The Information and Consultation Regulations will give employees in organisations employing over 50 staff the right to be informed and consulted about the business they work for, including prospects for employment and substantial changes in work organisation or contractual relations. The Regulations will apply to organisations with 150 or more employees from 6 April 2005.

So What Issues Will Be Subject To Information & Consultation?

Subjects might include profit and loss, sales performance, productivity, structure, divestments, market developments and strategic plans. Decisions likely to lead to substantial changes in work organisation could cover:

• Working time and practices
• Pension and welfare issues
• Pay
• raining and development
• Merger and acquisition
• Outsourcing
• Equal opportunity
• Employment plans
• Restructuring
• Transfer of undertakings
• Health, safety and environment
• Collective redundancies

What Is Consultation?

Consultation is about management providing sufficient information to employee representatives, allowing for employee representatives to consider the information and respond to management feedback on that opinion. On decisions that are likely to lead to substantial changes in work organisation, or contractual relations, consultation must be carried out with a view to reaching agreement.

Training

Training (for management and employee representatives) is likely to be essential if information and consultation arrangements are to be effective.

Key Points for Employers

• If the Regulations apply to you, you should now be thinking about how you want to respond. At the very least you should be able to describe what you intend to do (which may be do nothing) and why.
• HR Advantage's team of senior consultants are employee relations specialists: take the chance to talk to Stuart, Mark or Campbell. Call 01494 435310 or email stuart@hradvantage.co.uk to get started.
•   Book yourself on an HR Advantage 'Information and Consultation Masterclass' - a tailored two to three hour structured introduction, positioning and planning session on how best to respond to the Regulations. Call Theresa on 01494 435310 for more information.
• Remember, research shows that organisations that involve employees in employment matters are likely to benefit through increased motivation and commitment.

January 2005