CM Oct'09 64+4pp 19/10/09 13:03 Page 4
News & Comment
Be prepared, be very prepared
I had to laugh when I saw the recent news story about prison its employees who may be coming into frequent contact with a
inmates drinking alcohol based hand cleansers that had been variety of viruses in different workplaces. Products must be
brought into the prison as a Swine Flu protection measure, used correctly in order to work, so refresher training on
(though my granny did always recommend whiskey for a cold). products and procedure before the next predicted wave is
What does it say about us as a nation, that we would rather worth bearing in mind.
have a good time than be safe from infection?
It is predicted that a second wave of Swine Flu will hit the UK
this winter. The government, the health service and cleaning
businesses are all going with the same message, prevention is
better than cure, and if it does hit, regular, thorough cleaning
can help to contain it.
Hands are important. Proper cleansing with proven P.S. Hello to all I met at the BICSc Awards and I
products, alcohol based or otherwise, needs to be done hope to catch up with some more of you at the
frequently. Any public washroom needs to provide the Golden Service Awards in October.
facilities to enable correct hand washing procedures, and any
Gerardine Coyne
public building needs to have a strict cleaning schedule,
editor – Cleaning Matters
focusing on areas where many hands meet.
Tel: 01342 333721
The cleaning business will be relied upon to supply products
email: gcoyne@progressive-media.co.uk
and information to its clients. However, it must not forget about
Are you a small business struggling with the law?
The Forum of Private Business including those related to compliance with flexible working issues and £1,175m on holidays and
(FPB) has launched its new employment such as increases in procedures and compensation, any other remaining aspects of
Employment Guide to help small the National Minimum Wage should a statement of employment employment legislation. The
businesses comply with (NMW) and an increase in the cost particulars not be provided to an average time per month spent on
employment law, which can be a of redundancy. employee.” all of these different aspects of
headache for companies forced to “Many firms are worried that Goodman urges entrepreneurs employment law was found to be
make redundancies because of the to put in place watertight around 10 hours for each small
recession or dismiss staff following procedures via the FPB’s business.
disciplinary breaches. “smaller-business Employment Guide, which is Companies in the south east
According to the FPB’s recent
employers spend £259m
updated annually and contains were found to spend the most on
Referendum survey on the ‘Cost of guidance on every aspect of employment law, at £361 million
Compliance’, complying with
per year on work
employment, including practical per year. London firms faced the
employment legislation is the
associated with
help on complying with the law. second-highest bill at £332m,
costliest administrative burden The data from the Tribunals followed by £272m for those in the
faced by small businesses in the UK,
dismissals and
Service shows that the number of north west. Smaller businesses in
totalling almost £2.4bn per year.
redundancy”
employment tribunals in the UK the north east faced the smallest
Now, new figures from the FPB’s soared from more than 115,000 in annual bill for complying with
members’ helpline service show 2005 to almost 190,000 in 2008. employment law, at £71m.
that more than one in three of all they are not following the correct According to the FPB's research, Earlier this year, the FPB launched
calls in August 2009 related to redundancy procedures when they money spent by smaller businesses www.smallbusinesschannel.co.uk
employment matters – more than have to lay off staff,” says the FPB’s on complying with employment to provide entrepreneurs with free,
any other issue. Redundancy policy representative, Matt law surpasses the £2.1bn per year concise, video-based information on
queries amounted to 14% of the Goodman.“Looking ahead to spent on health and safety business-related issues including
total, with calls about dismissals October’s one-off increase in the administration and the £1.8bn on employment law. The site's content
accounting for 7%. Calls about weekly wage limit used to calculate tax. includes advice on employment
short-time working amounted to redundancy payments, they are also The survey found that smaller- legislation from the FPB's
just 2% of the total number. Queries concerned that it is becoming a business employers spend £259m employment adviser, Jane Caven, a
about disciplinary matters made up more expensive process. per year on work associated with human resources specialist and
12% of all calls. “The increase will also affect dismissals and redundancy. They non-executive director of the FPB.
On 1 October 2009, business other statutory compensation spend a further £391m on absence For more information, call
owners will be expected to cope payments, including unfair dismissal control and management, £237m 0845 612 6266 or visit
with a raft of legal changes, awards, compensation for non- on maternity, £333m on disciplinary www.fpb.org/employmentguide
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