• • • NEWS • • •
Schneider Electric sets new industry standard with enhanced employee benefits
chneider Electric has announced the implementation of new employee benefits which it said solidify its position as a progressive and people-first employer in the UK and Ireland. Recognising the evolving needs of its employees and the importance of work-life balance, Schneider Electric has enhanced its family leave policy to provide comprehensive benefits that empower
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employees to prioritise their family and personal wellbeing without compromising their professional development. Key highlights of the new policy include:
• 26 weeks maternity, adoption and shared parental leave at full pay; • Four weeks for paternity leave and adoption (for secondary carer) at full pay;
• Two weeks for carer leave (Force Majeure & Urgent Short-Term Care Leave in Ireland) at full pay; and
• Two weeks for bereavement leave at full pay.
The changes came into effect for all employees – including people already taking leave covered by the policy – on July 1. Kelly Becker, zone president UK & Ireland for Schneider Electric, said: “Our ambition is to be the most caring and inclusive company in the world. Our employees need this support most when they’re experiencing some of life’s most challenging moments, from welcoming a new member of the family to caring for loved ones. “We know that there is a skills gap in our industry. We’re committed to investing in STEM careers through
apprenticeships and initiatives like this one, which enable us to create a workplace where people can grow and thrive, whatever their personal circumstances or stage in life.”
SELECT welcomes new two-year wage agreement for electricians
pleased” that a two- year wage agreement has been agreed for Scotland’s electricians.
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The deal, which will see rates of pay for electricians,
apprentices and adult trainees rise by 7% in 2024, and a further 5% in 2025, will come into effect in January 2024. The new wage
agreement, which will apply across the UK, has been announced following lengthy negotiations between SELECT, the Electrical Contractors’
Association (ECA) and Unite the Union. Fiona Harper, director of employment & skills at SELECT, said: “This agreement has taken a lot of hard work over a number of months but we are extremely pleased with the outcome. “In the current climate of ongoing financial uncertainty, and with the cost-of-living crisis continuing to impact on everyone, we are pleased to have been able to reach a deal
that provides clarity and certainty over a two-year period. “We also believe the deal reflects the dedication required to become an electrician and the standing in which such tradespeople are held in today’s construction industry.” Ms Harper added: “The future is electric and will require a properly trained and competent workforce, so it is only fitting that such skill is rewarded.”
ELECT said it was “extremely
DEKRA and Switch partner to improve testing and certification for EV charging
EKRA Certification B.V. has integrated the Switch platform to offer comprehensive testing of the entire charging ecosystem across the DEKRA test beds at Arnhem, The Netherlands and Concord, California. The cooperation enables testing scenarios for electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging stations (EVSEs), including comprehensive and new functionalities such as Plug & Charge and bi-directional power flow.
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DEKRA can now provide testing scenarios from start to finish. This includes Plug & Charge functionalities across successful and unsuccessful charging events.
The Switch platform allows DEKRA to create both valid and invalid or expired certificates for a wide variety of test scenarios.
electricalengieneeringmagazine.co.uk
Marc Mültin, chief executive and founder of Switch, said: “It is a truly unique set-up, and we are
excited to collaborate with DEKRA. Our system is able to offer in-depth monitoring and analysis of the protocol-based ‘conversation’ between software and hardware components.” Beat Kreuter, vice president of safety at DEKRA, added: “The Switch system provides a unique solution as it allows us to extend our current testing set-up all the way from the car to the charger and the backend with API connections. “With the upcoming OCPP 2.1, we are aiming to extend our testbed further to include use cases such as power grid and smart building integration and bi-directional power transfer.”
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • JULY/AUGUST 2023 5
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