New workers’ rights body appoints chairman to lead crackdown on ‘bad bosses’

Ruth Wilkinson, head of policy and public affairs at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, said: “Those who continue to paint workers’ rights and flexible working in terms of their supposed harm to productivity and our economy need to take a look at the ‘small print’ of their old – and less than inspiring – deal for working people.

“By ‘small print’, we mean the long-term downsides that come with an economic system that has all too often failed to acknowledge, support and benefit from the value and untapped potential that its people bring, or could bring, to the workplace.

“For these benefits to be realised we need ‘good work’. Good work is safe, healthy and sustainable work that accommodates people’s needs.

“It requires both the physical and psychosocial work environment to be safe and healthy, and supports workers to be more motivated, engaged and productive at work, living healthier, safer and more satisfied, sustainable lives.

“At such a critical time for the UK economy, where unprecedented levels of inactivity are holding it back, we should be doing everything we can to support people into work, to stay in work and thrive at work.

“So, we need to replace the small print that has set up low economic growth and contributed to workplace cultures that don’t recognise the full value workers can bring if they are invested in and provided with work that is good work.

“The Fair Work Agency can do much to support good work for all workers, regardless of the work they do and their employment status, and remove the harmful small print that workers all too often experience as part of their poor workplace cultures.

“We support more open, honest and bolder investment in security, dignity and productivity at work that helps drive a safe and healthy working environment for all workers, where no-one is left behind.

“We wish Mr Taylor every success in meeting this vital challenge and will seek to support him in this wherever we can.”