Laydown
forthelaw?
Let’s talk expenses
Whatwithalltherevelations
Rules,rules,rules!Andno,we’re aboutthecodeofconductin
notbemoaningthem–youare! Westminster’scorridorsofpower
That’saccordingtoarecruitment overthelastfewweeks,it’s
scoringwebsite,who’vediscovered highlylikelyemployersare
Britishworkersjustdon’tlike OtherrulesBritshatetofollow givingexpensesclaimsfortheir
followingorders. includescheduledtoiletbreaks staffanewlyenergisedscrutiny.
It’snosurprisethatawhopping andtheirworkplace’scall Whilewecanassumesuch
94percentofBritsadmitthey answeringprocedure. claimsareunlikelytostretchto
hatebeingtoldwhattodo, LisetteHowlett,managing moatclearance,helipad
butUKrecruitmentscorers directorofhirescores.com,says
CHRISWATERS
maintenance,mortgage
www.hirescores.comhas whileitmayfeellikeourfreedoms
uncoveredtherulesBritsmost arebeingcurtailed,there’s
MORTIMERS
paymentsonpropertieswhich
hatetofollowatwork. generallyareasonbehindrules
SOLICITORS
don’tactuallyhaveamortgage,
daughters’ridinglessons,
Theseincludeinternetpolicies, beingputinplace. secretary’shairstylingandsoforth,humannature–ifwecan
scheduledlunchbreaksanddress “Givingpeoplechoiceis useourchosenrepresentativesinParliamentasabarometer
codes.But,surprisingly,morethan invariablythebestoptionforan –suggestsemployeesstillhandinexpensesformstothe
onein10Britsgetannoyedwith employer,”sheexplains.“For companyaccountsdepartmentwhichare,atbest,questionable.
havingnorulestofollowatall. example,askingateamifthey Andhowwoulddisclosuresofimproperconductrelatingto
Thewebsitestudied1,017Brits wanttheirbreaksonaformalrota expensesintheworkplacebedealtwithandwhatwouldthe
andfoundathirdhatetheirwork’s oriftheywanttomanageit publicperceptionofthisbe?
nointernetrulebutalmosta themselvescanworkbetterthan Financialirregularitiesbetweenemployeeandemployerare
quarterconfesstheirproductivity simplyimposingarule. viewedextremelyseriously,notonlybytheemployerbutalso,
levelswouldprobablydecreaseif “It’sinterestingtoseehowmany eventually,bythecourtsdependingontheirseverity.
theycouldusetheinternet. peoplethinknegativelyabout Thelaypersonrecognisesitastantamounttotheft.Inlegal
Interestingly,theideaofthe havingnorulesatall.Thekeytoa speakit’sabreachoftrustandabreachoffiduciaryduties.
customeralwaysbeingright satisfiedandmotivatedworkforce ThedisreputeofcertainelementsoftheHouseofCommons
annoysoneinsixBrits,allof isfindingahappymedium.” hasbeencausedbyaseriousbreachoftrustbetweenMPsand
whomadmitthatbeingpoliteto theirconstituents.IfMPsareemployedbytheirconstituents,
rudepeopleisnotarulethey Formoreinformation: whichinamannerofspeakingtheyare,onewouldexpectthem
shouldhavetofollow. www.hirescores.com tobeupondisciplinarychargesandtheretobeafull
investigationandadisciplinaryhearing.
Ifemployeeswerefoundguiltyinaninternaldisciplinary
childrenaged16orunderto companywithfixedhoursand hearingofobtainingmoneyillegitimatelyfromtheiremployers
havetherighttorequestmore betterpay.” whichisconsideredtobegrossmisconduct,summarydismissal
flexibleworking. Markbelievesallemployers wouldfollow.
Theabilitytochooseworkhours shouldgoaboveandbeyond MPs,ofcourse,havethebenefitofbeinganswerabletothe
andlocationissaidtoleadto therequirementsofthelaw.He publiceveryfiveyears.Butwhatwouldhappenifthesesame
reducedabsenteeismand says:“Thisisimportantinthe casesofbreachoftrustwenttothecriminalcourts?We
increasedperformance,butfor recession.Althoughitmay probablywon’tgettoknow.
Markitgoesbeyondthat. seemit’sanemployers’market, What’sbeenfoxingmeiswhotheheadoftheCommons’fees
“Offeringflexibleworkingisa youcan’taffordtotaketherisk officeis?Youwonderwhythey’renotonadisciplinarycharge
smartwaytokeepholdofkey ofkeystaffmovingwhen themselvesforallowingthesemisdemeanours.
staffforlonger,”hesays.“Ifyou businessistough.” Ifthere’sonethingemployersshouldbegratefultotheMPs’
don’thavetheresourcestooffer Acas,Britain’semployment expensesscandalforisthepromptingtoputinplaceairtight
extrapayorcashbenefits,more relationsservice,haspublished structuresintheirownsystemforsupportingexpenseclaims.
flexibleworkingisthenextbest anewbooklet,Flexible Theseshouldbevigorousemphasisonthepresentationof
retentiontool. WorkingandWork-Life receipts,ensuringthey’retransparentinnature,andthey
“Oncethey’recomfortableand Balance,tohelpemployers shouldmakesurealltheiremployeesareawarethatreasonable
havethebasicsright,peopletend andemployeesunderstand expenseshavetobesupportedbylegitimatereceipts.
tostayinrolesbecausetheirjob howflexibleworkingcan Withoutthesestrictandclearlylaidoutparametersforwhat
fitswellwiththeirhomelife.A benefittheirworkplace. constitutesvalidorunfairexpenseclaims,it’sfarmoredifficult
businessthatpaysslightlylessbut forthemtotryanddisciplineemployeeswithbreachoftrust.
offersflexibleworkingislikelyto Formoreinformation: JustaskthecollectiveemployerofMPs:us,thetaxpayer.
haveabetterretentionratethana www.acas.org.uk Wanttoknowmore? Tel: 01746 761000.
July-August2009|BorderBusiness|37
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