HR News April 2010
In the April issue of HR News we look at topical news stories that have recently hit the headlines. The South African World cup is getting close and organisations are being urged to look at their policies regarding time off and flexible working during this period. We also look at the new 'time off for training' rules which comes into effect on April 6th, and the alarming news surrounding pensions, how, as a nation, we are becoming 'financially unfit' to retire. Finally with the election looming we look at a study by the British Chamber of Commerce which found that 65% of firms surveyed were either 'concerned' or 'very concerned' about the potential of their being a hung parliament.
New training rules come into force
New rules giving employees the right to request time off work for training come into effect on 6th April - yet many employers are unaware of these changes. More than one-fifth of employers (21%) surveyed by IRS in December and January were unaware of the new regulations.
Under the new rules, employers with 250 or more staff will have to "seriously consider" a formal request from employees, with at least 26 weeks' service for time away from their core duties to undertake training. This will be extended to smaller employers in April 2011.
View and update your training needs on-line with TeamSpirit Human Resources Software
Lack of finances may stop people retiring
Almost three quarters of a million employees over 45 think they will never be able to retire completely because of lack of personal finances.
According to Prudential, nearly three million UK adults aged over 45 have delayed their plans to retire because of the recession or a personal financial emergency, or because they want to keep working to build a bigger pension pot, new research from Prudential shows.
More than 710,000 people - 24% who have delayed plans to retire - fear they will now never be able to afford to retire completely because the economic slowdown or a financial emergency has had such a devastating effect on their retirement savings.
The survey shows 9% - more than 1.6 million people - have put retirement plans on hold because of financial emergencies and the effects of the recession while 7% (nearly 1.3 million people) are giving up retirement plans in favour of working in an effort to boost pensions so they can retire at a later date.
The recession has forced nearly one in five people (17%) to delay retirement for at least five years, while a further 51% believe they will have to wait between 12 months and five years before stopping work.
The clear advice is that anyone earning an income should try to begin putting money into a pension, or other savings product, as soon as possible, as the cost of delay is potentially a delay in when you can retire.
Employers should prepare for the World Cup 2010
With World Cup fever growing in the run up to the South Africa Tournament, almost one in four employees is planning on watching football matches during office hours.
Almost half of the male population and one in five females intend to watch the 2010 World Cup matches scheduled to take place during work time. Whilst some staff will have every intention of being honest and either booking annual leave or requesting flexible working during this time, a large proportion will still take the easy option of phoning in sick. Employers have also been warned to prepare for a large increase in annual leave requests during this period.
So what you can you do as an employer? Employers anticipating a spike in annual leave requests and absenteeism among football fans need to plan for the impact on staffing and productivity. There is huge goodwill to be gained from accommodating flexible working requests or allowing staff to take a couple of hours out to watch the games. With pay rises scarce and bonus's down, this is a great way to thank and engage staff while bringing a very tangible opportunity to revisit and communicate flexible working policies.
Putting screens up in workplaces or encouraging online viewing are relatively easy ways to give office-based employees access to the games in real time.
Careful planning and fairness is critical - not everyone is interested in football and those who aren't might appreciate the opportunity to pick up overtime covering for absent colleagues.
Not all matches will take place during office hours so those businesses operating outside nine-to-five hours, particularly pubs, should ask employees about their plans now as they may need to bring in temporary staff.
The key is to remain fair to all employees. By communicating at an early stage your organisations policies and plans for the World Cup period, this should reduce the number of un-authorised absences.
TeamSpirit Human Resources Software enables employees to view and update their holiday entitlement online.
Managers - TeamSpirit Time and Attendance software enables you to track and monitor staff absenteeism, authorise time off, plan and track attendance.
Employers fear hung parliament
A study by the British Chamber of Commerce has found that 65% of 300 firms surveyed were either 'concerned' or 'very concerned' about the potential of their being no clear mandate if there is no overall majority in the polls on 6th May.
That is a staggering two thirds with just 13% of those surveyed thinking that the outcome would be a 'good thing'
With the economy in still a fragile state and public finances also in a 'bad place' the overwhelming concern is whether a hung Parliament will provide the necessary stability to turnaround the UK's unsustainable deficit.
Companies obviously prefer a mandate that will lead and govern the county, but whatever the outcome on 6th May, businesses will want to see a credible plan to reduce deficit within at least 3 months of taking power.
We can only but 'watch this space!'
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