smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Going the extra mile

Going that extra mile and selling harder doesn’t necessarily mean...
Have your say »

RSS

Businesses 'need to watch out for age discrimination laws'

Mar 20 2008

Awareness of the age discrimination regulation is 'comparatively low' within small firms, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Diversity officer for the institute Freda Line says that in the event of a recession, age discrimination rules would 'make it more difficult for employers to dump wholesale loads of older workers'.

The organisation says that employees are often more aware of their rights than employers.

'I'm not convinced that the government's age positive campaign and the work of other organisations has really reached out into smaller businesses,' she adds.

Despite the closer relationship that many small employers have with their staff, 'organisations can be careless' because of a lack of HR support, she explains.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the employment rate of people aged between 50 and the state retirement age rose from around 62 per cent to approximately 70 per cent between 1994 and 2004.

Comments

There are currently no comments on this article

Prize Draw

Free prize draw!

Smallbusiness.co.uk has teamed up with Avery® Quick&Clean™ Business Cards to offer five lucky readers the chance to win a copy of BBC Dragons' Den James Caan's new book The Real Deal and a pack of Avery® premium heavyweight business cards. To enter the prize draw, simply answer our question here

Polls

Latest News

Companies 'should focus on staff skills'

The current climate makes it more critical for businesses to invest in developing people and increasing their skills.

Safety representatives 'key' for businesses

Safety representatives are crucial to achieving successful health and safety in the workplace, the watchdog's boss says.

Bosses should help fight staff obesity

Employers should help staff battle obesity with healthy eating options, as it will lead to a more productive workforce.

Bosses 'need to tackle stress'

Company bosses need to identify stress in staff early and ensure they are tackling it before it becomes a more serious problem, an expert advises.

Work bullying 'could get worse'

Nine in ten people think they are a victim of workplace bullying, with one organisation warning this could get worse in the credit crunch.

Redundancies should be 'last resort'

Redundancies should be a last resort as they cost companies on average £10,000 each time and lead to a loss of credibility.

Government encourages companies to train

The government has launched a series of ad campaigns to encourage businesses to train staff and promote the benefits of doing so.

Video CVs 'could discriminate'

A rising use of online video CVs to apply for jobs could leave candidates open to a new form of discrimination, an industry body has warned.

Funding given to train staff

Around £27 million of European Social Fund money is being issued to help employers ensure their staff have the right skills for their jobs.

New dispute measures to save time and money

New measures which will simplify the workplace resolution system are to reach parliament today, in moves which could save firms up to £175 million a year.

Compulsory retirement 'would restrict start-ups'

Many retirees who intend to set up their own firm could be stopped by the compulsory retirement age from the government.

Guides & Tips

How to fight workplace bullying

Bullying affects up to one in ten employees. But intimidating behaviour, as displayed by presenters Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, can go unnoticed. Here Steve Williams, head of equality services at employment expert Acas and SmallBusiness.co.uk offer some tips for banning bullying.

Avoiding stress in the workplace

Stress at work is no laughing matter, with 13.5 million working days lost to businesses last year. Here, SmallBusiness.co.uk and charity The Eden Project offer some tips to defuse office tension.

Redundancy: softening the blow

It is never easy making someone you know redundant. But it can be even harder when you’ve worked closely with them in a small business environment.

Don't Miss

Redundancy is not the only option

Many SMEs will have to control staffing costs over the coming months. Smallbusiness.co.uk has teamed up with Simon Kite, a partner at chartered accountants Saffery Champness, to offer some tips on how to cut costs and avoid the redundancy route

Recruiting for a small business

The recruitment process can seem daunting if it’s your first time, especially given the importance of hiring the right staff.

Webchat: The employer's apprentice

Stephen Gardner, director of apprenticeships at the Learning and Skills Council and Gina Mcdowell, finalist in the Large Employer of the Year category of the Apprenticeship Awards in 2006, are taking part in a live webchat to educate employers about recruiting apprentices for business success.

Store

FT Guide to Personal Tax

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Tax Guide, the FT Guide to Personal Tax is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and Jonquil Lowe, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as 100 tax-saving tips.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide, the FT Guide to Business Start Up is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc, this unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.