AntiSocial

A new law to bolster workers' rights by making it an employer's job to prevent staff being harassed by customers and clients, as well as fellow colleagues, has been criticised by some as an attack on free speech. Opponents worry that harmless banter - in pubs, for example - might need to be monitored as a result of this new legislation. That's denied by the government. The word ‘banter’ has seen a resurgence in the last few decades. Tony Thorne, a lexicologist and language consultant at King’s College London, tells Adam when the banter began.

An extension of workers' rights, designed to further protect them from harassment on the job, has been criticised as an attack on free speech. The Employment Rights Bill, first tabled in October 2024, would make it an employer's responsibility to prevent harassment of their staff by customers, clients and members of the public, as well as fellow colleagues. Some argue the bill, which is not yet law, would effectively outlaw banter - particularly in settings like pubs - and pressure companies to more closely monitor conversations. Others welcome the plans, arguing that workplace harassment is rife and that banter is often used as an excuse for discriminatory and upsetting behaviour. We go through the proposed changes, look at examples where banter has been used as a defence in court, and explore the origins and evolution of the word itself. Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Tulett, Tom Gillett, Nik Sindle Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Penny Murphy

Government ministers have been trying to promote grit among young people in England as part of proposals to improve young people's mental health and increase school attendance. 'Grit' is the latest in a lengthy line of interventions from education secretaries who've been keen to emphasise the values they think children should be learning in school. Dr Lydia Marshall, head of research at the education consultancy Oxford Measured, tells Adam about the long and winding history

The government has launched a new initiative to help teachers address a crisis in mental health among young people and a sharp drop in school attendance since the pandemic. The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson says she wants schools to teach children greater "grit and resilience" to handle "life's ups and downs". It's the latest in a long line of interventions from education secretaries seeking to encourage the values they think children should be learning in school. Is this the promotion of an important life skill or the latest gimmick burdening teachers? Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Josephine Casserly, Viv Jones, Jason Murugesu and Nik Sindle Editor: Penny Murphy Production Coordinator: Janet Staples Studio Engineer: Hal Haines

In the last few weeks Adam has been noticing things popping up on his social media timeline tagged with the word “Yookay”, which is supposed to be a reference to how UK is pronounced in a multicultural London accent. The content is a combination of pictures of streets or public transport and sometimes videos. So what's going on? I spoke to Siddharth Venkataramakrishnan, analyst at the thinktank the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, who researches anti-migrant sentiment online.