The UK’s first-ever week dedicated to promoting good workplaces will take place across Greater Manchester between Monday 19 to Saturday 24 June.
Good Employment Week has been organised by the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, which champions work underpinned by a commitment to equality, fair pay, and giving employees a say in how their workplaces are run. By doing so, they want to highlight what “good work” looks like, so the people of Greater Manchester can better recognise it, enjoy it, and advocate for it.
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 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.
Partners of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter include; The Growth Company, The GC Business Growth Hub, GMCVO, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Manchester Metropolitan University, The University of Manchester, Mind, Unison, Transition to Teach, Trades Union Congress, Timewise, Stribe, Slave-Free Alliance, Living Wage Foundation, GreaterSport, CIPD and Acas. These partners have worked closely with the charter and have been instrumental in the good employment movement.
The Charter wants Greater Manchester to be a place where people are paid fairly for their work, treated appropriately, and provided with inclusive opportunities. At the same time, the Charter wants to see the city-region’s economy thrive, with organisations that are productive and effective at its heart.
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, 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.”
On Monday 19 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 5.15 pm to 8 pm at the People’s History Museum.
The Greater Manchester Good Employment Best Practice Conference take place on Tuesday 20 June at the Mechanics Institute in Manchester. The event, from 9.30 am to 4 pm, is dedicated to exploring the latest trends and strategies for 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.
Events organised by the charter and its partners will be held across the city-region throughout the week covering sector-specific issues and topics which affect all industries including mental health, ageing, pregnancy, new parenthood and more.
A full programme of events and details of how to attend can be found on the Good Employment Week website.
