Shop Floor with Nick Peters May 29 2016

Johnny Mercer MP on his campaign for a nationally coordinated support network that will ensure wounded ex-service personnel are helped into jobs. While defending the Prime Minister’s commitment to the services, he says more must be done at government level to protect the military covenant. Since the advent of the smartphone, we are increasingly subject to the tyranny of time, cramming more activity into every second of the day – checking email, checking Facebook, sending texts – that we rarely give ourselves the chance to stop and focus on one thing. Tony Crabbe, business psychologist and author of ‘Busy’ says we are damaging our productivity and ourselves. A new disruptive technology is shaking up the temporary employment market. Called Catapult, it is an online app/platform that connects people who want temp jobs with employers who need help. Unlike the clunky temp agency system, employers can fill shifts within one hour inside the M25. The record is 24 minutes. Workers set their own pay (no lower than NLW) and Catapult collects holiday pay and NI on their behalf. Nick talks to co-founder Oli Johnson. In our monthly look-back at the stories we’ve covered, IDG consultant Jake Meyer looks at time efficiency, productivity, the changing face of capitalism and work for the wounded ex-service personnel.