Much has been written on this site and elsewhere about the vital role of career guidance in supporting people not only to manage immediate career challenges brought about or exacerbated by Covid-19, but also in helping people to think about and shape the ‘new normal’. Along with a newfound appreciation for key workers (or some key workers at least) over the past few months, some useful spotlights have been shone on pay and working conditions. In her recent post (How can Career Education, Information, Advice and Guidance professionals be agents for positive change in a Post-Covid-19 world? , Emma Le Blanc raises the importance of promoting clients’ awareness of their employment rights – and I agree.

A quick review of some job profiles on the some of the key UK careers information sites  typically tells me how much money I’m likely to earn, how my career might progress and the kinds of skills someone would need to do this job well. Whilst typical working hours sometimes get a mention, it’s rare to see any reference made to relevant trade unions, typical gender or ethnicity pay gaps or information on job security.

So where else can we find accessible data to use with those we work with, helping them build a fuller picture of their rights in the workplace so they feel able to question and challenge injustice?

Here are a few examples of resources I use with university students in the UK. Have you used these? How did your clients or service users respond? I’m interested to know what else you’ve found helpful so please share your suggestions in the comments below.

• Citizens Advice – clear, accessible information that covers the basics. Useful for anyone with immediate concerns about a workplace rights issue.
• UK government list of trade unions in the UK – a good starting point for finding relevant trade unions. I encourage students and recent graduates to check trade union sites relevant to sectors they’re working in (or considering applying to) for a picture of any ongoing concerns or disputes about workers rights. The TUC has a similar list which is easier to search by sector, and also some good background on what trade unions are and how they work.
• The Careersmart website from Prospect and Bectu has a range of data comparing differences in salaries and working hours between genders, though admittedly some of the data on here is a few years old.
• Gov.uk gender pay gap service – search by employer or sector to find information on pay differences by gender – not only hourly pay, but comparisons of bonuses and highest and lowest earning brackets. Only companies with 250 employees or more are required to report, and there have been some changes to reporting requirements this year due to Covid-19.
• Vercida.com – essentially a job search and recruitment portal, this site is unusual in offering an opportunity to search employers or vacancies according to whether they offer specific diversity or inclusion initiatives, e.g. networks for under-represented groups or explicit support for employee mental health. It appears that the information is provided by employers directly, so I always encourage students to follow up for details.