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23/11/2011
Reducing Protections Will Not Save Jobs – Union
One of the UK's largest unions has hit out at proposals from the Business Secretary that would see workers losing a number of protections in the workplace.
On Wednesday afternoon, Vince Cable will set out a number of changes, such as "protected conversations", which would allow employers to have private conversations about performance without the right for these to be submitted to a tribunal.
Other adjustments include a "call for evidence" on the length of time required for a consultation period on planned redundancies from 90 days to 30.
There will also be a new requirement for all claims to go to the conciliation service Acas before reaching employment tribunal and options for a "rapid resolution scheme" for more simple cases to be settled within three months.
Mr Cable is expected to claim the government will save £10 million and benefit employers by around £40 million.
However, commenting on the proposals, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said that reducing protection for people at work would not save or create a single job.
"It's not employment law that is holding firms back, it's the tough economic climate," Mr Barber said.
He added that research from the OECD showed there was no link between regulation and economic output and pointed out that German employees had many more protections at work than the UK yet their economy was the strongest in Europe.
"At a time when thousands of jobs are under threat as a result of the government's austerity programme, reducing the time that organisations have to consult with their employees whose jobs are at risk of redundancy flies in the face of good sense.
"The move will have little impact on the company but it will make a huge difference to staff worried about their futures, increasing their stress at what can be a hugely traumatic time."
Mr Barber added that allowing conversations at work over difficult issues like retirement or poor performance to take place but not permitting their record to be referred to in a tribunal, was "hugely worrying".
"This could simply provide the perfect cover for rogue bosses to bully at whim without fear of ever being found out."
(DW)
On Wednesday afternoon, Vince Cable will set out a number of changes, such as "protected conversations", which would allow employers to have private conversations about performance without the right for these to be submitted to a tribunal.
Other adjustments include a "call for evidence" on the length of time required for a consultation period on planned redundancies from 90 days to 30.
There will also be a new requirement for all claims to go to the conciliation service Acas before reaching employment tribunal and options for a "rapid resolution scheme" for more simple cases to be settled within three months.
Mr Cable is expected to claim the government will save £10 million and benefit employers by around £40 million.
However, commenting on the proposals, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said that reducing protection for people at work would not save or create a single job.
"It's not employment law that is holding firms back, it's the tough economic climate," Mr Barber said.
He added that research from the OECD showed there was no link between regulation and economic output and pointed out that German employees had many more protections at work than the UK yet their economy was the strongest in Europe.
"At a time when thousands of jobs are under threat as a result of the government's austerity programme, reducing the time that organisations have to consult with their employees whose jobs are at risk of redundancy flies in the face of good sense.
"The move will have little impact on the company but it will make a huge difference to staff worried about their futures, increasing their stress at what can be a hugely traumatic time."
Mr Barber added that allowing conversations at work over difficult issues like retirement or poor performance to take place but not permitting their record to be referred to in a tribunal, was "hugely worrying".
"This could simply provide the perfect cover for rogue bosses to bully at whim without fear of ever being found out."
(DW)
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