson and music from Claire Brown, who are both performing in the festival. Presenter: Jane Garvey Producer: Dianne McGregor

It’s fifty years since the Equal Pay Act became law, though employers were given a couple of years to prepare for the change to take effect. The legislation followed the strike of a group of women machinists at the Ford factory in Dagenham who wanted to be paid just as a man would for doing skilled work. It set out that an individual can claim equal pay for work of equal value. However, it’s proved tricky over the years for women to find out what their male comparators were earning. It’s also proved tricky for women without financial and legal support to use the law. However, cases have been brought over the years and as the law has been strengthened. Last year, Glasgow City Council agreed to pay out a reported £548 million in compensation to thousands of women who were paid less than men working in jobs on the same grade. Jane is joined by Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC and by Jane Hannon, Employment partner at the law firm DLA Piper Health visiting is one of those professions that most people think is a bit of a non-job. After 40 years in the NHS and 30 as a health visitor, Rachael Hearson tells us why this is not the case. She’s written about her experiences and explains how the role has changed and why it’s needed more now than ever before. Her book is called Handle With Care. Public toilets have been a well-known victim of council cuts, leaving the UK with 50% fewer toilets than a decade ago. Coronavirus has caused even more closures – albeit temporarily. But where does that leave people who need urgent access to the loo? Jo Umbers from the Bladder and Bowel community explains how this issue is affecting women of all ages. Raymond Martin, from the British Toilet Association, discusses the economic and health importance of public toilets in a post-Covid world. Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel

Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the British Trades Union Congress (TUC), and László Andor, FEPS Secretary General, analyse in this FEPS Talks episode the meaning of the working class today. They rebut the notion which was widespread after the December elections in the UK that the working class as such turned anti-European and became a supporter of the Tories. Stereotypes and simplifications should be avoided not least because the composition and consciousness of the working class has changed in the past centuries, but also in the last decades, and if it is used, this term should not be reduced to active or retired blue-collar workers in depressed regions. On the other hand, it is true that a lot of British workers would have preferred to see a more social European Union. And in order to ensure more workers in other countries do not get disaffected with EU integration, investment policies like the Green Deal and more social rights should be promoted. O’Grady elaborates on the UK experience with a minimum wage, and the expected effects of Brexit on working conditions. She opposes the idea of “socialism in one country”, and stresses that workers have to show solidarity across borders because capitalism is international. Trade unions and progressive political forces have to push jointly for decent jobs in the 21st century.

Jane Mitchell is an accredited mindfulness practitioner and teacher and a registered Learning Disability Nurse.Jane helps people to "deepen their awareness of their own experience," and was my guest on today's radio show to describe her work and how mindfulness can help business leaders and social entrepreneurs."Mindfulness is the opposite of autopilot" she says and involves being attentive, present in the current moment, in a non-judgemental way. She describes its benefits in the interview and runs through a simple, short exercise you can do (which I did, in the studio, during the interview).Timings:0 - 5:35 Introduction and updates, including a joint letter from the TUC’s general secretary, Frances O’Grady, and the CBI’s Carolyn Fairbairn, warning that the UK faces a "national emergency" and warning of the danger of a no-deal Brexit; Sheffield Adventure Film Festival and The Outdoor Festival; Phlegm's Mausoleum of the Giants; getting in touch.5:35 Jane Mitchell part 1: Jane's route to becoming a registered mindfulness practitioner.14:55 What is mindfulness? How does mindfulness help people who are running businesses or social enterprises, or self-employed people, and why has there been an increase in interest in mindfulness?28:40 Break. News of a fantastic opportunity for social entrepreneurs, leaders of community enterprises, and other businesses and organisations making a demonstrable impact: The Cambridge Social Innovation Prize.31:29 Jane Mitchell part 2: if listeners are stressed, overwhelmed, on "autopilot," feel pulled from deadline to deadline or have an "inner critic": what techniques can they use to alleviate stress and to find a place of stillness or calm?36:00 Jane runs through the three-minute breathing exercise, live in the studio with me and with listeners - you can take part too.39:00 how did the three-minute breathing exercise make me feel?41:40 how Jane has developed her practice and her programmes - and what her day-to-day week looks like,44:00 what happens if engaging in mindfulness programmes or practices makes participants more aware of challenging or difficult issues - how do they deal with this? Is this a legitimate concern?46:53 what does the accreditation in mindfulness mean? If listeners want to find a teacher, what should they look for, and where can they find teachers meeting guidelines for good practice?48:38 - end how to reach Jane, her events, and wrapping up

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the British Trades Union Congress (TUC) to speak about what makes a successful Brexit. She was in conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government. Frances O’Grady became General Secretary of the TUC in January 2013 and is the first woman to hold this post.

This Saturday will see tens of thousands of people march through London to demand a new deal for workers.The TUC rally has been organised to highlight how millions of people are stuck in low-paid, insecure and part-time jobs.Ahead of the gathering the TUC’s Frances O’Grady talks to Jason Beattie and Mark Ellis about why they called the march, what they hope it will achieve and why the Government needs to act.She explains how work is no longer the way out of poverty. The changing nature of work, with more people having to do agency jobs or zero hours contracts, has created a generation who are struggling to pay the bills, provide for their family and get on the housing ladder.Frances also talks about why the Government must give all public sector workers a pay rise, not just NHS staff.And she discusses the challenges facing the trade union movement in attracting new members, especially young workers on temporary contracts. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Business’ role in helping people progress careers as a way of increasing their earnings and living standards is discussed in the third podcast from The Great Business Debate’s panel event which included the TUC’s Frances O’Grady and John Cridland of the CBI. #BetterOffBritain

Is any job better than no job when you’re trying to improve your living standards? One question discussed in this second podcast from an event staged by the CBI’s trust-in-business campaign, the Great Business Debate. The panel included Frances O’Grady, TUC General-Secretary & CBI Director-General, John Cridland. #BetterOffBritain

The role of business in boosting Living Standards, was the theme of an event staged by the CBI’s trust-in-business campaign, the Great Business Debate. The panel included Frances O’Grady, TUC General-Secretary & CBI Director-General, John Cridland. In this first of three podcasts hear them discuss what they think business should do to ensure everyone benefits from growth. #BetterOffBritain

Frances O’Grady took up her post as the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress last month, the first woman to hold that post in its 145 year history. Last week the panel for the Woman’s Hour Power List ranked her 11th on their list. Frances talks to Samira about her life, career and influences.