Category

Business

The latest published reporting in this category.

Finance

UK job satisfaction at record low amid rising frustration over pay and flexible working

Resolution Foundation study finds workers are less willing to go ‘above and beyond for employers than a decade ago’ Job satisfaction among UK workers has dropped to a record low, according to a study that shows a growing frustration with employers over pay and flexible working. Analysis by the Resolution Foundation thinktank shows that a lack of flexible working, insecure jobs and a loss of independence have undermined how workers feel about their employment. Continue reading...

The Guardian
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Finance

Who is hacking Europe’s supermarket fridges and freezers, and why?

After a second apparent cyber-attack in weeks, we examine possible culprits and their motives Shop fridges and freezers across Europe hit by fresh suspected cyber-attack Supermarket fridges and freezers in seven European countries have malfunctioned, their thermostats remotely cranked up in some cases to 50C (122F). The EU has condemned what it said was “a deliberate attempt to disrupt our food supply chain and undermine consumers’ confidence in it”. Continue reading...

The Guardian
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Finance

Control of Britain’s 39m smart meters passes to non-profit startup

The handover marks the end of a 13-year licence for Smart DCC, a subsidiary of Capita, after years of spiralling costs and delays Control over Great Britain’s 39m smart meters has passed to a non-profit startup after its former owner presided over more than a decade of spiralling costs and delays in the troubled network. The company owned by crisis-hit outsourcing firm Capita has promised a “seamless transition” to its not-for-profit successor, which will take over running the data network connecting the smart meters from this week. Continue reading...

The Guardian
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Finance

Brickmaker’s woes deepen the UK housebuilding gloom

Ibstock has issued a thumping profits warning, with sales 22% below expectations in the third quarter With John Healey’s Your First Home scheme on the way, is the mood improving in the housebuilding sector? A couple of the builders have results later this week, so can speak for themselves. In the meantime, though, here’s a thumping profits warning from Ibstock, the country’s biggest brickmaker, to spread a little more gloom. Demand hit a brick wall in the summer, as the company could have put it. Industry data, said Ibstock, show UK brick market volumes down 17% year-on-year in July and August

The Guardian
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