smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Are you working too hard?

News that UK entrepreneurs are clocking up 50-hour weeks will...
Have your say »

RSS

Businesses 'should get mediation sooner'

Jul 17 2008

Employment relations service Acas is warning small businesses to seek advice about workplace disputes before they turn into costly lawsuits.

According to the government body, many smaller firms do not consider going to mediators, with 52 per cent believing such dispute resolution is only suited to larger organisations.

This is backed up by statistics showing only seven per cent of SMEs had actually used dispute resolution, despite the alternative being the risk of an employment tribunal, Acas says.

Chair of Acas Ed Sweeney explains mediation can save 'money, time and grief'.

'Without in-house human resources and legal functions, some small businesses can be vulnerable to minor disputes escalating into something more serious and damaging,' he adds.

Law Society and O2 have recently found that many small business partnerships do not have a clearly-defined contract, with many believing "goodwill" is sufficient.

Comments

There are currently no comments on this article

Prize Draw

You've probably noticed smallbusiness.co.uk has a brand new look. You can personalise the homepage to suit your needs and there's lots of new content including video, blogs and the small business resource centre.

We're interested to know what you think about the new small business site, so we'd like you to take this opportunity to have your say. All entrants will be entered into our free prize draw to win a bottle of champagne provided by our partners at Laithwaites! Enter here

Polls

Latest News

IES: Incentives must suit the workforce

Rewards given to staff for good performance must suit the attitudes and abilities of the workforce, the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) believes.

Credit crunch 'push SMEs to administration'

A substantial number of small businesses will be forced into administration by decreased sales, according to the British Retail Consortium.

TUC: happiest employees at SMEs

Workers in small businesses enjoy their work more than those employed elsewhere, figures have revealed.

'Fear of the unknown' harming disabled job prospects

The chance of a disabled person gaining a job is reduced by the 'fear of the unknown' on the part of the applicant and the employer, Remploy believes.

Training makes staff invigorated, retailer claims

Employees which have been trained to a high quality 'feel invigorated, motivated and have a desire to do well', according to retailer Lush.

TUC: More than 3m concerned about job security

Over three million workers are not confident they will still be in their job this time next year, a poll reveals.

Staff 'should be supported and challenged'

Employers should make sure they 'support and challenge' their staff to get the best out of them, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Government to review flexible working

The government is searching for ways to make dealing with flexible working requests easier for businesses in a new consultation.

Bank holiday could benefit 1m businesses, union says

Having an extra Community Day bank holiday in October could benefit almost one million businesses in the UK, according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

Graduates lack necessary skills

The majority of small businesses value school and college leavers above university graduates, according to a survey by the Forum of Private Business.

Fees for migrant workers to be introduced

Firms which employ skilled workers originating from other countries are to be liable to pay a fee for taking them on.

Guides & Tips

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.

Promoting from within

The average cost of bringing in a new employee is £4,500 to £8,000, according to figures from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. So it’s no surprise that promoting internally is popular with employers.

Training: the key to retaining staff

Learning on the job can lead to a more motivated and productive workforce and enable your staff to keep up with the latest trends in areas such as technology and people management.

Don't Miss

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.

A unique approach to keeping businesses healthier

BUPA advertorial

No two businesses are the same. Having worked with more than 40,000 companies and millions of employees over the past 60 years, BUPA knows this better than any other healthcare provider, which is why we do things differently.

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.