Main content

Money Box Live: The Modern British Workplace

Adam Shaw and guests explore the modern British workplace, and look at who benefits most from flexible working and zero-hours contracts.

The modern British workplace. Flexible working - is it too much in the employer's favour?

Zero hours contracts, short hours contracts and self-employment are all on the rise in Britain, giving workers less job security and less automatic entitlement to paid holidays or paid sick leave. Mike Ashley, the founder of Sports Direct was criticised by a committee of MPs earlier this month over working practises at one of his warehouses. MPs heard how workers were fined for being late and subject to searches and surveillance. Mr Ashley admitted that in the past some workers had not been paid the legal minimum wage. But employers - both in the private and public sector - say they have to keep costs low in a competitive global market and that means having flexibility over hiring and shedding staff quickly.

Join Adam Shaw and guests to explore the position of the modern worker. We want to hear your experiences as a worker or as an employer.

Call 03700 100 444 from 1pm to 3.30pm on Wednesday, standard geographic charges from landlines and mobiles will apply. Or e-mail moneybox@bbc.co.uk now.

Available now

30 minutes

Related Links

Broadcast

  • Wed 15 Jun 2016 15:00

The Death of Retirement

The Death of Retirement

Money Box explores what retirement might look like in the future,

Download this programme

Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.

Podcast