THE HUB RETAIL RECRUITMENT’S WEEKLY NEWS SNIPPETS
- Date: 14 December 2016
- Posted By: admin
As Christmas races toward us, we’ve got some seasonal stories for you this week, along with some more general ones. Our picks are: We’re splashing out on food; Inflation inflates; Boxing day – to sell or not to sell?; Strikes everywhere; and Christmas parties and alcohol.
We’re splashing out on food: Apparently, the sales of own brand ‘premium’ products is rising quite steeply. So rather than going for the economy products, we are prepared to spend more for what we see as better quality food from our favourite supermarkets. Is this just for Christmas, or perhaps a longer term trend?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38299544
Inflation inflates: The rate of inflation in November jumped to 1.2% – the highest it’s been for a couple of years. Apparently it’s down to rising clothes prices, and as those of us who have cars know, higher prices at the pumps. Experts are now saying that the predicted increases because of Brexit, which has resulted in the slide of sterling, is now taking effect. But the Office of National Statistics’ position is that there is ‘no clear evidence’ that this is the case. 2017 is certainly going to prove this one way or the other.
Boxing Day – to sell or not to sell? The Government’s position is that it’s up to retailers to make their own decisions. And of course, traditionally Boxing Day was the big sale event of the year. Do you remember those news stories of people sleeping outside department stores the night before to bag a bargain as soon as the doors opened? Of course, that’s no longer the case, with sales happening quite regularly – and we now have Black Friday and Cyber Monday as well as on-line shopping. A petition of 140,000 people asking that Boxing Day trading be stopped is because of concerns that low paid workers are being exploited and don’t have a choice about working because they need the money. What’s your view?
Strikes everywhere: Or so it seems. We’ve all seen the misery of commuters on Southern Rail over recent weeks and months. And now we might all be affected by a possible Post Office strike for 5 days next week. Add to that the threat from Argos drivers to strike for 3 days, also next week, and it’s not looking like the season of goodwill, more the season of trying to get grievances over pay, conditions, closures and cuts, and working practices sorted out. Some might say its the season of holding employers and customers to ransom.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/dec/13/argos-drivers-to-strike-before-christmas
Christmas parties and alcohol: The High Court has decided that a recruitment firm was not responsible for brain damage caused to one of its staff at a drinking session that continued after the formal office Christmas party. The owner of the business punched one of his staff, causing him to fall backwards and hit his head which caused the injury. The High Court found that this after-party, which was in a different location to the formal party, had nothing to do with the business’s Christmas party and therefore no vicarious liability could be attached. And on this issue of alcohol related gatherings, there’s an interesting article about doing something different, that doesn’t involve sitting around in pubs or restaurants, and instead having an event that’s perhaps a little more interesting. Here at the Hub Retail Recruitment, that’s what we did – we had a great time doing a half day cookery course, which was not only enjoyable and gave us new skills, but we came away with some very tasty food made with our own fair hands!
http://www2.cipd.co.uk/pm/peoplemanagement/b/weblog/archive/2016/12/09/opinion-alcohol-shouldn-t-be-the-only-social-glue-that-brings-employees-together.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=cipd&utm_campaign=cipdupdate&utm_term=68296&utm_content=141216-8180-26526-20161214101126-Opinion%3A%20Alcohol%20shouldn’t%20be%20the%20only%20social%20‘glue’%20that%20brings%20employees%20together
Well that’s it for this week. Make sure you’re back with us on Wednesday 21 December for another round up of interesting stories from the previous 7 days.