Sunday, October 1, 2006
Small firms to act now as age discrimination deadline looms
The new regulations mean employers must make sure staff are treated equally regardless of their age and the new legislation could catch smaller businesses out unless they plan ahead.
Smaller businesses may not have the human resources departments set aside to review their practices. When new legislation comes into place they could potentially be hit with employment tribunals and hefty fines.
Firms must make sure that employees also receive adequate termination periods and equal perks and pay irrelevant of how old they are.
Owners and managers of smaller firms have closer working relationships with their employees, but they must make sure that they don’t become complacent as a result.
Members of the FPB who have a query about how the new age discrimination laws could affect their business can email the Member Information Service (MIS) or call 01565 626 001.
above: Employers must make sure staff are treated equally regardless of their age.
Commuting time equals four working weeks
The average commuter is spending about four working weeks each year trekking between work and home. Research shows the average commuter spends 139 hours a year travelling to and from work, while the distances they cover are increasing. It found stress and fatigue were common complaints among commuters. The RAC Foundation this month called for a change in work patterns to reduce traffic congestion. It predicted that smarter working could cut commuter traffic by up to 10 per cent within five years. ‘Even if people only worked from home one day a week, the impact would be significant: just look at what happens during the school holidays. Simply reducing that element, or enabling the staggering of the rush hour, will have a fundamental impact on people’s lives both in terms of time and stress.’ Studies show British workers have by far the longest commute time in Europe.
Booby prizes
Do you know a company that is a good example when it comes to accommodating breast-feeding mothers or one that has a record to be ashamed of? In either case, the National Childbirth Trust wants to hear from you as it prepares to hand out bouquets and brickbats in the first ever Booby Prizes, an initiative supported by public sector union UNISON. NCT breast-feeding webpages and booby prizes webpage and nomination form. UNISON news release.
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Two million to get more holiday
Plans to increase the minimum amount of annual leave to 28 days for full-timers are ‘completely affordable’ and will bring “huge benefits’ to around two million workers.
At the moment, mean employers can force staff to take the UK’s eight bank holidays from their 20-day annual leave entitlement. From next October, however, this legal loophole will be closed.
New legislation October 2006
From October 2006, small businesses risk facing legal action if they do not update their recruitment, training and retirement processes to reflect the changes being brought in under new age discrimination legislation. In addition to this The Fire Safety Law will also be enforced to ensure that all Fire Safety measures are adopted in the workplace.
In a recent survey conducted by Business Link it was clear that small businesses are not ready for the legislation changes that will come into force in October 2006. The legislation will make age discrimination illegal in the workplace, whether it is in relation to hiring younger or older staff, promoting or even choosing who goes on training courses.
Are you aware that fire safety law is changing on the 1st October? If you are responsible for a place where people work, meet or gather, you need to have an up-to-date fire risk assessment.
Do not panic: We have produced a Short Checklist and an Entry Level Guide to help you with your Fire Risk Assessment. If you need some additional information, don’t worry, we have produced a series of guides to suit different business sectors. These guides will give you more information about how to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment, with specific advice for your type of business.
Do not ignore: You could be fined or face imprisonment. More
‘Easy girl’ lifestyle!!!
3,000 women with an average age of 28 revealed they would take short cuts to an easier life and would use their femininity to get what they wanted. A recent report said women wanted to work fewer hours than their mothers did or even not work at all. Many young women have seen their mothers battle to balance life and work, often in low-paid jobs beneath their ability, and they are not prepared to do the same. Girls are out-performing boys in school. Women make up half of all graduates and are leaving university more, not less, ambitious. Also, women with children who had previously been unable to work are taking advantage of hugely successful schemes to support them getting back into employment.
Young women today are better educated, better paid and a larger percentage of the workforce than ever before. Today’s young women workers are taking control of all aspects of their lives and hopefully will continue to demand more satisfaction and reward from their work. If pole-dancing will earn them £1,000 a night instead of 160 hours slogging away in an office, then they’ll choose the former.
Paternity problems
More than half of the UK’s new fathers do not take the full paternity leave to which they are legally entitled, according to a survey by YouGov for savings firm ING Direct. Out of the 1,078 fathers polled, 48 per cent said financial considerations were a key reason for staying at work — new fathers are entitled up to two weeks paid paternity leave at a rate of £108.85 a week.
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