EU treaty could spell the end of overtime

British workers could lose their right to work more than 48 hours a week and have to forfeit lucrative overtime because of the EU Reform Treaty which Gordon Brown was due to sign this month.

In a report on the treaty a parliamentary committee says it is "quite possible" that the UK's special deal on working hours could be successfully challenged in the European Court of Justice. This is likely to infuriate business leaders who believe that Britain's "opt out" from the European Working Time Directive is a key reason for the competitiveness of the UK economy.

It will also increase demands for the British people to be granted a referendum on the Treaty, which The Daily Telegraph has called for. The warning that Britain's exemption from EU employment rules could face legal challenges has been raised by the House of Commons European scrutiny committee, which examines European documents before they become law. Its view is supported by eminent European lawyers who insist that Mr Brown's so-called "red lines" for protecting UK sovereignty in the treaty are largely worthless. The MPs says that the problem lies with the Charter of Fundamental Rights – which is part of the treaty – and which says: "Every worker has the right to limitation of maximum working hours, to daily and weekly rest periods and to an annual period of paid leave."

Source The Telegraph

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CBI says next minimum wage increase must be modest

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has called on the government to raise the minimum wage by a "modest" amount next year.

In a submission to the Low Pay Commission, the confederation argued that the minimum wage had now succeeded in creating a "floor" for lower paid workers and that firms' interests should be taken into account. According to the CBI, the combined impact of increased minimum wage costs and new employment rights must be considered. Deputy director-general of the organisation John Cridland commented: "Many people's living standards have been helped by the minimum wage. "But previous steep rises have loaded extra costs onto employers, who face a less certain outlook for next year as interest rates bite and the world economy slows." According to the CBI, the UK's national minimum wage is the third highest in the world, exceeded only by Australia and France. The minimum wage rose from £5.35 to £5.52 at the beginning of this month.

Source HR Review

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Government 'should help in illegal worker crackdown'

The government must crack down on employers and agencies that use illegal workers as a means of undercutting other businesses, according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).

Responding to the government's consultation on the prevention of illegal working, the REC has also said that the Labour administration should improve the level of support it provides to businesses in relation to "the increasingly complex immigration system". External relations manager at the REC Anne Fairweather commented: "Feedback from our recruitment agency members shows great variation of experience of the government's employers' helpline. [The] advice given needs to be consistent and practical." She added that good recruitment agencies should always be rigorous in checking candidates' identities and that better enforcement should be "their number one priority". The REC is a trade body that represents and supports the recruitment industry. Its membership is made up of more than 8,000 corporate bodies and 6,000 individual recruitment professionals.

Source HR Review

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Encore retain their Investors in People accreditation

Following Encore’s recent review of their Investors in People accreditation they are pleased to announce they have passed the assessments and acheived recognition for another 2 years.

The Investors in People Standard helps organisations increase profits by empowering employees and involving staff more effectively. For recognised employers, the Standard is exceeding expectations in terms of staff benefits resulting in more motivated staff, lower turnover and absenteeism and in terms of cost benefits seeing improved efficiency and productivity, less waste and increased sales. Working with the Investors in People Standard has helped more than 80% of recognised employers improve employee understanding of how they can help the organisation meet its objectives.

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Students get lesson in logistics at NWHC

50 pupils from George Eliot and Tile Hill Wood schools got a lesson in logistics recently during two Distribution Awareness Days hosted by North Warwickshire & Hinckley College (NWHC), a Centre of Vocational Excellence for Logistics.

The 14-15 year olds took part in a packed programme of activities designed to help them understand the vital role supply chains play in their everyday lives, from the supply of the raw materials that go to make everything from cars to medicines, to the delivery of finished goods to the high street. In addition to taking part in a forklift truck obstacle course, a giant Jenga warehouse game and a 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' style quiz, the students got to explore a 44 tonne articulated vehicle and find out first hand about life on the road, courtesy of NYK Logistics' driver, Mick Evans...Read more

Source Warehouse News

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Swearing 'is good for the workplace'

Swearing at work can be of benefit to staff, new research suggests.

The use of expletives helps employees let off steam and boosts morale, according to a study by academics at the University of East Anglia. Prof Yehuda Baruch, one of the researchers, said: "Our study suggested that, in many cases, taboo language serves the needs of people for developing and maintaining solidarity, and as a mechanism to cope with stress." However, he said it was important for employers to know when to clamp down on foul language. "Certainly in most scenarios, in particular in the presence of customers or senior staff, profanity must be seriously discouraged or banned," he added.

Source The Telegraph

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Older staff still facing bias at work

Age discrimination is rife despite laws to protect workers - wide differences have emerged about the way companies are handling age discrimination legislation, introduced a year ago to meet EU regulations ending restrictions on the employment of older people.

Employment tribunals have been swamped with complaints about continued discrimination and the Employers Forum on Age says ageism is still rife despite the legislation. Typically, 200 age-discrimination claims are lodged with tribunals each month. Age Concern says it has uncovered "abhorrent and discriminatory" practices employed by well-known companies, while research by law firm Eversheds shows "little change to stereotypical attitudes" since the legislation was introduced... Read more

Source The Telegraph

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Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 comes into force

A new law criminalizing the incitement of religious hatred came into effect on 1st of the month.

The Racial and Religious Hatred Act makes intentionally stirring up hatred against people on religious grounds punishable by a jail sentence of up to seven years. Previously, certain religious groups also deemed to be ethnic designations, such as Jews and Sikhs, received protection under laws against racial hatred; groups like Muslims and Christians that were only considered to be religious received different treatment under the law. The act is also seen as an important counter-balance to anti-terror laws which have been viewed as disproportionately targeting Britain's Muslim population. For more information go to www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/20060001.htm

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Only a third of employees offered benefits

There is still confusion among workers as to what exactly constitutes an 'employee benefit', with two thirds of workers receiving none at all, a survey has found

Canada Life Group Insurance discovered that company pension schemes into which the firm contributes were the most highly sought after benefit by employees, with holiday allowance over the legal minimum coming a close second. However, worryingly 3 per cent of respondents believed that statutory sick pay was a benefit, while almost one in 10 said that basic holiday allowance also fitted into this category. Marion Ware, head of marketing for Canada Life, said that it was a concern that so many employees were offered no benefits at all. "Considering how willing people are to switch jobs that offer better benefits, employers would be well advised to offer as comprehensive a range as possible," she said. Over 80 per cent of employees said they would move jobs if they were offered the same salary with better benefits.

Source HR Zone

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Bullying at Work – Guidelines

Bullying and harassment is a major problem within many workplaces, however often it remains a hidden problem and can be accepted or even encouraged by the culture of an organisation. Bullying at work can never be acceptable.

The TUC believes that all workers have the right to be treated with dignity and respect at work and any form of bullying is totally unacceptable behaviour. In addition it can lead to work related stress and ill health for many workers...

Read more

Source TUC

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Sainsbury's says immigrants 'better workers'

Immigrant workers have a "superior" work ethic to British employees, according to the supermarket giant Sainsbury's.

The company said it found immigrants to be more flexible and happier with their terms and conditions in employment. It added that employing migrant workers in its stores often had a positive impact on the domestic staff. Sainsbury's was giving evidence to a House of Lords inquiry into the impact of immigration. In a written submission, it said that it had greatly increased the number of immigrants it employed over the past two years and would likely continue to do so in future...

Read more

Source The Telegraph

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Issue 42 – October 2007

Welcome to the October 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