smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

As recruitment can be an onerous and costly task, businesses are being urged by online training provider Learndirect to embrace new opportunities to keep hold of their talented staff.

Despite the challenges that managers face as a result of the recent Work and Families Act, the changes could also deliver business benefits.

To give busy managers a head start with the legislation learndirect business has released a 30 minute course, available free of charge on the its business website, covering changes brought in by the Act, including longer maternity and adoption leave, potentially longer paternity and carer leave.

Michelle Lofthouse, director of business development at learndirect business, comments: ‘While the Work and Families Act might be viewed as another burden, when weighed against the potential cost of loss of staff and productivity, it also offers advantages.’

‘Although women make up nearly 50 per cent of the workforce, old fashioned employers are costing the economy up to £23 billion by failing to recognise that well-trained, experienced and educated women can still make a major contribution to the workforce even if they don’t want to work five full days a week. Companies are recognising that offering employees opportunities to work flexibly can have enormous benefits for productivity and staff retention.’

For more information visit learndirect Business.