Gordon Brown's flexible working plan attacked

Gordon Brown faces a backlash from business after he announced that employers would have to allow flexible working hours for millions more parents.

Controversial plans unveiled in the Queen's Speech will see the parents of all 17-year-olds being given the option of working "flexibly." It could see them being given leave to work at home while their children sit public exams. An extra 4.5 million workers will now be able to dictate better working hours, under the plans, as part of a drive by Mr Brown to improve the country's "work-life balance".

The Prime Minister and David Cameron, the Conservative leader, clashed in a bitter Commons exchange which sets the scene for months of confrontation over issues of family, tax, housing and education. Mr Brown, exactly one month after he called off the election, set out a policy agenda that he hopes will restore some of the initiative he has lost since that day... read more

Source: The Telegraph

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Minimum Wage

The TUC will today call on the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to increase the national minimum wage to more than £6 an hour next year.

Presenting evidence this morning, the TUC will urge the LPC to recommend the best minimum wage rates the economy can afford, and to advise that the adult rate should be payable from 18, and not 22 as it is at present. The TUC will also demand that the current minimum wage enforcement regime is overhauled so that more employers paying illegal poverty wages are caught. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber (pictured) says: “Although some economic commentators have been jittery the UK economy is basically sound. They should remember that we have both record levels of employment and a record number of businesses in the UK. Economic growth is set to continue next year and we expect to see 175,000 extra jobs created. All the signs are that the UK can afford a £6 hourly wage. “It's also vital that we get tough on those flouting the regulations - rogue employers who underpay the minimum wage deserve zero tolerance.”
The TUC will propose that the LPC establishes an initial penalty for all underpaying employers and makes them pay arrears at current minimum wage rates. The maximum fine for employers who deliberately break the law should be greatly increased from the current limit of £5,000.

Source: The Recruiter

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Encore take the gamble out of recruitment

Encore have become an approved provider of world leading SHL Training.

Encore are offering psychometric training for candidates to test ability and personality and take the gamble of recruitment. A qualified SHL Trainer has been put in place to improve the performance of people through objective assessment. By combining world leading psychometric assessment expertise with the company procedures already in place, Encore can provide clients with a fast effective method of assessing candidates that can significantly help with recruitment, training and development.

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Temps, a permanent solution

Britain’s 1m contract workers give business and the public sector a vital degree of flexibility.

Richard Ratcliff R loves his job. The 58-year-old English and religious education teacher works two or three days a week, filling in for absent staff at secondary schools within 20 miles of his home at Snodland, Kent, as directed by his agency, Select Education. The rest of his week is spent gardening or visiting cultural sites. “I’m semi-retired, but this way I get to keep my hand in while avoiding that rat-race element you find in most full-time jobs,” he said. “It’s quite stressful but very fulfilling.”

Bill Hooper’s career is just beginning. Within days of contacting the recruitment agency Manpower, the 26-year-old IT worker started in a temporary position doing electronic file management for Hertfordshire county council. “I needed employment quickly and temporary work let me get my foot in the door,” he said. After seven months, Hooper is happy. “The only downside is the lack of security, but the longer you are in a position, the more chance there is that it could become a permanent job,” he said. While some agency workers are paid less than their permanent colleagues, both Ratcliff and Hooper receive the going rate... read more

Source: The Times

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Don't blame it on the moonlight

Bosses are still in the dark over the extent to which employees are moonlighting to make a little extra money on the side. But is it a case of what you don't know can't hurt you?

With Christmas looming around the corner, many people will be tempted into taking on extra jobs to finance parties and presents. For the most-part, less Scrooge-like bosses probably wouldn't begrudge you earning a few extra quid to keep staff sweet – it's when you haven't admitted what you're up to that it will become a season to be far from jolly. Moonlighting opens up a huge crater of problems for bosses and employees alike. Of course, there are the legal consequences of what furtive employees are up to, but it also begs the question of why staff feel the need to do it in the first place. And despite what you might think, it doesn't always boil down to cash... read more

Source: HR Zone

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Poverty warning as lone parents forced back to work

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) warns that government plans to get more lone parents back to work could push many families into poverty.

The government proposes moving parents of children aged seven and over from income support to jobseekers allowance, so that they are available and looking for work. The plans are designed to meet the objective of a 70 per cent employment rate for lone parents. The current proposals would give Jobcentre Plus the right to force lone parents to accept jobs; a refusal could lead to a loss of benefits. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "This government has a proud record of tackling unemployment and helping people into work. But the latest proposals could put this at risk and push more families into poverty.

"Instead of stigmatising lone parents, the government should focus on what mums and dads need to get back into work - more affordable childcare and flexible working." Further plans include compulsory unpaid work experience for the long-term unemployed. Benefits would be withdrawn should people fail to complete their trials. The TUC says they are concerned that an "army of unpaid temps will be lapped up by dodgy employers". The TUC, however, is backing plans for a more localised and individualised welfare to work programme.

Source: HR Zone

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Home Working

Eight in ten employees who access work email spend 20 minutes a night in bed responding to messages, according to research by employment law firm Peninsula.

The study found that 60% of workers admit to responding to work email from the bathroom. Dedicated workers spend ten hours of their own time per month,112 hours per year, responding to work email. It found that 24% admit they have checked work email whilst driving and 70% said that their partner is displeased with responding to company email when away from work. Peter Done, managing director of Peninsula, says: “Employees need to be aware that even though in some circumstances working out of hours may be good for business, it may not be good for them personally and we have seen from the survey that it does have an impact on their personal life. People need to find time for themselves. If an employee feels compelled to answer every email they receive then they may need to look at better ways to manage their time."

Source: The Recruiter

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Scandal over illegal immigrants in guard jobs

A new immigration scandal hit the Government after it emerged that thousands of security guards have been working illegally in Britain, including one allegedly guarding the Prime Minister's car.

The Security Industry Authority, set up by the Home Office to vet doormen and security personnel, has failed to include a check on whether applicants were entitled to work in Britain. The checks meant that an estimated 5,000 illegal immigrants have been employed on night club doors and in sensitive security posts, including six people who were working for the Metropolitan Police. The main aim of the SIA was to weed out security personnel with criminal records but the lack of checks on immigration status mean that some may also have records abroad which have not come to light. Set up three years ago, the SIA has issued around 250,000 licences, for workers whose responsibilities include guarding Whitehall offices, ports and airports... read more

Source: The Telegraph

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Office parties: Are you headed for crisis?

It's that time of year again, when HR must set about organising the good old Christmas shindig, but how can you ensure everyone is kept happy, religious pitfalls are avoided and all goes smoothly?

Every Christmas the same warnings are dealt out to HR professionals: Plan your office party carefully, don't create legal risks by providing the alcohol that may cause accidents, and don't stress the religious element in case you offend certain staff. It's almost enough to make you want to pull down the decorations and go into hibernation until January. So as we draw closer to the festive season, would it be wise to move the date of the annual office party, to avoid the potential issues associated with Christmas? "It has become an issue because people have made it so," argues HR manager Fiona Fritz. "We are in danger here of becoming too politically correct for our own good." Do we really apologise too much? It might be tempting to call the whole thing off, but sadly it's not that simple, says Fritz. "If you don't have a Christmas party then you upset a lot of people and HR becomes very unpopular," she comments. Bah humbug Is it impossible to keep everyone – or even anyone – happy? Is HR doomed to play Scrooge this Christmas? read more

Source: HR Zone

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Maternity Pay and Paternity Leave and Pay Increases Delayed Until 2010

The Government has stated that it intends by the end of the current parliament to extend Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), Maternity Allowance (MA) and Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) from 39 weeks to 52 weeks.

It also consulted earlier this year on the detail of its proposal to introduce Additional Paternity Leave and Pay (APL&P). Under these proposals fathers would be entitled to up to 26 weeks off work, some of which will be paid if the mother has returned to work before the end of her maternity leave period. It had been thought that these changes would come into effect for babies due on or after April 2009. However, HMRC has recently announced that it is no longer working towards that date. The Government has decided that the changes will be delayed until at least 2010, apparently in order to give employers more clarity and further time to prepare. HMRC is now planning for implementation of these changes in respect of babies due in or after April 2010. However, the announcement makes it clear that the Government has not made a decision as to when the changes to SMP, MA and SAP and APL&P will actually come into force.

Source: Shepherd & Wedderburn

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Issue 43 – November 2007

Welcome to the November 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