Share Sounds presented by Sarah Pennells (1) related to Work - Management

A lack of skilled workers is increasingly forcing many employers to offer higher wages and lower requirements for candidates. That's according to research from The Recruitment & Employment Confederation which found nearly half of employers struggling to recruit for permanent roles. To find out more about what's causing this Share Radio's Tom Hill spoke to REC Director of Policy and Professional Services Tom Hadley.

Last week saw the introduction of new gender pay reporting regulations forcing companies employing more than 250 people to publish information about their pay. So, what will this information really tell you, what can you do if you think you're not being paid the same as men in your organisation and what happens if you don't comply with the rules?

UK mums get one of the lowest amounts of decently-paid maternity leave in Europe According to research by the TUC, only Ireland and Slovakia have worse entitlements. To find out more Share Radio's Joe Aldridge spoke to Kathryn Mackridge, Equality Officer at the TUC.

From Deliveroo to Uber more and more people are getting involved in the gig economy. Whilst for many it can provide a useful income boost, thousands could be missing out on employment rights. Indeed nearly two-thirds of gig economy workers think the Government should do more to regulate according to research from The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. To find out more from the people behind the research Share Radio's Tom Hill spoke to CIPD chief economist Ian Brinkley.

A survey by Grant Thornton showed that of 5,500 businesses in 36 economies, the proportion of women in senior management has reached an all-time high of 25 per cent, up 1 percentage point from 2016, and up 6 percentage points since the survey began in 2004. Share Radio's Sara Macham spoke to Kate Cooper, Head of Research, Policy & Standards at the Institute of Leadership & Management, to find out how the UK fared in the survey compared to other countries.

How happy are you in your job? A recent survey found the average UK employee ranked themselves at 67 out of 100 on the happiness scale, and that four fifths think employers are just as responsible for ensuring happiness at work. To find out what things make us happiest at work Share Radio's Sara Macham spoke to Matt Weston, director at recruitment consultant Robert Half.

It is reported that two million people currently own shares in their employer due to employee share ownership schemes, but what does this actually mean? To find out Sarah is joined by Malcolm Hurlston, chairman of the Employee Share Ownership Center and by Debbie Lovewell-Tuck from the Employee Benefits magazine.

Sarah investigates why the financial sector has few women in top positions and looks into the companies that have signed up for the women in Financial Services Charter. To go through this issue, Sarah is joined by Jane Platt from NS&I, Melanie Seymour from Women in Banking and Finance and employment lawyer, Gillian Howard.

Sarah Pennells looks at how to create the perfect work/life balance with guests Neil Shah, Chief De-Stressing Officer at the Stress Management Society, and life coach Karen Perkins, who discuss other factors that can increase stress, and Sarah Evans, an Employment Lawyer with Slater and Gordon, who looks at whether people should have the right to work flexibility and what employers should take into account.

Sarah Pennells is joined in the studio by Rachael Saunders from Business In the Community, and over the phone by Michelle Cracknell of The Pensions Regulatory Service and Fiona Tait of Royal London. Sarah and her guests talk about working in retirement and setting up a small business whilst receiving your pension . Sarah and her guests discuss the practicalities of setting up a business in retirement, as well as looking at what the rules say about receiving your pension whilst still at work.