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IER Newsletter - September 2024 IER’s gender equality efforts pay off Our recent successful renewal of the Athena Swan Bronze Award shows that IER has progressed on all gender equality indicators since its last award. This progress is just one of the positive results from the renewal. Progress is especially seen in the area of staff work-life balance, which was a key issue in the previous application. Nearly all staff now respond favourably to their work-life balance situation now compared with only one in three in 2018. Recognition of its efforts to promote gender equality, progression and representation through the renewal of its Athena Swan Bronze award is a significant achievement for IER. Pay and conditions in gig work: Stronger regulations required This new finds that gig work or platform work is growing in importance in the UK and is characterised by high levels of precarity and disadvantage compared to other forms of work.It argues that there is a pressing need for stronger regulation of gig work in the UK. Good jobs can help grow the economy (blog) The Labour Government is committed to growing the economy, and good jobs can play a crucial role in achieving that goal. Not only do good jobs reduce welfare spending and increase tax revenues, but they also boost innovation and productivity within businesses. IER's recent researchLink opens in a new window shows that better pay, work-life balance, and employee satisfaction are all linked to improved company performance. Appropriately defining and targeting ‘bad jobs’ as a pathway to ‘good jobs’ (blog) Good jobs not only enhance workers' wellbeing but also drive innovation and productivity, supporting the government’s economic growth goals. However, to create more good jobs, it is crucial to first accurately define and address ‘bad jobs.’ Traditional definitions of ‘bad jobs’ often rely on single factors like low wages or job insecurity. A more comprehensive approach is needed, incorporating dimensions like work intensity, autonomy, working time quality, and physical/social environment. EU’s Pay Transparency Directive – a lost opportunity for the UK? (blog) Fifty years after the EU’s first directive on equal pay, the gender pay gap remains a significant issue across Europe. For instance, the gap ranges from 21% in Estonia to -0.7% in Luxembourg, with countries like Denmark (13.9%) and the UK (14.8%) falling in the middle, above the EU average of 12.8% in 2022. To address these disparities, the EU introduced the Pay Transparency Directive (2023), which requires companies with 100+ employees to report on pay gaps and act if gaps exceed 5%. The directive also penalises non-compliance and mandates transparency in pay-setting and promotions Creating Sustainable Work 2025: call for abstracts Scholars, policymakers and practitioners from around the world are invited to submit abstracts by 15 October for an upcoming interdisciplinary conference in Stockholm, Sweden, taking place from 7 to 9 May 2024. The conference will focus on addressing the current and future challenges of precarious employment, aiming to foster collaboration between academia and the broader community to inform policies that support a sustainable and equitable future of work. New Skills2Capabilities partner enhances global expertise in vocational education and training The Korean Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET) has officially joined the EU funded Skills2Capabilities project, where IER is a research partner, as an associated partner. , South Korea’s leading institution in vocational education and training (VET), brings extensive research expertise, innovative strategies, and influential networks to the project. Read more . New IER projects Find more information on IER's current projectsLink opens in a new window.   New Publications Green, F., & Lee, S. (2024). Applied Research in Quality of Life. Beck, V., Warren, T., & Lyonette, C. (2024).  Work, Employment and Society, 0(0). Warren, T., Torres, L., Lyonette, C., & Tarlo, R. (2024). . British Journal of Sociology,   Copyright © 2024 Institute for Employment Research, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have shown an interest in the activities of the IER Our mailing address is: Institute for Employment Research University of ÌÇÐÄTV Coventry ÌÇÐÄTV, CV4 7AL United Kingdom Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or Link opens in a new window