Economic Turmoil

It is hard to keep up with the rush of grim economic news. It is clear, however, that many organisations are going to have to cope with a period of reduced demand and increased pressure on cash.

The winners will be the ones with the right products and services, the best relationships with their customers and the most engaged and high performing staff.

Regular readers will have seen our check list of how effective HR management can save you money - please contact Campbell on 01494 478806 or e-mail campbell@hradvantage.co.uk  if you would like a copy - and will know that we offer flexible cost effective expert help throughout periods of change. Hard times or not, when it comes to people management there are better and worse ways of doing things (and we mean in terms of the results you achieve, we haven't come over all warm and cuddly) and the costs of getting it wrong are still as big.

Call us for advice and guidance as and when you need it.

Retirement Age

The UK's interpretation of European age discrimination law, which allows employers to retire staff at the age of 65, is being challenged in the European Court. The first round of the process - the view of the Advocate General - makes it look like the current position will be maintained. But it will not be until we know if this opinion is supported by the European Court of Justice, and then by a judgement in the UK court's sometime next year on whether the Government can 'objectively justify' its approach, that we will have a definitive decision. In the meantime employers will continue to be plagued by uncertainty.

The pragmatic answer is to continue to operate the retirement request rules as required by current legislation and be as accommodating as reasonably possible to requests for continued working. For more information or help with any specific concerns please contact Lynne on 01494 455073 or e-mail lynne@hradvantage.co.uk .