Who wants to hear some great news?
Unemployment fell by 51,000 to 2.61 million according to the latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics. Oh, and youth unemployment fell as well by 29,000 with just over 1 million young people now unemployed.
Okay, so it’s hardly the greatest news you will receive today but it offers a crumb of hope for young people looking for a break in what are arguably the most difficult economic times in a century.
Finding a place to live can be a tricky business, particularly in London and especially for students. We often only have limited funds to work with, which makes finding an acceptable room a real challenge. But, compared to other mortals, we do have another housing option: Student halls. Here a couple of pros and cons for both student halls and private housing. Continue reading
The majority of workers aged 16 and over qualify to receive the national minimum wage. Those who are excluded from the right include au pairs, family members in the family business and voluntary workers.
Agency workers, who would not usually fall within the definition of “workers”, are expressly covered by the National Minimum Wage Act 1998, as are homeworkers. From 1 October 2010, employed apprentices are entitled to receive an apprentice rate for time spent working and training.
The national minimum wage is set as an hourly rate. For pay reference periods starting on or after 1 October 2011 the rates payable are as follows:
In order to calculate the minimum wage that you should receive it is necessary to determine what your pay reference period is. If you are paid monthly or less often (for example quarterly), your pay reference period is one month. If you are paid more often than once per month, for example weekly, your pay reference period is the amount of time between pay dates. The amount of pay received within the pay reference period should then be divided by the number of hours worked to calculate the your hourly rate and ensure that this is equal to or above the national minimum wage.
The national minimum wage generally increases yearly on 1 October. From 1 October 2012, the following rates will apply:
If you believe that you are not being paid at least the national minimum wage you should raise this with your employer. If your employer refuses to cooperate, you can ask HMRC to investigate the matter for you. If your employer dismisses or victimises you for taking action under the National Minimum Wage Act to recover monies due, because he or she is prosecuted as a result or because you may or do qualify for the national minimum wage you may make a complaint to an Employment Tribunal. The dismissal would be automatically unfair.
Hopefully you will be earning well above the national minimum wage but if my first job after graduating with a law degree is anything to go by it may just be worth checking! I earnt £3.20 per hour working in a café in case you’re wondering.
Gemma Brown is an assistant solicitor at TPP Law, a specialist public services law firm. Gemma specialises in employment law. Gemma is membership officer of the London Young Lawyer’s Group.
Do you like to tweet or moan on Facebook how bad work is going? Have you considered the consequences should your boss see that status about them?
See the damage and continue reading… Continue reading
If you’re handy with a pen and know your way around a keyboard then you could transform those gifts into money in your pocket.
Read on to find out how you to earn good money through a blogging job.
When you’re down to your last bit of spare change, you’ve gone on one too many nights out and that kebab at 3am seemed like a good idea at the time, you’ve got little left to rely on but your health.
Sometimes students decide the best way to get money is to turn that talent into a career choice by signing up for clinical trials but are they really a safe choice?
Read on to find out!
Ask a student who has just graduated what they could have done to enhance their university experience, you’ll normally hear a lot about getting more involved in the local scene or taking advantage of what’s available on campus such as societies, sports facilities and the various social opportunities available. Even then, they probably spent a lot of time enjoying themselves in amongst the studying and, potentially, working. Continue reading
I must confess, I am a devoted gym-xerciser. I need regular gym sessions to be my happy self, to battle dark thoughts and get an immediate energy boost. I just love the feeling of having completed a strenuous workout session. It is even scientifically proven that exercise can release endorphins in your brain, which trigger an uber-happy feeling.
During my masters, I had such a busy schedule that I stopped going to the gym altogether. I couldn’t find the time to squeeze in a session or go for a simple run as I was working on projects “24/7”– or at least it felt like that. I got more and more tensed and unproductive, probably because I lacked a stress outlet.
Towards the end of the second semester, I had not only gained 5kg, but after having a little cry – in class, cringe, I know – a blood vessel in my left eye ruptured and I looked like a zombie for the next four weeks. I still suffer from headaches that start behind the left eye. In fact, I am feeling the piercing pain this very second.
Looking back, I am surprised how much uni work got the better of me. I now see that because I cut out my weekly stress relief and feel good sessions, I didn’t have an outlet for the building up tension. The more stressed I got, the less productive I was, which left me feeling even more stressed and anxious and all the more convinced I didn’t have time for anything else than studying. A vicious circle really.
With exams, thesis, work and a busy social schedule lined up, you can easily slip into an unhealthy lifestyle routine. Microwave food, caffeine overdoses and a lack of sleep and exercise are the daily reality for many students.
Let my zombie eye experience be a little warning to you. Don’t forget what your body and mind really need to function properly. No matter how much work you have on your plate, in fact especially then, make sure to give yourself a break once in a while. If you know that exercise or anything else helps you to stay sane and clear-eyed for that matter, make sure to treat yourself to it regularly.
In the long-term, you will be more productive, have more energy and catch up the time easily you spent recharging your batteries.
Plus, besides from being the perfect stress relief and energizer, exercising will help you to get back into shape for the summer.
So, if your feeling tensed about your final project, get your running shoes on and run it off. Your mind – and maybe even your eyes – will thank you for it.
Women are not being represented in the top jobs across the job sector. What are the reasons behind it? What can be done to change it?
Before we begin, women in top jobs are for once once not being blamed on family commitments. Continue reading
Uni is a time for independence, going out, meeting new people and yes… being broke. The first three options sound like a lot of fun but the last one? Not so much.
The only option, unless you have super rich parents, is to get a job. There are plenty of jobs students can do and a popular choice is bar work.
If this is something you might be considering- read on!
