The regulation of AI is front and centre of the minds of policymakers around the World. Central to concerns raised about the rapidly increasing use of AI are the risks of bias and discrimination, particularly in the employment context. Lewis Silkin LLP look at how existing equality and data protection laws apply to these kinds of automated decisions. The UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology trumpeted its AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park at the beginning of November, bringing together experts from around the World to consider the risks of AI and how they might be mitigated t ..read more

Since the world emerged from the Covid pandemic, economies in richer nations such as the UK have faced skills shortages. A range of converging factors have resulted in many sectors experiencing too few workers for the available jobs. This report considers whether this situation is likely to improve in the longer-term. Looking ahead to 2050, the report explores whether a world of work with too few jobs or too few workers is likely to emerge. Although this report concludes that there are too many uncertainties to be too confident about the future shape of the labour market, it suggests that ther ..read more

This is the first article of a two-part series by Lewis Silkin LLP, exploring the drivers behind the phenomenon often labelled the “Great Resignation”. The “Great Resignation”. Hybrid working. Work-life balance. Purpose. Culture. As we emerge from the worst of the pandemic, these words have become ubiquitous in the debate about the “new normal”. While some may dismiss them as “clickbait”, the reality is that they signpost a significant shift in the way society, employers and their workforces have come to view the world of work. There’s no doubt that the pandemic has caused devastating and wide ..read more

As the world of work adjusts to the lasting effects of the pandemic, organisations are increasingly being expected to act on emerging societal issues. People want to see companies take a position and support something more than corporate profits and are becoming increasingly active in advocating for change - businesses have little choice but to respond. This article looks at what’s behind the rise in brand activism and considers related workplace and employment law issues. Introduction - The rise of brand activism Brand activism is a term used when a brand looks to have an effect on a social ..read more

This second article of a two-part series explores what the future of work may hold for women in light of the impact of the pandemic and increasing automation in the labour market. Introduction - women in the workplace In the first article of this series, we explored the historic and current challenges faced by women in the workplace. Our second article focuses on the future. The pandemic has brought about unprecedented change at unprecedented speed. Much has been written about the impact of the pandemic on global economies, jobs and livelihoods. More recently, however, more is being understood ..read more

This is the second article in a two-part series by Lewis Silkin LLP exploring the trends emerging from the pandemic in relation to the future of the office. Introduction - reimagining the office of the future In the first article, we revisited the ideas we explored a year ago in an article written for the Future of Work Hub Reimaging the Office of the Future and identified different approaches being taken in the market and the challenges posed by the range post-pandemic approaches to the office.  In this second article we consider the opportunities for organisations to overcome these chal ..read more

This is the second article of a two-part series by Lewis Silkin LLP. In this article we explore what motivates people to work and the opportunities and challenges that presents for employers in attracting and retaining talent. In our first article, we investigated the drivers behind the evolving labour market and the phenomenon often labelled the “Great Resignation”. What motivates people to work? The psychology behind employee motivation is complex. A large number of motivational theories exist with a range of views on the extent to which the evidence base is sufficient to support each theory ..read more

With algorithms playing an increasingly fundamental role in our lives, Lee Nair, Managing Associate and Jasmin Stevens, Trainee Secondee from Lewis Silkin LLP identify potential workplace issues around bias, data protection, trust and good work in the context of the rise of algorithmic management and highlight the suggested recommendations from recent studies by the Institute for the Future of Work and ACAS. Algorithms in the workplace Algorithms play an increasingly fundamental role in our lives, and the workplace is no exception. Accelerated by the Covid-19 crisis, the adoption of data-drive ..read more

As we move away from the once habitual 9-5 office routine, this two-part series by Lewis Silkin LLP explores emerging trends in relation to the future of the office and considers how different organisations are approaching the role of the office in the context of new ways of working. Introduction - Reimagining the office of the future With nearly all Covid-19 related rules being removed across the UK (for the time being, at least) and increasing numbers returning to the workplace, the office is moving into a new era – one of transition and trial and error, but also one of stability and optimis ..read more

In this first article of a two part series, Lewis Silkin LLP explore the history of women in waged work through the ages and both the historic and current challenges faced by women in the workplace. Our second article focuses on what the future of work may hold for women in light of the pandemic and the effect of increasing automation on the labour market and women's working lives. When were women allowed to work? Women have always worked, whether in paid jobs or at home, and often in both. In this first of two articles, we explore the history of women in waged work and the challenges faced by ..read more