Showing posts with label staff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label staff. Show all posts

Saturday, 3 October 2009

Ministers fear recovery will fail to reduce unemployment

Ministers are urgently drawing up measures to try to prevent a "job-lite recovery" in which unemployment continues to rise even when the economy starts to grow again.

Official figures due out today are expected to show that unemployment has risen to about 2.5 million. There are growing fears that it will remain above two million by the end of 2010.

A Back to Work White Paper will be published alongside the pre-Budget report in November. Although the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, will spell out the first of the spending cuts promised yesterday by Gordon Brown, he is also expected to expand programmes to combat unemployment.

The White Paper will include new opportunities for the young jobless, to prevent the recession creating a "lost generation", help for older people who have been out of work for more than six months, those on long-term sickness benefits and the mentally ill, and a boost for childcare to enable more mothers to return to work.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ministers-fear-recovery-will-fail-to-reduce-unemployment-1787954.html

www.ukba.co.uk

Friday, 25 September 2009

Small firm staff 'more flexible'

Employees working at smaller firms are more likely to adapt their working week to try and help their firms survive the recession, according to research conducted by Orange.

The research revealed that over 65% of staff in companies with under ten employees are prepared to reduce their hours, put in extra unpaid time or accept a pay cut to help their employer in the economic downturn.

In businesses that have a workforce of over 1,000 the amount of staff prepared to make these sacrifices dropped below 40%.

www.ukba.co.uk

Thursday, 24 September 2009

New recruitment ‘set to rise‘

The number of businesses planning to take on new employees has risen for the first time in three years, according to a study by recruitment company Manpower.

The research revealed that firms in the sectors of transport, communications, hotels and restaurants were most likely to take on new staff in the coming months.

"There are a number of early positive hiring indicators emerging which suggest we may have reached a turning point," said Mark Cahill of Manpower.

www.ukba.co.uk

Tuesday, 25 August 2009

SMEs ‘scared to make redundancies’

Despite the recent rise in the unemployment rate research has suggested that small business owners are afraid of making redundancies for fear of being sued for unfair dismissal.

According to research conducted by business insurers Premierline Direct small firms fear the potential financial consequences of redundancies, with limits on awards for unfair dismissal and redundancy payments increasing earlier this year.

Of those small business owners concerned about being sued by workers over 70% said that their firm did not have necessary funds to pay out compensation and 36% said would be worried they hadn't followed the correct procedures.

37% of small businesses that have had to let staff go did not seek legal or HR advice beforehand, leaving themselves open to potential legal action.

"Redundancies have increased considerably in line with the economy's performance and many business owners are facing the prospect of having to make staff redundant; something which they might not have experienced before," said Chris Little, managing director of Premierline Direct.

www.ukba.co.uk

Thursday, 13 August 2009

Some staff ‘using swine flu to skive’

Small business bosses are concerned that staff are taking advantage over the current fears concerning swine flu to take time off work.

Over a 1,000 companies have contacted Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS) to seek advice over employees who they fear may be using swine flu as an excuse to be absent from work.

"Managers feel that some staff are simply taking advantage of concerns about the transmission of swine flu to take an extra few days off work," said Peter Mooney, ELAS's head of consultancy.

"Because the emphasis has been on not going to your local GP but using websites to assess the infection and the risk to others, those who stay at home are not going to need a doctor's note or have too many people calling on them to see how they feel."

The National Pandemic Flu Service advises that individuals who appear to have symptoms associated with swine flu should stay at home for up to seven days to recover and avoid passing on the virus.

www.ukba.co.uk

Friday, 7 August 2009

60% of UK staff favour smaller firms

Almost two-thirds of employees would rather work for a smaller business than a larger one, according to research conducted by recruitment firm Angela Mortimer plc.

The study of around 1,400 employees found that 60% would choose a comparable offer from a smaller business rather than a large corporate as they believed that smaller firms offer a good working environment and opportunities for career development.

"For candidates big is no longer beautiful. Twenty years ago the received wisdom was to join a BA or a BT or a big bank. Now they value the flexibility of opportunity that SMEs can offer," said Mike Morgan CEO of communications firm the Red Consultancy.

www.ukba.co.uk

Sunday, 12 July 2009

New Employment Measures Necessary During Critical Recovery Period

Alternative to redundancy proposed

Business leaders believe a package of labour market investments and reforms, including an alternative to redundancy, could help stem the tide of job losses as the recession pushes unemployment towards three million.

A report by the CBI and Siemens plc also highlights longer-term issues and warns that levels of employment regulation are at a "tipping point", having added £70bn to business costs since 1998.

The report stresses that the UK must work much harder to remain an attractive global jobs destination, and that there is a need to improve skills levels and assess the real impact of employment laws on future job creation.

Although firms are doing their utmost to protect jobs by introducing flexible working and pay freezes, the CBI predicts that unemployment will continue rising to peak at 3.03 million in the second quarter of 2010, so action taken in the short term could still save jobs and businesses.

Read more: http://www.cbi.org.uk/ndbs/press.nsf/0363c1f07c6ca12a8025671c00381cc7/9b9a4bacc1622174802575e400370f75?OpenDocument

www.ukba.co.uk

Saturday, 27 June 2009

Businesses are changing how they organise their workforce due to the recession, according to new data released by the CBI

The CBI study reveals that 45% of employers have increased flexible working among staff, 43% have cut the amount of paid overtime that is available and a third are using less agency staff.

"The UK's flexible labour market has proved a huge asset during these testing times, and flexible working changes have enabled employers and staff to create leeway on working hours," said John Cridland, CBI Deputy Director-General.

www.ukba.co.uk

Saturday, 20 June 2009

Employees on long-term sick leave will be entitled to take all holiday that they have accrued when they return to work

Small business owners have criticised the House of Lords ruling, which means that someone who had been on sick leave for two years would be entitled to around 40 days of paid holiday on their return.

"Allowing workers to accrue statutory paid holiday entitlement during sickness absence will have serious financial and practical ramifications for employers across the UK," said Tim Marshall, partner and UK head of employment at lawyers DLA Piper.

www.ukba.co.uk

Friday, 5 June 2009

Employers could face additional costs if workplace adjustments are required to allow an early return to work under the new fit note scheme

The Reforming Medical Statement consultation opened by the Department of Work and Pensions yesterday, set out proposals to replace the 'sick note culture' and help more people stay in work rather than drift into long-term sickness - about 172m working days were lost in 2007 due to sickness absence.

Under the new system, expected to roll out across the UK next spring, GPs will replace the hand-written sick note with a computer-generated medical fit note explaining what work a patient is able to do.

However, the consultation points out that some workplace costs could be incurred when accommodating early returns to work. "There is some potential for additional costs if workplace adjustments are required to facilitate an early return, eg. specialist equipment or adjustments to working time agreements," it says.

But the consultation also points out that some adjustments - such as changes to work patterns - do not have costs attached and overall a "net benefit is expected for employers".

Meanwhile, recommendations include changing the medical statement to allow doctors to specify if they would need to see an individual again when their current statement expires.

This would help reduce uncertainty for employers about when an individual can be expected to return to work and also enable employees to make their own informed decisions about when to return to work and reduce unnecessary burdens on doctors, the consultation states.

The government is also considering whether to remove the option for doctors to issue a medical statement when an individual is fit for work. This would end the practice, which has no basis in law relating to medical statements, of employers seeking medical evidence of fitness for work before allowing an individual to return, it said.

EEF's chief medical officer, Sayeed Khan welcomed the proposals. He said: "A fit note recognises that for many conditions a phased return to work is beneficial to both the company and the worker. Recovery from some of the most common causes of long-term ill health, including back pain and minor mental health problems, can often be speeded up by appropriate activity. The fit note provides employers with the information to help an early, but appropriate return to work."

The 12-week consultation forms part of the government's response to Dame Carol Black's report into the health of Britain's working age population , which was published in March 2008.

Source: Personnel Today

www.ukba.co.uk

Saturday, 30 May 2009

Small business owners have been warned that if they do not address the increasing stress levels of staff then their company's productivity will suffer

Recent research by Investors in People and YouGov has found that 38% of employees in the UK say that their stress levels are higher than a year ago, but only 29% think their business is doing anything to address this.

Only 5% of employees said they are receiving more support from their managers than they did before the downturn and a mere 12% think their manager has adapted very well to the effects of the downturn.

"Increased stress in the workplace is associated with reduced productivity. Our research suggests that management has so far not addressed the current increase in workplace stress," said Simon Jones, chief executive of Investors in People.

www.ukba.co.uk

Thursday, 14 May 2009

A total of 20m working days could be lost this year as a result of stress related absences from staff

13.5m days were lost as a result of stress between 2007 and 2008 in the UK, and a recent survey by Croner revealed that 50% of workers feel more stressed now than a year ago.

"The survey reveals that work is the uppermost concern of employees at the moment. This should be a real wake-up call for British bosses who may be in denial that stress is a concern in their organisation," said Gillian Dowling, employment technical consultant at Croner.

The research found that the top three causes of stress for UK employees were work (63%), finances (62%) and the economy (49%).

www.ukba.co.uk

Saturday, 2 May 2009

Almost half of small firms in the UK have faced difficulties coping with the mass of UK employment law

The findings are released the day before Equalities Minister, Harriet Harman, publishes the new Single Equalities Bill. The British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) have warned that the new legislation will increase the pressure on small firms that are already struggling with the amount of red tape in the UK.

"Too often the government sees the answer to a problem as being more legislation. Not least in the area of employment law. The result of this will mean that it will take longer to get out of recession and companies will be loathe to take on more employees," said David Frost of the BCC.

"If we are really serious about helping businesses, about creating jobs, why not have a complete moratorium on new employment legislation for the next three years?"

Source: British Chamber of Commerce

www.ukba.co.uk

Friday, 1 May 2009

The National Council for Work Experience (NCWE) has launched a free online information and recruitment initiative to help SMEs

Find Me A Student! is a central resource for businesses to find local information and contact details for university placement services, job shops and independent placement organisations with student initiatives.

"The downturn has seen business interest in establishing student placement schemes soar," said Heather Collier, Director for the NCWE.

"Many HR professionals working in smaller companies have expressed an interest in implementing a work placement scheme but felt that a lack of information has prevented them from gaining access to students with the desired skill set."

Soucre: http://www.work-experience.org

www.ukba.co.uk

Wednesday, 15 April 2009

UK companies are trying to fight the credit crunch by cutting staff and freezing pay, according to a survey by the Hay Group consultancy.

Around 37% of the UK businesses surveyed reported that last month they had cut back on staff - almost double the figure from November - and 38% have implemented a pay freeze.

UK companies also reported a much small average base salary increase, an average of 1% compared to 2.8% worldwide.

Despite these figures, British companies are more optimistic about the future then many other nations - possibly reflecting the fact that many UK firms have already taken the action they feel they need to survive the recession, such as salary and wage cuts.

www.ukba.co.uk

Monday, 13 April 2009

Companies incentivised to take on new staff

From 6th April, businesses will be able to take advantage of up to £2500 recruitment and 'on the job' training subsidies, as an incentive to take on people who've been looking for work for six months or more. The subsidy is worth £1000 and the company can, depending on location, access up to £1500 worth of in-work training.

Read more here: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=397805&NewsAreaID=2

www.ukba.co.uk

Monday, 23 March 2009

Why you must communicate more with your staff

Research by the CMI found that 62% of employees felt their MD/CEO was out of touch with staff feelings.

In an economic downturn it is more important then ever that small business owners lead their companies and do not simply hope that things get better. Business leaders must plan and prepare to make sure that they address and manage the specific challenges that are currently being faced by their companies.

All small business owners must ensure that they are communicating effectively with staff. This is a major issue, and can have a significant effect on the morale and productivity of your workforce.

Read more - click here.

Source: http://www.newbusiness.co.uk

www.ukba.co.uk

Wednesday, 25 February 2009

Business Owners Urged Not To Cut Staff

Small business owners have been urged to explore different options rather than cutting staff by the Chartered Institute of Personal and Development and the arbitration and conciliation service (Acas).

With cash flow tight for many small firms cutting costs by loosing staff can seem like the best option, but businesses that cut too many staff have been warned that they will damage staff morale and could leave themselves worse off in the long run.

"Many of those organisations that were quick to lay off people in the last recession struggled to meet renewed business demand when the economy picked up again," said John Taylor, chief executive of Acas.

Employers are being advised to offer voluntary redundancy rather than sacking staff, consider pay freezes and look to re-train workers in different areas of their business rather then laying them off.

Source: http://www.newbusiness.co.uk

Saturday, 21 February 2009

Almost half of staff believe they work better away from the office

Almost half of employees believe that they work more effectively remotely but only 8% of managers trust their staff to work out of the office, according to research conducted by YouGov.

The research, commissioned by BT Business and Nortel, revealed that 42% of staff feel that they could work better remotely but, despite a raft of new technology, business owners are reluctant to allow their staff to work away from the office.

With many small businesses currently struggling in the current crisis SME owners are being advised that being flexible and allowing staff to work remotely could provide their firm with a boost.

"This boils down to a matter of trust. In the current climate, small firms need to be operating at full stretch," said John Wright, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses.

"Last week's bad weather demonstrated the need for British businesses to enable their employees to be productive, wherever they are."

Thursday, 19 February 2009

Survive the Downturn - Recognise The Value Of Employees

Extract from ICAEW report: 8 Ways To Survive The Downturn

Find out how communicating with your employees and thinking about their skills and abilities can help your business survive the downturn.

It’s always difficult when there’s bad news, but there is never a more important time to communicate openly, honestly and regularly with your staff.

How you behave during the difficult times will affect your reputation as a responsible employer and be vital in attracting and retaining quality staff in the future.


Plan ahead

Have you identified your ‘bad weather’ spokespeople, those who have credibility and can be relied upon to deliver vital information to your key staff?

Have you set up effective channels of communication to inform staff and stakeholders quickly when you need to?

During the recession you may be facing redundancies or restructuring to make savings, but:

Have you also identified the key individuals who will be essential for the long-term success of your business?

What steps do you have in place to retain and develop this talent?


Look for guidance and advice

It has been estimated that two fifths of directors today will be facing recessionary pressures for the first time in their careers. They may need support as they face increased pressures internally and externally.

Consider looking for mentors or advisers inside or outside your company who can provide guidance and advice based on previous experience.


Think about your staff and their skills

It’s also important to look at your management team, and ask whether they have the right skills to manage the new problems you are facing.

Some firms made the mistake of cutting back on training in the early 1990s and found themselves short of good, qualified staff when the economic upturn came. ICAEW research has shown that those organisations which continue to train in challenging times are most likely to be the winners over the longer term.

Businesses should also review their reward structures to ensure they are still relevant in the changed environment, particularly share option schemes and sales targets.

What alternatives do you have to keep your loyal staff? For example, can you offer sabbaticals or secondments; should you move to a four-day week or ask staff to accept a pay decrease to avoid multiple redundancies?

Source ICAEW - full report can be downloaded by clicking here.