Work Related Issues

Foreign Workers

The Healthe & Safety Executuive (HSE) has produced a number of leaflets, safety documents and basic signs in up to 40 different languages.
They are available free from website : www.hse.gov.uk/languages/index.htm
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Work Related Violence

There are 1.3m attacks on workers each year.   Designed to help SME’s, a general guidance leaflet ‘Violence at Work, a Guide for Employers’ is available free from HSE Books, Tel: 01787 881165

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Work Related Stress

A free ‘Stress Action Pack’ is available from HSE Action Line, Tel: 0845 6081818

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Maximum Working Temperature

There is no legal maximum or minimum temperature as regulations call for a ‘reasonable’ temperature only in the Approved Code of Practice, with a guideline of 13 degrees minimum for sedentary work. The TUC is calling for a maximum working temperature of 30 degrees

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Injury and Sickness at Work

Injuries and sickness at work cost the British Economy £14 billion annually. The HSE Annual Report showed highest rate of injury occurs within the first three months of employment. An average £5k fine is imposed following prosecutions. A TUC report says the most significant problems affecting employees are stress, back pain, infections and repetitive strain injuries

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Employment Bill

From April 2003 it is expected that employers should have minimum disciplinary and grievance procedures written into their contracts

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dignity at Work Bill

When this becomes law it will protect employees against behaviour that is offensive, abusive, malicious, insulting or intimidating from customers, other employees or the employer. The law will require employers to have a policy statement, a procedure and the appointment of a responsible person

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Staff Training

Small firms found that companies spending £50 per week on training saw profits grow by 11.4% with only 6.3% growth from those who did not

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Employees Telephone Numbers

An employer does not have the right to demand an employee’s telephone number unless it is specified in the contract that the employee has to be available outside normal working hours   An employer could be sued for invasion of privacy under the Human Rights Act if they phone their staff at home with unnecessary or inappropriate calls

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Parental Leave

The Government is expected to extend the current leave scheme to include unpaid time off to be with children up to age 7 (currently age 5). Another change may be the 13 weeks leave, currently available over the period until the child reaches 5 (in blocks of no more than 4 weeks per year) could be taken in any one year. 65% of mothers’ work and 54.4% have children under 5

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Did you know

68% of all new jobs created in the whole economy were in retail and there were just over 2.5million retail employees in Great Britain at the end of 2000

Retailing accounts for 1 in 9 of the UK workforce

Retail sales accounted for 24% of the GDP in 2000

On line retail sales have tripled since 2000 and are predicted to be £92.7bn in 2006

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Avoiding Accidents

The DTI have issued a leaflet with a 10 point guide to avoiding accidents entitled ‘The Green Grass Code’
Copies from DTI - Tel: 0870 150 2500 or Fax: 0870 150 2333 quoting URN 98/779c

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP)

HSMP has been extended indefinitely. This system allows migrants from outside the European Union with necessary skills and experience to enter the UK to find work. The system works on a points basis: points being awarded for educational achievements, work experience and past earnings.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Information and Consultation Directive

The directive will require that staff are informed and consulted on issues including employment prospects, work organisation changes or redundancies, transfers etc.; it will take effect in 2005 for firms with 150 employees or more, in 2007 for companies with over 100 employees and in 2008 for companies with 50 or more

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Minimum Wage

Just a reminder that from 1st October 2006 the minimum wage for adults age 22 plus rises to £5.35 and £4.45 for 18-21 year olds with £3.30 for 16-17 year old.
For further iformation on Minimum Wage related issues check the web-site 'national minimum wage uk'.
The Helpline telephone number is: 0845 600 0678

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reasons for Dismissal

An employee is entitled to ask for written reasons for dismissal provided they have worked for a company more than 12 months. A written reason should be well thought out, accurate and capable of being supported by evidence
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________