BUSINESSNEWS
COMMITMENT TO PAYING A REAL LIVING WAGE CELEBRATED BY THURSFIELDS Thursfields Solicitors has started 2021 positively by winning accreditation as a living wage employer, it has been revealed. The commitment will mean that everyone working directly or indirectly for the leading Midlands law firm will receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.30.
pay for our hard-working colleagues and partners.” Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 230,000 people and put over £1 billion extra into the pockets of low paid workers. www.thursfields.co.uk
This hourly rate is significantly higher than the government minimum for over 25s, which currently stands at £8.72 per hour.
L+R Jason Whittall, Matt Tebbatt (Managing Director), James Lawrence and Mark Martin
A FRESH NEW LOOK FOR ONE IN 2021 ONE Creative Environments (ONE), a multi-disciplinary design company, is seeing in the New Year in style with a vibrant and refreshed corporate identity. After 45 years in the industry, and more than a decade as ONE, it was felt that the time was right to refresh the company’s branding and logo. The company, which was established in 1975 when it was known as Panton Sargent, was acquired by Prime plc in 2007 and rebranded as ONE in 2008 to reflect the company’s USP of providing all of the services for a design project within one company, with a single point of contact. ONE has all the essential disciplines for a design project inhouse and the dynamic multidisciplinary team comprises of: masterplanning, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, civil and structural engineering and building services. Matt Tebbatt, Managing Director of ONE, said: “We are fortunate to work with some fantastic clients on some really exciting projects and so the years have flown by as the company has grown. “We invest in technology, work to creatively fulfil our clients visions and believe that designing a building or an environment – however complex – should be a real joy for our clients. Our vibrant new visual identity represents ONE perfectly thanks to CAB Studios.” www.oneltd.com
Jade Linton, HR business partner and associate director in the Employment department at Thursfields, said: “We are proud to have been accredited as a living wage employer. “The West Midlands region has one of the highest proportions of non-living wage jobs in the country, with around 21% or 442,000 of jobs paying less than the real living wage. “Despite this, Thursfields has committed to pay the real living wage and deliver a fair
MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE The pandemic has seen increased levels of work-related stress and a strain on mental health as changes to traditional ways of working have been thrust upon us.
Chris Amys is a solicitor at mfg Solicitors. Members looking for further advice can contact Chris through chris. amys@mfgsolicitors.com www.mfgsolicitors.com
Whether people have been home working, or had to go into their workplace, it has created increased anxiety about using public transport, social distancing, job security, financial pressures and family responsibilities. It is important therefore that employers recognise these concerns, how they can impact wellbeing and mental health, and in turn, their legal responsibilities to protect people’s welfare. More than anything companies need to support their staff through early intervention and there is a range of good practice which includes regular communication, checking in on people’s wellbeing, encouraging regular breaks, and using technology as much as possible to engage. This is only a brief summary but highlights just why constant and varied colleague engagement is so vital at present.
Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce
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