HR BURDEN ‘SIGNIFICANT’ FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. A recent study by the Institute of Directors and Adecco has found that managers and owners of small businesses are spending up to one day a week dealing with HR issues. The Small Business Recruitment and Retention Survey found that 55% of SME owners are fulfilling the HR director’s role themselves without any outside help. 88% find it challenging to find the right staff; 67% cite keeping the staff happy as their number 1 HR priority while 53% find this goal the most difficult thing to achieve. On average 46% of an SME’s annual turnover is spent on wages so building and maintaining staff loyalty and subsequently retaining staff are becoming more and more of an issue for SMEs. For advice on improving staff retention contact HR@bravanark.co.uk

THINK FIT – THINK HEALTHY As obesity levels continue to rise in the UK the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and the BBC are both doing their bit to promote healthier work environments. The BBC has just launched the BBC Big Challenge Health Works Awards 2005. If you encourage your staff and colleagues to lead healthier and fitter lives or provide a healthy work environment for your workforce these may the awards for you. The closing date for applications is 2 December 2005. For further details visit www.bbc.co.uk/bigchallenge/healthyworkplace/awards/. If you want to promote a healthier work environment but don’t know where to start consider the BHF Think Fit! Workplace pack. For a donation of £25 you’ll receive a guide to developing a workplace activity programme, an activity wallplanner, a simple guide to good health for employees, a t-shirt, posters, screensaver and a PowerPoint presentation. You can order your pack at www.bhf.org.uk/publications/ (enter a search for Think Fit in the publications section). The BHF is also hosting a one-day Fit for Work conference promoting physical activity in the workplace. It’s on 20 October 2005 at Leicester City Football ground and details can be downloaded from: http://www.bhfactive.org.uk/conferences/index.htm. For further advice contact HR@bravanark.co.uk or HS@bravanark.co.uk.

EXTREME MAKEOVER Would you consider a request for sick pay to be acceptable if the reason for an employee’s absence was because he/she was undergoing cosmetic-only surgery (i.e. a non-medically required procedure)? As more and more people opt for a nip here or a tuck there, consider the implications for your absence and sick pay policies. You may need to review your policies so there are no ambiguities and everyone understands what is and isn’t acceptable. For advice and guidance on developing and implementing policies contact HR@bravanark.co.uk.

NOISE AT WORK New noise regulations are due to come into force in April 2006 and to help prepare businesses for them the HSE and IOSH have joined forces to present Sound Off, a 2-day conference dedicated to the impending regulations. To be held on 11-12 October 2005 at Earls Court in London the conference will provide advice across all areas of business but will also focus on some ‘high risk’ industries: Construction and manufacturing (on day 1) and Music, entertainment and local authorities (on day 2). Further information can be found at: http://www.sound-off.co.uk/. The European week of Safety and Health has also chosen noise as its theme this year. The week runs from 24-28 October 2005. For further information about dealing with noise at work contact HS@bravanark.co.uk.

APOSTROPHES HIT BOTTOM LINE According to a recent study commissioned by Royal Mail, bad spelling and grammar could be costing UK businesses up to £41 billion in lost sales. Apparently more than 70% of customers would not trust a company with poor literacy skills! For advice about staff development and improving basic skills contact HR@bravanark.co.uk

LATEST HS STATISTICS RELEASED The HSE has published its latest statistics on work related ill health in Great Britain. Similar to previous years the most common types of work related illness were musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and mental ill health, consisting mostly of stress, depression and anxiety. The jobs most likely to cause MSD were typists, metal plate workers, shipwrights and riveters, and road construction workers. The most commonly reported factor contributing to work related mental ill health was simple work pressure. How stressed are you? Click on the health and safety tab above and complete our online questionnaire. For advice about manual handling and/or DSE risk assessments contact HS@bravanark.co.uk. For information about improving the work-life balance of your staff contact HR@bravanark.co.uk.

DISCRIMINATION STILL HIGH ON COMPENSATION AGENDA The Equal Opportunities Commission has published statistics that point to a £6.2 million payout by employers to employees in compensation claims brought under sex, race and disability discrimination laws. Although there was a 3.5% decrease in the number of claims pursued through the courts, the total compensation bill increased by 44%. Disability discrimination cases – accounting for 25% of the claims made – were awarded the highest levels of compensation averaging £28,889. 59% and 15% of cases were brought under sex and race discrimination laws respectively.

DDA REVISED CODE OF PRACTICE - CONSULTATION The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) has been amended by the DDA 2005. Most of the changes will come into effect in December 2006 and there is currently an opportunity to comment upon the draft code of practice which revises the existing code in line with the 2005 amendments. There are no changes to the duties of those already covered by Part III of the DDA but a few extra areas have been brought under the umbrella of the DDA, namely: public authorities (some of whose functions previously weren’t covered by the Act); private clubs (with regards their member activities that were previously not covered); and the housing sector (where new duties will be placed upon those letting, controlling or managing property). The consultation period runs from 15 August – 14 November 2005. Further details can be downloaded at: www.drc.org.uk/thelaw/consultation.asp. For further information about Part III of the DDA contact Access@bravanark.co.uk

ANTI-BULLYING TARGETED The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has launched in conjunction with Acas and Unison Bullying in the Workplace – Guidance for Managers which explains how to deal with bullying in the workplace. Download the leaflet at www.managers.org.uk/bullying. For help on implementing policies and procedures contact HR@bravanark.co.uk

LEGAL STUFF Amongst others the National Minimum Wage Regulations and the Employment Equality (Sex Discrimination) Regulations both come into force on 1 October this year. The National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 (Amendment) Regulations 2005 increase the minimum hourly rate from £4.85 to £5.05 per hour and the development rate from £4.10 to £4.25 per hour. The rate for young workers aged 16-17 who have ceased to be compulsory school age remains unchanged at £3.00 per hour. The Employment Equality (Sex Discrimination) Regulations 2005 introduce for all employers and providers of vocational training amongst other things: a new definition of indirect sex discrimination; they prohibit harassment and sexual harassment; they make it clear that less favourable treatment of women on grounds of pregnancy or maternity leave is unlawful sex discrimination; they extend the protection for people who work overseas for a company in Great Britain; they introduce a new 8-week time limit within which a respondent must reply to any questions asked by an aggrieved person. (This list is not exhaustive).

DID YOU KNOW... Company car drivers cause more fatal accidents by drink driving than any other group of road users.

AND FINALLY...... A word of advice - found on a packet of Sainsbury’s peanuts: "Warning: contains nuts"

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