Glasgow Business . 43
www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
maters. Tey oſten don’t have the confidence to know how firm they can be with employees who are off work with sickness, but at the same time being fair. Hopefully this service will make a big difference.” While the Health & Work
Assessment Advisory Service will give employers more confidence, the new flexible time working legislation is likely to prove more problematic. From 30 June 2014, it will be
the right of all employees with more than 26 weeks service to request flexible working arrangements, for any reason including to accommodate childcare or caring for relatives, or to work from home or part time. Te employer must consider
the request, have an interview with the employee, and, where relevant, come up with a coherent business reason in writing why they cannot accommodate the request. Gina said this issue has the
potential to be “explosive”. She explained: “SMEs are generally not sure in what circumstances they can refuse a flexible working
request. Te law is quite ‘family friendly’ and it does expect employers to grant these requests unless there is significant impact on the operation of the business. It’s quite an emotive situation and greatly impacts on employees. Rejection of a request is oſten not something that an employee can readily accept, and it can potentially lead to an employee resigning and claiming constructive unfair dismissal, as well as a breach of the flexible working legislation and perhaps discrimination. “However, flexible working should not be perceived as a bad thing – if people want to work more flexibly and the business is able to grant that to them you will probably be leſt with a more engaged and motivated workforce.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
ACAS Early Conciliation
www.acas.org.uk/index. aspx?articleid=4787 Flexible working
www.acas.org.uk/index. aspx?articleid=1616
ADVERTORIAL
IMPROVE YOUR COMPANY BY TAKING STOCK OF YOUR NEEDS Consider: have you let some
Te news tells us that the recession is officially over. Unemployment is decreasing, productivity is up and all is looking rosy in the longer term. Now is the time to take stock
and be sure that all is truly well with your organisation. One of the ways that you can
do that is by auditing your processes, ensuring that the inputs, in the form of information, raw materials, purchased items and services are correct, and that your process controls are fully in place. Process Controls? Tat is, you
have the people with the correct knowledge and skills, using the correct equipment, in adequate facilities, with the right environment, and tested methods to carry out their work, turning inputs into useful outputs.
of those with the knowledge and skills go during the recession? Has some of your equipment missed planned maintenance or servicing? Are your buildings adequate for the anticipated growth? Are the methods used still appropriate? Are they captured as best practice for new starts joining your organisation? Tese are the types of
questions that could help put your plans on track for greater success and can be used for business planning, quality management systems, occupational health and safety systems and environmental management systems equally well.
FIND OUT MORE...
For more information on how QMI Scotland can help, visit
www.qmi-scotland.co.uk
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