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The level of job insecurity among public sector workers has risen significantly since the mid-2000s, a survey from the Workplace Employment Relations Study (WERS) has revealed.

Close to 47% of all microbusiness owners and sole traders feel that they’re working harder than ever before, with new technology keeping them connected to their work at all times.

More than half of UK workers believe that their managers don’t do enough in order to motivate them, which leads to lower overall performance levels within teams, a brand new study by benefits provider Edenred has revealed.

The Government’s Help to Buy scheme has managed to drive a significant surge in the construction sector, Housing Minister Kris Hopkins has recently revealed during a visit at a brick factory in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The UK manufacturing sector is set to grow by 2.7% over the course of 2014, at a faster rate than the overall UK economy, an industry report published by the UK manufacturers’ organisation EEF has revealed.

Eligible SMEs in the East of England region will be able to access investment funds between £25,000 and £75,000 for implementing low carbon business projects under a new scheme that’s just been announced by the Low Carbon Innovation Fund (

Despite being able to collect specific data regarding their employees’ activity, the large majority of companies don’t use it properly in order to drive business decisions, a new report carried out by Alexander Mann Solutions and the HRO Today Institute between May and September this year has suggests.

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  The Civil Aviation Working Time Regulations are law from 13th April 2004 and are the UK�s implementation of the European Working Time Directive for Mobile Workers working in the civil aviation sector. The regulations apply to all people employed as crew members on board a civil aircraft flying for the purposes of public transport. Under the new rules each person must have a minimum of four weeks paid annual leave health assessments to ensure fitness to work at night  a pattern of work that affords adequate rest breaks  no more than 900 hours flying time a year  a total working time no more than 2,000 hours in a year  at least 7 rest days a month and no lees than 96 in a year Employers must  supply the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on demand with information relating to the working patterns and Time & Attendance information of crew members retain this information for at least 2 years maintain some form of Time & Attendance system Any person, body corporate, director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate who fails to adhere to the above will be guilty of offence and shall be liable to prosecution. Click here to review the Tensor Time & Attendance and Personnel systems  that help aviation companies adhere to the new laws.

ACAS has produced a guidance document to help employers with the new "sexual orientation anti-discrimination" laws which came into force at the end of 2003. The document can be found at http://www.acas.org.uk/publications/pdf/guide_sexualO.pdf  Employers need to be aware of the risks to them of possible claims of "harassment in the workplace", an area where the greatest number of claims are likely to arise.  The lobby group, Stonewall, have also produced a guide highlighting a list of Best Practice bullet points for employers. This can be found at http://www.stonewall.org.uk 

Employers need to be aware of new laws that come into force on 14th April 2003 which extend the protection given to blind or partially sighted people. The legislation makes it clear to employers that people who are certified blind or partially sighted will be classed as �disabled� for the purposes of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.  This means that blind and partially sighted people cannot be discriminated against in employment the supply of goods, facilities and services the disposal of premises in education The updated legislation has resulted from recommendations made in the ‘From Exclusion to Inclusion’ report published by the Rights Task Force, set up by Government in 1999. You can get a copy of the regulations from the Government at  www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2003/20030712.htm

  The Government has just announced details of impending legislation requiring employers to inform and consult staff on key business decisions. The new law is the implementation of the EEC Directive requiring employee consultation in all countries by 2005. For the first time, business employing more than 50 people have a statutory requirement to consult employees on an array of business matters.  Businesses must set up formal consultation processes if more than 10% of employees request it.  Businesses who don�t consult face fines of up to �75,000 from tribunals. Companies who demonstrate existing arrangements (formal agreement with employee representatives or union officials) may hold a further workforce ballot where more than 40% have to vote in favour. Employers have 6 months after a vote in favour to reach agreement with employee representatives on the best way forward. However, no compulsion to set up �continental style� workers councils. If employees and employers cannot agree arrangements the EEC Directive requires a committee to be formed. This must meet regularly to discuss the business situation, structure and probable development of employment within the organisation. Businesses must discuss decisions likely to affect the organisation with the committee in the first instance. Discussions must be genuine, "with a view to reaching an agreement"; but no requirement to obtain consent before proceeding with any plans. Ed: One of the best ways to survey your workforce is with Lightning Survey