In our latest employment law news roundup:-
APPG Completes Inquiry Into Use Of Artificial Intelligence In The Workplace
The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Future of Work recently completed its inquiry into the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. Entitled 'The New Frontier: Artificial Intelligence at Work', the report makes the following recommendations:-
- New legislation in the form of an 'Accountability for Algorithms Act' (AAA) to establish a legal requirement upon employers to conduct impact assessments to identify potential risks in relation to the deployment of algorithms
- A new right for workers to a "full explanation" in relation to the objectives behind an algorithm and how it is configured, and a new right for workers to be involved in how the algorithm is configured, developed, its use, and its deployment. The APPG recommend that the new rights be incorporated into a "schedule to the AAA [entitled] ‘Worker Rights for the age of AI’"
- Adopting a collaborative approach between employers, employees, and unions in the use and deployment of artificial intelligence in the workplace
- Enofrcement of the new legislation through the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF), which would be given powers to "create certification schemes, suspend use or impose terms and issue cross-cutting statutory guidance, to supplement the work of individual regulators and sector-specific standards."
- To ensure that when artificial intelligence is used in the workplace, that it is "human-centred" by, for example, ensuring that algorithms incorporate "fundamanetal rights and freedoms".
In making their recommendations on artificial intelligence, the APPG emphased the need to ensure that the artificial intelligence "ecosystem is human-centred and properly accountable to shape a future of Good Work" and that "clarity and fairness" underpins the use of artificial intelligence in the working environment.
Back in March 2021, Frances O’Grady, the general secretary of the TUC delivered the following warning about the growing use of artificial intelligence in the workplace: artificial intelligence "is already being used to make life-changing decisions about people at work - like who gets hired and fired. Without fair rules, the use of AI at work could lead to widespread discrimination and unfair treatment – especially for those in insecure work and the gig economy."
Flexible Working The Key Priority For Those Looking For A New Job
New research conducted by Cendex has found that flexible working is now the key priority for job seekers, with 70% of those working in HR reporting that candidates had listed it amongst their key objectives.
Furthermore, the ability to work from home was cited as a priority by 67% of the HR professionals.
Both flexible working and the ability to work from home came out ahead of salary as a top priority, with salary only referred to by 55% of the HR professionals
In response to the survey, the managing director at Cendex, Scott Walker, stated: "With salary ranking third on candidates’ wish list, money is important, but it’s no longer the lynch pin in securing a candidate’s interest in a role. The pandemic has demonstrated not only the benefits of remote working, but also the importance of a healthy work/life balance...Organisations therefore need to be mindful of their whole benefits package and flexible working policies....., especially as labour shortages continue across industries."
ONS Findings On The Gender Pay Gap
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have just released a new report on the gender pay gap. According to the new report, the gender pay gap amongst full time employees fell from 9% in April 2019 to 7.9% in April 2021. Whilst the gender pay gap amongst this group had fallen to 7% in April 2020, the ONS "recommend looking at the longer-term trend" due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nevertheless, the gender pay gap amongst the over 40's is considerably higher than amongst the under 40's. Commenting on this, the visiting professor at the Cranfield University School of Management, Sarah Jackson, stated: "Motherhood clearly still has a huge impact on women’s career progression, with women who are over 40 or in more senior roles more adversely affected by the gender pay gap."
