The UK’s first ever week dedicated to promoting good workplaces takes place today from 19th to 24th June.
Good Employment Week has been organised by the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, which champions work that is underpinned by a commitment to equality, fair pay, and giving employees a say in how their workplaces are run.
As the inaugural event, Good Employment Week aims to inspire businesses across the city-region to prioritise good employment practices and to empower workers with the knowledge of what they deserve from their employers.
The week will see professionals, thought leaders, and industry experts come together to address critical issues in the realm of work, with activities and 25 events organised by the Charter and partners.
The Good Employment Charter has 513 supporters and 91 members – the 600 plus employers employ a workforce of 120,000 across Greater Manchester and 500,000 nationally.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “I am proud to launch Greater Manchester’s Good Employment Week. Once again, our city region is leading the way with the country’s first week dedicated to celebrating the benefits of employment.
“The Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter has established a credible network of employers who understand that creating good jobs creates happier and healthier employees. They also know it brings real business benefits in terms of recruitment, retention and productivity.
“With major economic challenges and changes to the way we all work, good employment is more important than ever. Our vision is to create a place where every job is a good job. Together we can build an economy where businesses thrive and every worker is valued and respected.”
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council and GMCA Portfolio Lead for Economy and Business, said:
“This week marks the Good Employment Charter’s first-ever Good Employment Week, celebrating the movement for better working standards in Greater Manchester. We’re encouraging people, businesses and organisations to get involved through the various events, activities and the good employment quiz.
“Already we’ve made a tangible impact on the working lives of thousands of workers, but with people facing a cost of living crisis and other pressures, we need to ensure our movement for fairly paid, flexible and secure work continues to grow.”
Lou Cordwell OBE, Chair of Greater Manchester Business Board (LEP), said:
“Most Greater Manchester businesses share a commitment to doing the right thing while pursuing profit and growth. Initiatives like the Good Employment Charter help make our economy stronger, and it’s great to see the movement for good employment celebrated this week.
“We encourage anyone who is inspired by the events and activities happening this week to contact the Charter team to find out how you can get involved. What is good for your employees is ultimately good for your business, and we’ve seen companies and organisations report a range of benefits since signing up to the Charter.”
Britannia Anchor Removals in Salford won the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter Employer of the Year 2023.
Chris Smallwood, owner of Britannia Anchor Removals, said:
“Good Employment Week is a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of all those employers who treat their staff with respect and allows them to espouse the benefits that good employment has brought to them.
“I work in an industry where good work conditions are not common place. It is a tough job and it is only fair that we respect our employees and deliver the best possible working conditions for them. For me the Charter sets out clearly the parameters of what Good Employment looks like. It isn’t just about paying the Real Living Wage – it is about setting in place good practices that encourage a team ethic. The added bonus is that because it works so well, it doesn’t have to cost the consumer more, allowing inflation to be controlled, for me it is the golden ticket.”
Events across the week
On Monday (19th June) the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, will officially launch the week where he will present plaques to 17 new members who have joined the Charter, including The Big Life Group; Diamond Bus North West; Seddon Construction; Carrs Pasties and Trafford and Wigan councils.
Key events include General Secretary of the TUC, Paul Nowak, speaking at the second annual Good Employment lecture on Thursday, 22nd June, exploring how the Trade Union movement contributes to the Good Work agenda. The event will be held from 5.15pm to 8pm at the People’s History Museum.
The Greater Manchester Good Employment Best Practice Conference take places on Tuesday, 20th June at the Mechanics Institute in Manchester. The event, from 9.30am to 4pm, is dedicated to exploring the latest trends and strategies in creating a thriving workplace. The conference will feature expert speakers leading workshops on a range of topics, including leadership, health and wellbeing, and flexible working, as well as a panel Q&A.
The week also sees the launch of a pack for schools and colleges on Wednesday, 21st June, 4.30pm to 6.30pm, at Wigan and Leigh College. The pack has been developed to help young people understand what good work should look like.
Registration for all events is essential. To sign up and for more details about the full programme of events visit https://goodemploymentweek.co.uk/.
How good is your job?
An online ‘How good is your job quiz’ will also go live on Monday, 19th June at https://goodemploymentweek.co.uk/quiz. The quiz asks 21 short questions and will be advertised on bus, tram and digital screens across the city.
Respondents can remain anonymous and by completing the quiz can learn more about well their job scores across seven different criteria of good employment. They may be provided with advice and information dependent on answers e.g. on how to raise any potential concerns with employer.
Join the conversation on social media: Twitter and Facebook @GoodEmpCharter, LinkedIn, and follow #GoodEmploymentWeek for updates.
