Post election moves

The advent of this new era in politics courtesy of the coalition government means interesting – if not uncertain - times for the country and for businesses. The Queen’s Speech has given us some clarification and there will be more over the coming months.

We already have the Agency Workers Regulations and the changes to pension regulations planned for 2012 firmly on our radar.

The deadline for the introduction of the AWR is just 18 months away now. A number of our clients are taking their lead from us on introducing processes to ensure compliance. We have been heavily involved with industry body the REC from the first discussions of those particular regulations so we’re well placed to take on a valuable HR role on behalf of our clients and to advise them appropriately. Our latest initiative is our breakfast law briefing at the end of June.

The director of external relations for the REC Tom Hadley will be speaking as will local employment expert Martin Bloom from Hegarty LLP Solicitors. The seminar will provide the perfect opportunity for businesses to find out exactly what they need to do – and obviously how we can help.

Our bi monthly e-newsletter has more information about compliance and legislative changes that affect businesses. Email info@annecorder.co.uk to request your copy.

We used our visit to the House of Commons (to pick up our silver Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice) as an opportunity to lobby our Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson about the Agency Workers’ Directive - again.

We are heavily involved with our industry body the Recruitment and Employment Confederation to ensure the introduction of the new legislation – now due in October 2011 - is managed in the most efficient way possible for agencies, clients and workers.

We have been speaking to Mr Jackson on a regular basis, discussing our concerns about the legislation and the effect it may have on the economy and unemployment.
He has visited our offices - but this time we saw him on his own turf in the House of Commons.

He has previously told us he agreed the directive appeared ‘unworkable’ and he seems to agree with our belief that while the principle of protecting ‘vulnerable’ agency workers remains admirable the effect on all agency workers and those who use them could prove disastrous.

He listened to our thoughts and assured us it was something he would continue to take an interest in.

We look forward to seeing some direct action from him on this as the new session of Parliament progresses.

AWD - 2011

One of our management team Karen Dykes spent Friday in Leeds at the fourth Agency Summit to discuss the EU Agency Workers Directive draft regulations.

This Directive will give agency workers equal treatment to permanent staff 12 weeks into an assignment. It has been recognised since these regulations were first discussed that there is going to be a huge impact on the recruitment industry – we’re going to be in the frontline of its delivery.

We now know it’s going to be implemented on October 1, 2011.

The good news is that its introduction has been delayed until then. The over-riding feeling among agencies is that this legislation is going to stall demand for temps as companies manage without rather than incurring the costs involved in implementing the new rules. With the economy as it is if that had happened now it could have proved disastrous.

The other win as far as we’re concerned is the second consultation period which the government has agreed to before the legislation is rubber stamped early next year.

It’s another eight weeks grace for us to lobby parliament and our MPs about the nitty gritty of the document. There is a lot of ambiguity within it and some loopholes which must be dealt with.

We will be continuing to work with the REC and other agencies to ensure that when the final document is produced it is both realistic and workable. And once it’s been through parliament and is on the statute books we will be working with our clients to ensure that its implementation is as smooth as possible.

AWD latest news

The Agency Workers Directive isn’t a ‘sexy’ subject like house prices, tax rises and public spending. But I was delighted to see it on the agenda at this season’s political party conferences. It means the Directive, and its implications, are being seriously considered by our politicians.

The REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation)was at each of the conferences, representing its members – which includes ACR – and putting the case against the immediate implementation of this legislation.

Political arguments aren’t my style but I was pleased to see that at least one of the major parties seemed to understand the concerns that thousands of agencies like ours share about the impact the introduction of the Directive will have on an already slack labour market.

The European Parliament has stipulated the Directive must be brought in by December 2011 at the latest. There has been a suggestion it will actually be on the statute books by next April. That makes us very nervous. Our worry is that the cost of putting in place the necessary strategies to deal with the Directive – let alone the cost of actually funding the new rules – will mean many small businesses, charities and the like will simply refuse to use temporary staff. This could be disastrous – not only for industry but for the already precarious employment market.

Our argument is that the Directive – inspired by a desire to offer more extensive protection to ‘vulnerable’ agency workers – is going to have a negative effect on all agency workers.

The REC is holding a conference next month which should give us more information about how we can continue to fight to delay the introduction of the Directive.

MP Stewart Jackson pledges support

We believe passionately in what we do and in providing the very best service to our clients and candidates.

That’s why we’ve taken a stand against the new Agency Workers Directive – well before it reached – and was passed in – Europe.

And we’re delighted to say that we have the full backing of our MP Stewart Jackson.
On the surface the directive is a positive step – offering temporary workers equal treatment to their permanent counterparts.
In reality it could prove the death knell for a range of temporary roles in companies, charities and groups across the region as they struggle to meet the estimated 20 per cent increase in the cost of using temporary workers and to cover the administratve burden.

Unfortunately, the legislation is now set to be introduced – despite the best efforts of us, our trade body the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and other agencies like us – with just the date to be fixed.

We’re asking it be pushed back until the last possible moment – October 2011.
Mr Jackson agrees.

We invited him to our office to discuss the directive and to urge him to support us.
After listening to our arguments he agreed the directive appeared ‘unworkable’ and said ‘we need to keep the pressure on the Government’.
He hinted that if the Conservatives were to win the next election, he would push for the directive to be ‘killed off – or least watered down’.

We’d be delighted if that were to happen though we feel it’s probably more realistic to fight for delaying the introduction of the legislation.

We’ve asked Mr Jackson to be in Parliament on the day it’s discussed to fight our corner.
I’ll keep you posted on future developments.