Business and Economics

A new study that spoke to 2,000 people has charted the habits of the average British office worker. With Brits working for an estimated 47 years’ employees have been found to arrive to the office late 1,026 times, take 98 days off sick and endure 1,174 meetings. It may come as no surprise that offices are not the most harmonious environment with the average worker falling out with colleagues 479 times. The biggest cause of conflict at work is the...

To be honest we thought the figure might be higher, but a new Australian study has found that one out of every five CEOs are actually psychopaths. Quite worrying and kind of makes you kind of glad you’re not one. I’m happy to be broke and a little bit weird rather than rich and possibly capable of murder, and possibly even enjoying it. Although journalist comes sixth in one table of careers with the most psychopaths, and even more worryingly,...

Nearly five years since the last note launched, the Bank of England will today release its first ever polymer fiver. The so-called 'plastic fiver' is longer lasting, harder to destroy and smaller than other bank notes, with the first notes leaving distribution centres shortly after midnight tonight. From there they will be taken to ATMs in six major cities in England and Wales, with members of the public being able to withdraw them from around 9am onwards. A new five pound note...

According to a major report by Savills, London became the most expensive city in the world to live in two years ago, taking over from the previous world leader, Hong Kong. And those of us who live here can no doubt attest to the cost of housing – whether we’re buyers or renters. But what about everything else? Of course, such reports depend on which variables are included. But the most expensive places to live always include the “usual suspects”...

Under-fire billionaire Mike Ashley pulled out a wad of £50 notes on a recent trip to a Sports Direct factory which have been likened to Victorian workhouses. The Newcastle United and Sports Direct owner was leading journalists on a tour of the company's headquaters amidst a barrage of criticism over poor working conditions and low pay. But when he had to empy his pockets for security, he produced a fat wad of £50 notes. Asked why he had so much cash...

In a victory for business transparency, a cross-party call for multinationals to make public where they pay tax and in what places they do business, has been given the nod by the Government. There has been increasing pressure from politicians and the wider public to hold these huge companies to account. Many people believe these companies purposefully move revenues across the world to avoid paying taxes where they have made a lot of money. It appears that this might be...

In news that will make rail users across the country angry, but probably not surprised, Southern Rail’s owner announced their profits hit £100m and also received a £20m Government “bailout.” If that wasn’t enough bad, boss David Brown got a pay rise. He will get £2.16 million in 2016, up from £1.96 during 2015. Brown’s bumper pay rise will still go-ahead in spite of being the head of a network that has the worst punctuality record of any franchise in the...

FDI figures that show the UK enjoyed record breaking inward investment have been branded misleading. New figures show that 2,213 inward investment projects were secured in 2015-16 - an 11 per cent increase on the previous year. This led to around 116,000 jobs being created or safeguarded - the second highest number on record, the Department for International Trade said. However Professor Nigel Driffield of Warwick Business School said that in the period that covers these figures the expectation among political commentators...

What does the EU ever do for us? It is a question that many people in the UK asked during the referendum, they concluded the EU does very little and voted for Brexit. Well today, according to European commission rules, Apple should repay Ireland 13bn euros or 11bn pounds in back taxes. Interestingly the Irish government are not very happy about the ruling. The EU has been involved in a three-year investigation into the tech giant and concluded that the...