Election brings hope of an upturn in fortune for the job market

With election polls pointing towards a change of government this week, a survey of senior executives by management careers site TheLadders.co.uk has found that 64% are optimistic that a change of government will bring improvements to the job market.

500 senior management employees from the UKs leading companies were asked a series of questions on the job market and politics and the results found that the party that best represented the needs of the job seeker was the Conservatives (37%), followed by Labour (30%) and the Liberal Democrats (19%). Although the Liberal Democrats fared less well, their economic spokesperson Vince Cable certainly made an impression with business people – he was voted the politician most senior managers would like to hire for their business.

UK economy continues to recover from recession

The UK economy continued to recover from recession in the first three months of the year, according to official estimates.

GDP grew by 0.2% between January and March, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. That was weaker than the 0.4% growth predicted by many economists, but the figure may be revised. The last quarter of 2009 saw GDP growth of 0.4% - revised up from an initial estimate of 0.1%. The ONS said the bad weather seen at the beginning of the year may have had an impact on output - particularly in the retail and industrial sectors. But despite that, manufacturing output grew by 0.7% over the quarter, while the utilities sector saw output rise by 2.5%.

Coke criticised for 'condoning sick days' in an advert

A small business group has criticised Coca-Cola for adverts which appeared to condone being off work without reason.

Wording on a water brand owned by Coca-Cola says: "If you've had to use sick days because you've actually been sick, then you're seriously missing out."

The Glaceau Vitamin Water advert, which angered the Forum of Private Business, continued: "The trick is to stay perky and use sick days to just, not go in."

Coca-Cola said the advert was in no way meant as a serious recommendation.

The business organisation said it was "unacceptable to encourage workers to throw 'sickies' in order to sell a soft drink. A company of the standing of Coca-Cola should know better".

It claimed employee absence was costing the UK's economy almost £12bn-a-year in lost working days.