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‘GOING BY THE BOOK’ COULD HELP GET YOUR (EMPLOYMENT) ACT
TOGETHER
New
manual from small business personnel specialists OCTA could prevent
unnecessary and damaging dispute resolution costs.
Small
businesses could be liable for thousands of pounds if they don’t
meet the requirements of the new Employment Act 2002, warns Midlands-based
personnel services specialists, OCTA (One Call That’s All).
Key
provisions of the new Employment Act 2002 started coming into effect
during April, for the first time targeting thousands of smaller companies
of 20 or fewer employees.
To
help understand and implement the Employment Act 2002, senior OCTA partner,
Dennis Hunt, has written an easy-to-follow manual for employers and
employees, highlighting key aspects of the new legislation.
Fellow-partner
Martyn Tilson, says that the manual is a distillation of Dennis’
more than 40 years’ HR and system development experience.
“Going
by the book,” says Martyn, “will tell you all you need to
know about important and potentially sensitive new requirements including
those for dispute resolution; maternity, paternity and adoption rights;
fixed term employment and flexible working time.
“There
are tens of thousands of small businesses across the UK and in our experience,
the majority of these companies are not yet fully aware of the new Act
or of the implementation timetable.
“Failure
to have the required documentation and procedures in place, could for
example result in an automatic unfair dismissal award, with a compensation
price tag of at least £3,500 – plus legal costs.
“Contract
changes are sometimes met with some suspicion by employees but the Employment
Act 2002 presents an ideal and legitimate opportunity for companies
to revise their existing paperwork, relative to their employees, in
totality.
“OCTA
can help provide advice and a range of free-of-cost personnel support
solutions which will ensure compliance with current and forthcoming
legislation and which will ultimately serve the best interests of your
business,” said Martyn.
For
a limited number of free copies of OCTA’s Employment Act 2002
manual, printed or by email, please contact Martyn Tilson or Greg Coates
at 01926-866616, or email EA2002@octa.org.uk
Ends
24 April 2003
Words : 328
For
information:
OCTA
draws attention to the key legislative changes in the Employment Act
2002 which include :
-
Penalties for a failure to issue written statements of terms and conditions
of employment (contracts) which comply with his Act.
- New rights to paternity and adoption leave and pay and improvements
to the Maternity leave scheme. These are now in effect.
- New statutory dismissal procedures which an employer must issue and
follow, otherwise a dismissal will be automatically unfair, and a new
statutory grievance procedure backed up by a requirement for employees
to raise grievances in writing with their employer before applying to
a tribunal
- New rights for fixed term employees not to be treated less favourably
than permanent employees and to prevent abuse arising from the use of
successive periods of fixed term employment.
- New rights for parents of young children to request flexible working
- A number of measures aimed at employment tribunal reform
Note to editors:
OCTA
is the one stop shop for all employee related concerns and personal
development needs and was formed with a single purpose : to provide
business with a wide choice of solutions through making One Call - That's
All. The founders (Dennis Hunt, Greg Coates & Martyn Tilson) have
brought with them over 50 years’ of experience in providing solutions
for human resource needs. They also have their own memories of the time
consuming and stressful nature of running a business and selecting suppliers.
The group has two core areas of expertise :
Personnel
Services Broking - impartial advice on purchasing or replacing a personnel
or human resource service. The COST FREE services of OCTA will ensure
that you have the right service from provider at the right price.
Personal
development training including general staff training, sales and motivational
training
For
further information, contact OCTA at 01926-866616, fax 01926-857057
or visit www.octa.org.uk
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