Melanie Simms
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melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms
@melaniesimms.bsky.social
2.4K followers 2K following 640 posts

Professor of Work and Employment. Specialism in unions and worker voice. Promoter of social sciences. Fascinated by pretty much everything. She/her

Videos
Political science 37%
Public Health 21%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Melanie Simms

ec.europa.eu
European Commission @ec.europa.eu · 15h
One port, one cable, one Europe.

This holiday, unwrap the power of one: USB-C for all.

Yes, not just phones, tablets, and laptops. In three years, every charger will be under the same tree.

Because less waste, smarter choices, mean more for everyone, all year long.

link.europa.eu/QDMFTh
Illustration of a blue EU-branded phone charger and cable placed inside an open gift box, surrounded by festive Christmas decorations like ornaments and stars, with a European Commission logo in the corner.

Reposted by Margot C. Finn, Melanie Simms

rnib.bsky.social
RNIB @rnib.bsky.social · 3d
Santa told us that people that don’t add alt text are getting coal in their stocking this year.

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 3d
Grant rejection on 23rd Dec. Ooof! At least there’s cheese!!

Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich, Marcos Vera‐Hernández, Melanie Simms , and 3 more

hetanshah.bsky.social
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 4d
The Council for Science & Technology which advises the PM is looking for a new member ‘with social & behavioural science expertise’. Great opportunity to bring a social science perspective to the heart of policymaking. Apply by 19 Jan
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9075
Appointment details – Council for Science and Technology Member – Apply for a public appointment – GOV.UK
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 4d
Christmas objective: learning to make Turkish eggs. Done! Simple (if you know how to poach an egg) and delicious. Breakfast of champions.

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 5d
I hate this. Happens all the time. I have no way to stop it beyond deleting those photos from my phone.

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 5d
Correct. Every time someone prompts something in an LLM, the response goes back into the pool. Pop will eat itself.

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 5d
Never been a fan of boxing before now.

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 6d
We made it to solstice, people. It’s gets lighter from here.

Reposted by Reece Jones, Guntram B. Wolff, Richard S.J. Tol , and 58 more

benpatrickwill.bsky.social
Ben Williamson @benpatrickwill.bsky.social · 7d
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵

Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...

Reposted by Melanie Simms

resolutionfoundation.org
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 7d
Our recent analysis shows that the Scottish government's new approach to disability benefits has not proven to be a "light touch", despite focusing on delivering "dignity, fairness and respect".

@louisemurphy.bsky.social explains the impact of the new approach ⤵️

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Jason Mittell, Steven French , and 17 more

shaneanderson.bsky.social
Shane Anderson 🏳️‍🌈 @shaneanderson.bsky.social · 7d
"This promise of an AI future, is really just a collective anxiety that wealthy people have about how well they're gonna be able to control us in the future."

- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.

Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 8d
I have learned more about theories of aesthetics of contemporary portrait photography today than I ever knew before. Thank you to Vanity Fair. And 😂

Reposted by Melanie Simms

tomoljenkins.bsky.social
Tom Jenkins @tomoljenkins.bsky.social · 8d
@tuc.org.uk welcomes Employment Act as ‘closer’ towards the European mainstream on workers’ rights www.tuc.org.uk/news/employm...
Employment Rights Act passing is a “landmark day for millions of workers”
Commenting on the Employment Rights Act becoming law (Thursday), TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “This is a landmark day for millions of workers..."
www.tuc.org.uk

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 9d
2025 was the year I consciously decided to stop taking advice, therapy, coaching etc. from people with substantially more advantaged material backgrounds to me. It was a good call. It just doesn’t work. I should have decided sooner. (It also led to challenging work conversations - but hey ho!)

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 10d
Into the sea. As fkn deep dark sea as can be found. (Synthetic panels - not you!)

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 10d
This is the stuff I'll now be focusing on for 2026. (And obviously in the Dean of Research job, I'll be focusing on the weeds of REF!)
resolutionfoundation.org Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 10d
Adult social care workers provide a vital public service, but this is not reflected in their pay and job conditions.

So, it is welcome that the Government is creating the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body - our latest briefing note looks at how to ensure its success.

➡️ buff.ly/veEOJFN
Charlie McCurdy, Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “England’s 1.5 million care workers provide a vital service to the country but are undervalued by society. A new Fair Pay Agreement provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve their lives and avert a deepening staff-shortage crisis. “The Government should get the new body up and running quickly and keep its initial focus on the core issues of pay, progression and training. The new body will also need teeth to ensure that the higher standards are enforced. “A successful Fair Pay Agreement for social care could provide a viable model for workers in other low-paid sectors like warehousing and cleaning. Getting it wrong risks squandering yet another opportunity to improve, rather than run down, social care.”

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 10d
NOW I can start planning for 2026. There's a lot to get our teeth into here and the devil will be in the detail of implementation.
jessicaelgot.bsky.social Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 10d
NEW - The Employment Rights bill has finally passed, after a tortured time in the Lords.

Christmas cheer for ministers and trade unions

Reposted by Melanie Simms

resolutionfoundation.org
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 10d
Adult social care workers provide a vital public service, but this is not reflected in their pay and job conditions.

So, it is welcome that the Government is creating the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body - our latest briefing note looks at how to ensure its success.

➡️ buff.ly/veEOJFN
Charlie McCurdy, Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “England’s 1.5 million care workers provide a vital service to the country but are undervalued by society. A new Fair Pay Agreement provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve their lives and avert a deepening staff-shortage crisis. “The Government should get the new body up and running quickly and keep its initial focus on the core issues of pay, progression and training. The new body will also need teeth to ensure that the higher standards are enforced. “A successful Fair Pay Agreement for social care could provide a viable model for workers in other low-paid sectors like warehousing and cleaning. Getting it wrong risks squandering yet another opportunity to improve, rather than run down, social care.”

Reposted by Steve Peers, Lilian Edwards, Michael H. Whitworth , and 1 more

jessicaelgot.bsky.social
Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 10d
NEW - The Employment Rights bill has finally passed, after a tortured time in the Lords.

Christmas cheer for ministers and trade unions

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 10d
What happens when you take an academic out of their comfort zone and ask them to lead a report on the Scottish critical technologies supercluster? I learned A LOT (thank you to all). And I've become really interested in what we can do to create great jobs. scottishscience.org.uk/publications...
SSAC Report - Scotland's Critical Technologies Supercluster: Challenges and Opportunities | The Scottish Science Advisory Council
Please download full pdf version of the report.  A html version will follow but Executive Summary noted below:
scottishscience.org.uk

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 11d
If you can be the person who cancels meetings this week, please be that person!

Reposted by Melanie Simms

resolutionfoundation.org
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 13d
Three-fifths of employers pay statutory sick pay or less to care workers if they are off due to sickness.

SSP should be raised across the board. This would help all workers - including those in adult social care who receive SSP or less.

➡️ buff.ly/veEOJFN
Figure showing Proportion of employers who pay care workers more or less than Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if they take a period of illness, by different settings and all services: England, 2024-25 Three-fifths (62 per cent) of employers in the sector pay SSP or less to care workers that can’t work because of sickness

Reposted by Melanie Simms

jwgoudriaan.bsky.social
Jan Willem Goudriaan @jwgoudriaan.bsky.social · 13d
Increase in the minimum wage for care workers Germany below reference in the collective agreement
The low pau undermines attractiveness to work in elderly homes among others @social.verdi.de

An issue across the European private care sector is the lack of collective agreements

@epsu.bsky.social
Pflegemindestlohn: Eigentor der Arbeitgeber
Arbeitgeber schießen Eigentor: Der auf 5,2 Prozent in 27 Monaten gebremste Anstieg des Pflegemindestlohns wird die Abwanderung der Altenpflege in die Krankenhäuser nicht aufhalten. Das geht zu Lasten ...
www.verdi.de

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 13d
You are a legend.

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 14d
Home from my last trip before Xmas. Breathe!

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Melanie Simms, Elizabeth Ewan

charlielynch.bsky.social
Charlie Lynch @charlielynch.bsky.social · 14d
I write a newspaper column about Scottish history, historians and heritage.

I’m keen to feature more Early Career Researchers. Their work might not otherwise be publicised to a wide audience. Do you know anyone who might like to be in the column?

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 14d
I hope someone has sent a note to Ragone and Smorto telling them that they use and appreciate the VSI. Not my field, so I can’t. But I’m sure it’s a good introduction. Maybe this is my weekend reading.

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 15d
We’re about to hit a generational divide (where I’m at the very oldest) of ppl who got on the housing “ladder” very late. And yet are still being asked to take VR. Maths ain’t mathing.

melaniesimms.bsky.social
Melanie Simms @melaniesimms.bsky.social · 15d
4 semesters ahead of you. But an impending sense of doom with the thought that it probably doesn’t make any difference (except for my mortgage!)