Marks and Spencers are letting their full-time staff across the UK to work only four-days a week so they can improve their work/life balance.
The retailer’s new ‘Worklife’ programme is aiming to provide more choice and flexibility for staff, reports The Manc.
After notably introducing optional pronoun badges for staff to help “build an inclusive future” last year, and following the well-praised decision to raise its minimum wage to £10 an hour during the cost of living crisis earlier this year, the retailer has announced its next employee perk in the form of a new flexible working offering.
M&S said the changes are designed to help staff achieve a better work/life balance, and says it also hopes it will help it to continue to “attract the best talent in the industry.”
This means that, from January 2023, over 3,000 of M&S’s Retail Managers across the UK will have additional flexible working options available to choose from, so as well as opting for either full-time or part-time hours, they can also choose whether to spread their hours over five days, or to work a four-day compressed work week, or even a nine day compressed fortnight.
Image: M&S
Part-time managers will also be able to access their own pro-rated version of the compressed ways of working on offer, M&S said.
M&S’s decision to introduce flexible working options follows what the retailer says was a successful trial across 100 stores – with 75% of the Retail Managers participating agreeing that compressed hours had had “a positive impact on their family life”.
73% said it also gave them more time to focus on and prioritise themselves.
“We want M&S to be a great place to work and shop, that means having engaged colleagues with a good work-life balance,” explains Sarah Findlater – Group HR Director at M&S.
“Retail is a fast-paced industry, but that shouldn’t mean missing out on the moments that matter.
“Whether caring commitments, the chance to get involved in your local community, or to prioritise your own mental and physical wellbeing, we’ve listened to colleagues and are determined to create a cultural shift to flexible working across our stores.”
Ms Findlater also added that the Retail Managers that took part in the compressed hours trial agreed that it’s been a “gamechanger” for them by giving them “more choice and autonomy”.
“We are determined to keep exploring ideas that transform the way we work at M&S,” she added.
New regulations are set to be put into place as part of the Briggate Action Plan.
Proposals for the plan, aimed at making some of the city centre’s busiest areas safer for everyone, received a huge amount of support during a public consultation last year.
Since then, the council have been drawing up the necessary regulations and signage, with the new rules now due to officially come into place over the next few months.
Once implemented, the action plan will mean a requirement to walk bicycles and e-bikes within the city centre’s pedestrianised shopping area from 10.30am until 8pm every day.
That means no surprise bicycles will try and run you over as you're doing your shopping, hooray!
The action plan will also introduce prohibitions around certain street trading activities in targeted areas, including mobile street traders.
Extended restrictions will be put into place during major city centre events including Leeds Pride, Light Night Leeds and the Leeds Christmas Market.
Anyone breaking the new rules could be given a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice.
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council, said: “The city centre welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, and our aim is for every one of them to have the best and safest possible experience of Leeds.
“Through this action plan, we’ve taken important and meaningful steps to address issues which the public have consistently told us were impacting their enjoyment of the city centre whilst also creating potential safety issues for shoppers and pedestrians.
“With these new regulations in place, our hope is that both day-to-day visits and major events will now be even more enjoyable, successful and welcoming.”
The new restrictions on pedlars are expected to be in place from Thursday 1 October, with restrictions on bikes in pedestrianised areas due to be in place by the end of the year.
Everything you need to know about the Government’s new digital ID alternative for alcohol sales
Emily Sergeant
Licensed venues across England and Wales now have the choice to be able introduce digital proof of age for alcohol sales alongside physical.
Instead of having to hand over physical ID that contains personal information, such as names and home addresses, customers now have the choice to simply provide confirmation that they are 18 or over on their phone - helping to better protect privacy and personal safety in the process.
This means that, no matter whether you're buying a drink at your favourite pub, heading to a festival, or enjoying a night out at a concert, you won’t need to worry if you've left your ID at home.
According to the Government, this new change will benefit businesses greatly too, as certified digital services are able to check that an ID is genuine and belongs to the person presenting it much easier than the alternative can, which therefore helps to reduce the risk of any fake or borrowed IDs going undetected.
Well, according to the Government, it could be as simple as a customer showing a QR code for staff to scan, or tapping their phone against a compatible reader, where staff will then receive a clear confirmation on their device that the customer has passed the age check.
This change follows a 2024 Government consultation where it was reported that 72% of respondents supported the use of digital identities for age verification when buying alcohol.
Digital Government Minister Stephanie Peacock reiterated that 'it will remain an individual or business’ choice whether to use or adopt [digital ID]' and that physical ID will 'still remain a valid way' for customers to prove their age.
"This groundbreaking change in the law will mean you do not need to carry a physical ID, nor hand over sensitive personal information such as your name or address just to prove your age, allowing everyone to feel safer on a night out," she concluded.
The Hoot -
4th November 2022 
