Foreign Office cleaners disciplined for raising low pay concerns

-

Foreign.office.london300

Cleaners at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London who complained to foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, about their low levels of pay, are being disciplined by their employers.

The 14 cleaning staff raised the issue of the living wage in the letter and have since received documents from cleaning contractor Interserve asking them to attend an interview that could lead to their suspension from work, or redundancy. Inteserve say the letter is unrelated to the meeting.

However the letter from Interserve, says they are under investigation for “bringing the contract into disrepute”and the Hammond letter was enclosed as evidence.

HRreview Logo

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

Cleaners at the FCO are currently paid just over the minimum wage, at £7.05 an hour, which will rise to the government’s so-called “national living wage” of £7.20 an hour for over-25s from next April.

Robert joined the HRreview editorial team in October 2015. After graduating from the University of Salford in 2009 with a BA in Politics, Robert has spent several years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past he has been part of editorial teams at Flux Magazine, Mondo*Arc Magazine and The Marine Professional.

Latest news

England’s overnight World Cup clash and 5am pub opening prompt CIPD advice

The CIPD is urging organisations to agree any flexibility before England's 1am World Cup last-16 tie to help minimise disruption at the start of the working week.

Russell Cowley: Gen Z – rebuilding workplace culture, break by break

Gen Z workers are taking proper breaks and in doing so, they may be fixing something the rest of us broke.

Fit for Work: Weekend warrior? You can still reap the health benefits

Weekend exercise can still improve long-term health, even for people who struggle to fit physical activity into the working week.

Superdry co-founder’s victim warns workplace power can silence abuse victims

A survivor's account raises questions about speaking-up cultures and accountability in organisations.
- Advertisement -

UK’s always-on work culture ‘driving employee burnout’

Nearly half of UK workers say they end most working days mentally exhausted as rising workplace pressure leaves employees and managers struggling to switch off.

Andrew Murray on why no two days look alike

A people development leader shares how travel, training and a passion for helping others shape a working day with little room for routine.

Must read

Simon Blake: WFH one year on – What’s the mental health impact?

"It is estimated that we spend a third of our lives at work, so employers are key to creating a society where everyone’s mental health matters."

What HR leaders can do today to support tomorrow’s leaders

For the past few years, there’s been a lot of talk about the changing nature of work. More people are no longer as focused on following a linear career path where the sole intent is to move up the ladder in a specific field.
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you