Volkswagen goes on trial in ￡8bn suit, Prince William targets mental health in the workplace, and more top news
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Volkswagen has gone on trial in Germany over the diesel scandal. Investors are seeking €9.2bn (￡8.2bn) in damages after the company lost almost 40% of its value when it admitted to cheating emissions tests in 2015, wiping €25bn from its total market value. Shareholders claim they should have been given warning that the company “could not make the technology that they needed in the US” so they could have sold their shares sooner. Volkswagen has so far paid €27bn in fines and penalties.
Prince William will today unveil a website aimed at improving mental workplace well-being. Called Mental Health At Work, the web portal offers resources, training and information that will assist managers in supporting employees who may be struggling in the workplace. A workforce survey by Mind showed almost half of those surveyed have experienced mental health issues. Yet one in four workers suffers in silence, costing UK business between ￡33bn to ￡42bn a year.
The owner of Cadbury is stockpiling ingredients, sweets and biscuits in case of a no-Brexit deal. The boss of the European division of Mondelez International, which owns the confectioner, said the company has a contingency plan in place to manage a hard Brexit – highlighting that the UK is “not self-sufficient” in terms of food ingredients. Earlier this year, the chocolate-maker warned it may have to raise prices or reduce the size of its products after Brexit.
Aston Martin has named Penny Hughes as its first female chair ahead of a ￡5bn stock market listing. The luxury carmaker announced the appointment as it prepares to list on the London Stock Exchange. The eagerly awaited flotation could result in Aston Martin, which has been bankrupt on seven separate occasions, enter the FTSE 100 index of Britain’s most valuable companies – putting Hughes on track to becoming one of only seven female chairs in the blue-chip index.
The UK will soon have its first manufacturing site dedicated to making batteries for electric cars. The production plant will open in Coventry as part of a joint venture between Williams Grand Prix Holdings, parent company of the Williams Formula One motor racing team, and motor components group Unipart – creating 100 jobs initially. Meanwhile Theresa May is preparing to meet car industry executives in Birmingham, amid concern over the impact of Brexit on the auto sector.
This article has been updated: From earlier: The UK economy grew at its fastest pace in the three months to July, as a record-breaking heatwave and World Cup success prompted shoppers to hit the high street.
Idea of the Day: If you’re forced to move overseas to follow a partner’s career, don’t give up on rebuilding your own, says Glenn Leibowitz, Head of Communications at McKinsey China.
“Don't overlook or dismiss anyone — you never know who they know that could give you the warm introduction you need to the company you're interested in.”
Award-winning, Multi-National Workplace Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategist and Consultant. Mentor. International Keynote Speaker. Thought Leader and Advocate for Women's Health.
6 年Thanks for sharing Dan. It is great to see the Royals starting to target mental health at work. My concern though is that this could be yet another talking shop. We also don't have enough actual expertise in the UK how to deal with mental health in the workplace in the UK. I'm seeing a lot of 'strategies' consisting of a bit of 'Mental Health First Aid', some Mindfulness and some stigma dissipating events. This won't even begin to tackle the problem. There are also a lot more self appointed mental health 'experts' charging money for key note speeches or consultancy with very little knowledge, background or expertise in mental health. It remains to be seen whether interest from the Royals can actually move us from the vast amount of talking being done at the moment on mental health to real solutions, health providers starting to include mental health into their products, HR actually taking action of changing policies and cultures and further investment from the NHS into mental health services... watch this space...
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6 年I get a little worried when I hear, royalty tackling mental health issues in the work place. Is the country returning to the 1950's. I champion real mental health issues but so much social pressures can make people anxious and introverted but good even excellent at their jobs, and while there are good and excellent bosses out there there are more who can make their staff pressured due to their own insecurities. Will training help? Or a good 'shakeup' of those at the top. Who knows!
International Demand Planner at Twinings | Mental Health First Aider
6 年Martyn Sylvester
IBM Automation : Websphere Application Server at IBM
6 年“Don't overlook or dismiss anyone — you never know who they know that could give you the warm introduction you need to the company you're interested in.” Really?? Very surprised Natalie MacDonald felt this was a quote worthy of inclusion. In my mind it is the very antithesis of how to treat people...based on what we might “get” from them. Sorry - but no. I think we should all work to the first 5 words of the sentence....with no qualifications. Steve Evans summed it up well. The very best people I have met and worked for or with have treated every employee or co-worker with the same level of respect and attention.