Johnny Timpson OBE

Johnny Timpson’s always got something positive to say. Whether it’s on my blog or on twitter or linked in , he’s on the button, thinking progressively. Today we get the reality check as we find out our latest energy cap (see below) . Millions of workers will be considering how they will be able to make ends meet over the next 12 to 18 months.

Whether you are a boss , a staff representative or simply someone who wants to help in your workplace , here’s Johnny’s good idea

Cost of living support … If providing services to employers, why not suggest they partner with ⁦@MoneyHelperUK & set up a Cost Of Living Employee Resource Group to aid staff access the welfare benefits, social tariffs & EAP support available to them https://t.co/T6wlkfok3C

— Johnny Timpson (@johnnytimpson1) August 25, 2022

Employee resource groups have become a popular and powerful way to foster community and connection for marginalized people. Employee resource groups also empower workers from underrepresented groups to collectively advocate for improvements to the workplace experience. In America ERGs are used  to improve diversity , equality and inclusion (DEI).

The article Johnny points us towards is useful in defining what they can do and how you can help start one at your own organization.  I think right now , when unions are absent from so many workplaces, Britain could adopt the idea of an employee resource group to help us through the cost of living crisis.

And it is a crisis

In April energy price cap rose 54% taking typical bill to £1,971/yr

On 1 Oct it'll rise 80% taking typical bill to £3,549/yr

On 1 Jan the prediction now is UP 51% taking it to £5,386. This is strong prediction as we're 7mths thru the 10mth assessment.

Tough to predict after.

— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) August 26, 2022

Helping staff to marshal the resources available to them is what any sensible employer should be doing right now. I want to know more about ERGs and how they can be adapted for the UK. I’d like to hear directly from MaPS about the support they can give ERGs through MoneyHelper. I’d be delighted if Johnny could give us his own thoughts about how firms could best take this forward.