An in-person panel discussion focused on High Pay Centre and Abrdn Financial Fairness Trust’s latest research on strengthening worker voice in the UK (15:00-17:00, Thursday 27 October 2022)
- Deborah Hargreaves, Founder, High Pay Centre (Chair)
- Euan Stirling, Trustee, Abrdn Financial Fairness Trust
- Chris Hodge, Senior Advisor to the Institute of Directors Centre for Corporate Governance
- Janet Williamson, Senior Policy Officer, TUC
- Maureen Beresford, Head of Corporate Governance, Financial Reporting Council
- Luke Hildyard, Executive Director, High Pay Centre
The case for worker voice in both improving the quality of workers’ lives and also improving the performance of companies is strong, and supported by many experts and significant bodies of research.
Yet in comparison to other European countries, the UK lags behind in terms of their ability to express their concerns at work and wield influence over workplace matters.
Given the crises facing the UK of low growth, low productivity and high inequality, strengthening worker voice could well play a constructive role in addressing each of these issues?
Why then has the UK lagged behind for so long on worker voice, and what can be done to convince a sceptical business community and a government hostile to trade unions, that strengthening worker voice may actually be in their interests?
Our latest report looks to address some of these questions through an analysis of public opinion as well as interviews with business representatives, investors, unions and other experts, highlighting examples of how some companies are setting good practice, and what other opportunities that exist to encourage more companies to move in this direction.
Our expert panel will discuss the findings, sharing their views on how this latest research might support more companies to prioritise worker voice.