What we do

Employment Rights Advice Service (ERAS)

ERAS provides:

1. information and advice on employment rights, pay rates, benefit entitlement, tax and national insurance, to individuals and advisers
2. information leaflets to individuals and agencies
3. good employment practice guides.

Contact: Justin Phipps, the Employment Rights Officer

For more information see the ERAS section of this website.

Research and Information

Research

The Unit carries out high quality commissioned and in-house research on low pay, poverty-and employment related issues, highlighting causes, effects and trends and giving us an influential voice in the policy making process.

The Unit's research is informed by the pay and employment issues dealt with through our Employment Rights Advice Service. This enables us to keep our fingers on the pulse of what is happening in the labour market.

Our research work is guided by the Unit's Research Advisory Panel, which is made up of leading academics in the fields of economics, sociology and social policy.

Consultancy and Information Service

Consultancy

We are experts in drawing out major policy implications from our findings and provide detailed and relevant recommendations. We can also advise on wider developments, including anti-poverty strategies and quality employment practices.

Information

The Unit is happy to help with pay, benefits and employment enquiries from academics, members of the public, advice workers, trade unions, companies and voluntary groups. We can provide:

• Up-to-the minute facts and figures
• A fast response when you need it
• Local, regional and national perspectives

Such information is available free to subscribers and affiliates to the Unit. Depending on the nature of the request, a small fee will be charged to others.

The Low Pay Unit in Europe

The Unit is involved in research and campaigning at a European level as well as nationally and locally.

We have carried out research projects for the European Commission on issues such as working time and incomes, child employment, and social protection. The Unit is also a member of LoWER, a network of researchers looking at low paid employment.

The Unit is part of Solidar, a European alliance of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and trade unions working in the fields of social welfare and development, which is campaigning for social and employment rights in the EU. Solidar is in turn a member of the Platform of European Social NGO's, and has strong links with bodies such as the ETUC.

Contact: Tim Bickerstaffe, Research Director.

For more information see the Minimum wage and Research on low pay sections of this website.

Current Research: The Impact and Effectiveness of New Employment Rights
The Low Pay Unit is currently undertaking a two-year study into the impact of new legislation directly aimed at improving the incomes and working conditions of low paid workers.
The research will test the individual and interactive effects of these new rights on low paid workers and those trying to enter the job market, through a series of in-depth interviews.

Campaigning

Our campaigning work keeps low pay, poverty and inequality on the public and political agendas. We work with trade unions, local authorities, the voluntary sector and employers.

• Getting the message across: we supply information and analysis to the UK and foreign media. The Unit issues frequent press releases to publicise our campaigns, lobbying activities and publications.

• Lobbying: the Unit provides evidence to parliamentary committees, government departments and the European Parliament to inform government decision making. Recently the Unit has responded to the following government consultations:

Routes to Resolution: Improving Dispute Resolution in Britain
New Tax Credits: Supporting families, making work pay and tackling poverty
Fixed Term Work

Contact: Bharti Patel, Director and Press Officer, for more details.

For related information see the publications catalogue on this website.

The New Review

The Unit's magazine, The New Review, is a lively and respected journal which features the Unit's research and articles by academics, politicians and campaigners.

Issued every two months, The New Review contains a rights supplement 'Newsbrief', which is an ideal way to keep up with current employment law, case studies and social security changes.

Recent issues of The New Review have covered bridging the gender pay gap, young people and the minimum wage, ethnicity and employment and the role of tax credits in improving access to financial services.

Contact: Peta Lunberg, Editor, The New Review

For more information see the New Review section of this website.