Barclays staff, represented by the Unite union, are challenging the bank's revised hybrid working model, which will reduce permitted work-from-home days. The union is calling for a one-off payment to mitigate increased travel and childcare expenses for its 36,000 members.
England's new Renters' Rights Act, effective 1 May, introduces significant changes for the 11 million private renters, banning fixed-term tenancies and strengthening eviction protections. Landlords will face stricter requirements for ending agreements and increasing rents, prompting concerns about court backlogs and some landlords exiting the market. The legislation also prohibits discrimination against tenants on benefits or with children, and establishes new rules for pets, though specific provisions apply to student accommodation and lodgers.
French firm Naratis is deploying AI agents to conduct qualitative political opinion polls, claiming a tenfold increase in speed and cost efficiency compared to traditional methods. This innovation emerges as conventional polling grapples with declining response rates and public distrust, though concerns about AI accuracy and data generation remain within the industry.
