The Future of Work
The impact of the pandemic has been felt across the world but, in the UK, low-paid workers have been particularly hard hit.
At Stonewater, we operate a hybrid working model, with our colleagues working from home by default. To support this, all permanent colleagues have been offered an interest free loan of up to £10,000 to create a safe and healthy designated workspace in their home environment.
However, we're aware that many of our customers will not be offered the same, and so we decided to fund new research by Demos, Britain's leading cross-party think-tank, to understand the impacts of remote working on low paid workers in the UK. The research also looks at the barriers faced by low-paid workers to being able to work from home.
Through this research, we aim to better understand both the challenges and the opportunities we have to address some of the inequalities created by the pandemic.
Below you'll be able to read the full report, watch a summary video, and explore discussions around the Future of Work.
Research findings
Inside Jobs: The experience of low-paid homeworkers in Britain today
Our report with Demos shows that while low-paid workers’ experiences of flexible working have generally been positive, homeworkers are already facing higher household costs because of working from home. The report sets out recommendations to ensure that all homeworkers experience the benefits of working from home equally – including that employers should support their employees with additional energy or internet costs.
Read the report Watch the below video for a summary of the report findings:
You can also watch our webinar from 8 December 2021 in which the findings were presented and discussed by a panel of representatives from Stonewater, Demos, the Chartered Institute of Housing and CIPD.
News and views
October 2022 - What is the Future of Work?
Almost a year on from sharing the research findings, we hosted an innovative event, bringing together Stonewater's colleagues and customers - as well as from key political stakeholders - to discuss the Future of Work. Watch our event below, broadcast from one of Stonewater's new co-working hubs.
December 2021 - Launching the research: Nicholas Harris, Chief Executive
"We hope that the report and its recommendations will create a pathway for not only the housing sector but employers across the country to respond to the new modern poverties around remote working."
Read Nicholas' full opinion piece.
September 2021 - Exploring homeworking and income inequalities podcast
Before the findings were published, we discussed the potential impact of this research with David Lockerman (Customer Experience Director, Stonewater), Rose Lasko-Skinner (Demos) and guest co-host David Button (Cavendish Advocacy). You can listen to this conversation below in this podcast episode.
August 2021 - Reflecting on the findings: Nicholas Harris, Chief Executive
"The report makes a number of recommendations to government, employers and housing providers, which we will be reviewing in the coming months. I would urge you to take the time to read the report and its recommendations."
Read Nicholas' reflections on the report here.