Morning team, 

It's Evie Breese here again, bringing you the second issue of the Big Issue's newsletter all about work (I'll stop counting next week). So read on for new research on the toxic working cultures in some of our most esteemed institutions, a potential four-day working week law change, and Paris Hilton on the picket line. 

A harrowing new report by Baroness Louise Casey found London’s Metropolitan Police to be "institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic”, and while Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said that he accepts the report’s findings, he will not use the term “institutionally racist”. 

Seems to me like acknowledging the jam is mouldy, the icing is sprouting fungus, and the cake is rancid, but the Victoria sponge as a whole is edible - as put by our own Michele Theil. 

The report found a bullying culture in certain specialist units, including the one where convicted murderer Wayne Couzens and serial rapist David Carrick both worked, where just 10 per cent of officers and staff are female.

The findings have sparked calls to fundamentally overhaul or even defund the Met, as well as for a charter to give police whistleblowers “confidence to report”. My colleague Greg Barradale has the story there. 

And that’s not the only high-profile workplace making headlines for a toxic office culture. Boris Johnson has accepted that he misled parliament when he claimed “the rules and guidance had been followed completely at No 10”, but insisted his statements were "in good faith”. Johnson also said he "honestly believed that these events were lawful work gatherings".

What you need to know about work this week:

Inflation shock. After three consecutive months of easing, the inflation rate unexpectedly increased in February, driven by a rise in food prices and dining out, raising concerns for those whose budgets are already maxed out. 

Pressure on teachers. The tragic death of headteacher Ruth Perry by suicide after she was told that her school would be given the lowest possible Ofsted rating has has highlighted the gruelling pressures and workloads faced by teachers. Perry’s family has blamed her death on the "direct result of pressure" inflicted by the report.

Lose-lose situation. Senior Tory MP George Eustice has criticised the government’s push to get parents back to work, rather than incentivising them to stay at home, claiming women’s “natural nurturing role” should be valued. Aside from reinforcing outdated gender stereotypes, at least he’s bringing the concept of choice into the debate. 

The parent trap. Sophie McBain expertly conveys the personal crisis that is finally being recognised as a national one: that “babies are becoming a luxury item”, in this long read for the New Statesman. And changes to the UK’s free childcare system are unlikely to fix this alone.

Sticks and carrots. Campaigners fear disabled people and carers could face “cruel sanctions” following the government’s Spring Budget, much of which was focused on driving people into work. Announcing his plans, the chancellor said “work is virtue”, but what about for those who can’t? 

Earning power. Deliveroo has been accused of blocking an app that lets riders compare their earning potential across delivery platforms. FT reporter Ian Johnston has the story, also finding that Deliveroo’s growth has been sluggish as customer’s cut back on takeaway treats. 

Work near home. A new start-up wants to encourage people to work not from home, nor from the office, but from co-working hubs on their local highstreet. Patch has a “vision of regenerating high streets to become more connected”, feeling reminiscent of the 15-minute cities concept which has set the internet alight in recent weeks.

Strike watch

Judgement day. NHS workers will vote whether to accept a new pay deal from the government in an attempt to end the ongoing dispute. The biggest healthcare unions have recommended they accept the deal, but the RCN is recommending nurses reject it, while a grassroots campaign of NHS employers are trying to persuade colleagues to vote against.

Breakthrough. RMT members have voted to accept a new pay deal worth 9 per cent over two years, bringing industrial action with Network Rail to an end. This will mean an end to the most disruptive strikes, however RMT members engaged in a separate dispute with the Rail Delivery Group and its 14 train operators are still poised to strike on two days next week.

Public sector pay. The lowest paid civil servants in the Scottish Parliament have won a £15 per hour minimum wage following industrial action taken by the PCS union. No such luck for civil servants in England and Wales who continue to be at loggerheads with the Westminster government over pay.

A global solution 🇺🇸

We’re all California-dreaming of a four-day working week, but one west-coast Congressman wants to make it federal law. Representative Mark Takano wants to reintroduce his 32-hour Workweek Act to the US Congress which, if passed, would officially reduce the standard workweek from 40 to 32 hours. This would mean anyone working over 32 hours would have to be paid overtime, or shorten their work week. 

While CNBC’s Jennifer Liu suggests this could encourage businesses to hire more people, the results from the UK’s biggest trial of the four-day working week suggest this might not be necessary, finding that productivity remained largely unchanged at companies switching to the shorter week.

Working culture

Celebrity endorsement isn’t essential to social movements, but it sure does help, right? Nineties reality TV legend Paris Hilton was spotted on the picket line with striking BBC journalists following an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour to promote her memoir. 

And if one surprise celebrity appearance wasn’t enough, Lizzo voiced her support for striking workers at her London O2 performance last Thursday, asking the crowd to "give some love to the people striking for their rights". Striking for better pay has well and truly gone pop. 

In the diary

March 22. Inflation figures released by the Office for National Statistics. 

Ramadan begins Wednesday night with the first full day of fast the next day. Here’s how to support employees, friends and colleagues in the Muslim holy month.

University staff undertake the third day of strike action in a row. 

March 28. The WPI Economics and Trust for London will present new analysis on the impact of rising costs on Londoners, with an event Introducing London's cost of living tracker.

March 30. RMT railway employees walk out at 14 train operators. 

This is the deadline for most public authority employers with 250 or more employees to publish their gender pay gap data. The deadline for private companies is April 4.

Saturday April 1. The national living wage, and minimum wage for all ages increases. 

RMT train strike continues, coinciding with the start of the school Easter holidays.

Monday April 3. Passport Office workers in England, Scotland and Wales start a five-week strike, ending May 5. Workers in Northern Ireland are casting their votes and may join the strike.

Thursday April 27. The Institute for Employment Studies (IES) Annual Conference: Shaping a fairer world of work. 

Animals with jobs 

Make sure to tune in to Cat-ipal FM for this whiskered DJ with purr-fect beats. (Sorry not sorry.)

Does your cat / dog/ garden fox/ animal you saw on holiday work participate in the daily grind? Nominate them today by sending me a photo of them hard at work! evie.breese@bigissue.com

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