Projects

In partnership with BMG Research, IES will deliver the next Maternity and Paternity Rights Survey (2018). The survey will be crucial in enabling the government to monitor the take-up of maternity and paternity benefits, and how this has changed, as well as key legislative changes in parental rights, including the introduction of Shared Parental Leave and Pay. IES will provide expert advice to the questionnaire development and analysis and reporting.

In this scoping study for the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), IES conducted case study visits to higher education institutions to understand wellbeing challenges among PhD researchers, demands on relevant services and extent of support provision.

The project was a rapid evidence assessment (REA) to systematically identify and critically review evidence on how parents make decisions about returning to work and childcare responsibilities in the UK. Outputs included a research report and typology of factors influencing decisions.

IES carried out a review of how organisations elicit and consider requests for flexible working from those returning to work, and how they then manage the careers of those that work flexibly.

This research project for the CIPD focused on the role of employers in shaping good employee decisions to improve financial wellbeing. The aim of the research was to help employers build the business case for financial wellbeing and develop a coherent approach, as well as to explore the barriers that employers are facing and how to overcome them. The research methodology included a literature review and workshops with relevant interest groups. The study resulted in three reports: Employee financial well-being: why it’s important Employee financial well-being: practical guidance Employee financial well-being: Behavioural insights

The CIPD commissioned IES to conduct research into how employers could retain older workers by focusing on their health and wellbeing and being flexible about their caring commitments, such as responsibilities for elderly parents. The research focused on five countries: the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany and the UK, and comprised a literature review and company case studies in each country.

IES was commissioned by the Social Care Institute for Excellence to evaluate a two-year pilot programme, which focused on testing and finding out ‘what works’ to support carers to remain in employment and economically active. Nine English local authorities were selected to participate in The Carers in Employment pilot which involves provision of support to employers as well as carers themselves.