Protecting your employees' data

Latest estimates from the Home Office put the cost of identity fraud to the UK economy at £1.7 billion.

Source HR Zone

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Parliamentary Bill

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) is calling on its members to help in the fight against a forthcoming Parliamentary Bill which would add bureaucracy into the placement of temps into work.

The REC is asking its members to become recruitment champions in spreading the message to their local MPs and other opinion-formers about the value of temporary workers.

The Bill, which is to be debated on 22 February, is being promoted by the Trades Unions who want to see the rights of temporary workers changed. Tom Hadley, the REC’s director of external relations, says: "The trade unions have persisted in promoting temp workers as systemically downtrodden and second class, but we know our members see a completely different picture... read more

Source The Recruiter

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encore’s end of year results

encore Personnel Services have announced their 2007 results with an increased turnover of 50% to 15m.

Greg Latham, Managing Director, commented “We are delighted that our results reflect the amazing growth we’ve experienced over the last 12 months. We’ve moved into new markets with the launch of our European and Senior Appointments Divisions, opened a new branch in Nottingham, recognised as 23rd fastest growing company in the UK and created an in-house Management Training Academy.

All our divisions have achieved strong results and we’re especially pleased with the performance of our On Site Division, which incorporates 12 sites nationwide and has grown in 2007 to account for a third of all turnover today. We’ve reached record numbers of temporary workers employed in a single week - it’s been quite a year for encore and we’re all excited about the opportunities that lay ahead for 2008.”

The company, which now employs over 85 staff members, will continue its expansion with plans to open two new technical divisions during 2008

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Minimum wage

Londoners are to be first in the UK to benefit from a new government campaign to boost awareness of the national minimum wage and help expose cases of underpayment.

The three-month, nationwide campaign will be launched today in East London with the unveiling of a minimum wage information tour bus. The '£5.52: Are you on board?' bus will travel to more than 30 towns and cities across the UK, providing free help and information to members of the public - as well as access to online and phone support.

It's estimated that 1 million people in the UK, including 70,000 Londoners currently earn the national minimum wage, which increased in October last year to £5.52 for people aged 22 and over, £3.40 for 16-17 year olds and £4.60 for 18- 21 year olds. Minister for employment relations, Pat McFadden, says: "Every worker should earn a fair wage for a fair day's work. We want to make sure workers know their rights and employers know their responsibilities

Source The Recruiter

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Big Brother

Employees are being put under increasing strain because their managers are using surveillance equipment to keep track of how hard they are working, according to a survey by the Economic and Social Research Council.

The study found that more than half of employees claim that their managers use electronic systems to keep a log of their work. It found that in workplaces checked by computer, reports of work-related stress rose by 7.5%. Evidence of added stress was particularly striking among administrative and white-collar staff such as call centres, where it rose by 10% where staff were monitored constantly. The research found that a fifth of workplaces admit to monitoring their employees using computer-based systems.

Source The Recruiter

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Workplace bullying

Bullying levels in UK workplaces remain high, with 25% of the workforce saying it is a constant source of stress, according to a survey by the Samaritans.

The study found that around 80% of workers admit to having been bullied at some stage during their career and a third of people are so fed up they have thought of emigrating.

It found more than half of employees say the situation is getting worse, with work overtaking their private life more and more. More than 40% believe their bosses try to get everything they can out of them, regardless of their stress levels. Samaritans' Joe Ferns says: "Job-related stress has a serious and unrecognised impact on the health of the nation and the economy, affecting concentration and efficiency. "Thirteen million working days were lost to stress, depression and anxiety in 2005 at a staggering cost of £3.7bn to UK plc."

Source The Recruiter

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Bosses still ask banned questions

Many bosses are still asking inappropriate questions on application forms and in job interviews, warns the consumer group Which? As a result their companies risk being taken to employment tribunals where they can face unlimited fines.

Which? says there is widespread confusion about what potential employers can ask interview candidates. Previously standard questions about age, length of experience and religious views are now illegal, it points out. The consumer group says candidates facing such queries should politely decline to answer. According to Which?, the most commonly asked banned question is about whether someone is thinking about starting a family... read more

Source BBC News

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Transport laws

Employers may be prosecuted and face unlimited fines next year if their staff get caught using a hand held mobile phone while driving.

The government is holding bosses to account after it revealed motorists face two years in jail for dangerous driving if they are caught using a hand-held mobile at the wheel.

Action will also be taken against individual managers if their workers are caught flouting the law. An employer could also be found to have aided and abetted a member of staff who is prosecuted for using a mobile. The crackdown is based on the corporate manslaughter and corporate homicide act coming into force last year. Employers now may be forced to pay for handheld kits for staff to avoid possible fines. A prosecution may result in “serious management failure” such as repeatedly phoning employees on the road.

Source The Recruiter

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Smoking ban

More than 1,200 written warnings have been issued to employers for failing to prevent smoking in their premises, according to new inspection figures released by the government.

The Department of Health figures show that 1,233 written warnings issued between July and November last year, and out of these warnings only eight led to court hearings.

A further 6,646 warnings were issued to firms for not displaying the correct signage in their premises or vehicles.

Source The Recruiter

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Issue 44 – January 2008

Welcome to the January issue of encore enews bringing together recent news items relating to the world of work – a magazine read by 5000 recruiters every single month!

This month’s Business Round-Up