April news

In the news…

‘Frivolous’ claims responsible for huge rise in tribunal claims

‘Personnel Today’ has canvassed senior HR figures over data which shows a 40% rise in tribunal applications and found many of them concerned that the process encouraged claims with little or no chance of success.
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Flexible workforce solutions gather further pace

Thompson airways pilots have voted to accept a pay cut, Jaguar Land Rover staff have agreed to a four day week and 85% of KPMG’s employees have voted to accept changes to their terms and conditions – all as an alternative to compulsory redundancies.
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New paid leave for fathers demanded by equalities watchdog

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has challenged the UK’s maternity and paternity leave provision as the most unequal in Europe and has said that fathers should be entitled to a minimum of four months paid absence from work.
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Increased National Insurance costs will discourage employment

Accountancy firm MacIntyre Hudson has reported that 94% of a survey of 450 SMEs view next year’s planned increase in employers National Insurance contributions as sufficient to prevent them taking on new staff.
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Whistle while you work

We’re indebted to the excellent Lucy Kellaway at the FT for this:

Last week’s column remarked on how few pop songs there were about office life. This prompted a heroic search by FT readers for further examples. Thanks to their efforts, I’ve been able to put together a white-collar Top 10. It goes like this…

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Legal update

Employment Act 2008

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