Older and underperforming workers face sack

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs ... -sack.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Older workers could face being sacked or told to consider retirement by their employers and not be able to launch ageism legal action under sweeping government plans announced by Nick Clegg.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that businesses should be free to have "frank discussions" with underperforming workers without any consideration for their age or fears about pending employment tribunal proceedings.

Mr Clegg's comments came as he announced a ''major shake-up'' of business inspection so that firms would be offered advice and support but would also be allowed to ''get on'' with their work.

The proposed change means introducing a new law that will allow "protected conversations" - meaning staff will not be able to use them against employers later.
It was part of fresh moves by the Government to tackle red tape and stop regulators ''breathing down the necks'' of businesses.

Mr Clegg said the Government will bring forward a major package of employment law in the autumn aimed at helping business, including reform to employment tribunals.

During a visit to a hi-tech firm in Shoreditch, east London, Mr Clegg said the reforms move would allow people "to treat each other like human beings and not like potential litigants".

"Employers tell us they're afraid to have frank discussions with staff.. or fear of those exchanges being used against them unfairly, should a dispute end up at tribunal," he said.

"We want to give them the confidence to be open about performance, about retirement with their employees. If you speak to many employers, they value older workers massively. I don't think there is some sort of in-built prejudice against older workers at all."

Mr Clegg also said some regulation such as the minimum wage, patenting laws and carbon budgets was ''hugely important'', but he added that the coalition's ''attack'' on red tape had already saved businesses £3 billion, with a further £600 million worth of savings expected from exempting more firms from being audited.

Mr Clegg said he would not put up with reams of unnecessary red tape, pointing out that for every hour someone in a big company spends on paperwork, it takes nine hours in a smaller firm.

"That is bad enough in the good times, it makes even less sense when times are tough."

He accused the previous Labour government of leaving "thousands and thousands" of different rules on the statute books, saying the coalition was now "hacking away" at unnecessary regulations.

Mr Clegg told a business audience in London there needed to be a ''culture change'' in bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency and HM Revenue and Customs.

''They will need to respect the regulator's compliance code, which says regulators must think about and encourage economic growth, and they will have to make sure they aren't breathing down your necks.

''Why, for example, should regulators be able to turn up at your door whenever they want and as often as they want?

''Why can't we limit the number of inspections to, say, two a year, ensuring these bodies coordinate amongst themselves to stick within that limit?

''Which body does what can be extremely unclear, so we're minimising the number of authorities you will have to deal with in the future. Introducing sunset clauses for new regulators. Placing them under rolling review.

''If they become irrelevant, or their functions are replicated elsewhere, they'll go.''

The Government's red tape challenge had already led to 220 regulations in the retail and hospitality industries being simplified or scrapped.

"The end result will be a system designed for busy, working people, rather than a job creation scheme for accountants and lawyers, and a system that saves you money."

Mr Clegg added: "There's a whole lot of inspectors visiting every week or every month - minimising the times they do will lead to a significant culture change.
"We will put pressure on them, if they don't prove their worth, if they're not fulfilling an obvious and objectively justified role, they'll go.

"The need for proportionality, the need for a measured approach I think is absolutely essential, I've certainly heard enough from small companies to know that's something which they feel."

Unions criticised the proposals about workers.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: "This red tape-cutting exercise is no more than a red herring. Just like the other assaults on workers' rights perpetrated by this Government, they will not create one single job.

"What they will do is put workers at risk and make them less able to speak up against abuse or neglect. That is the vision of Britain the coalition has - not a modern and fair nation, but harking back to the miserable employment conditions of old."

Business leaders broadly welcomed the reforms.

John Walker, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said his organisation welcomed comments by Mr Clegg about plans to introduce "protected conversations".

He said it would mean employers could have "frank discussions" with staff about performance or retirement, without fear of them being used against them at a tribunal.

"Small business owners will welcome these moves as it will allow them to talk freely with their workforce without fear of reprisal - but only time will tell if conversations will really be protected," he said.

Dr Adam Marshall, director of policy at the British chambers of Commerce, said: "The tone of Nick Clegg's speech is encouraging, as it shows the depth of the Government's commitment to easing regulatory burdens on businesses.

"The deregulation drive, starting with the upcoming employment law review announcements, needs to deliver real change for companies on the ground. That's why we recommended that the Government commits to a comprehensive deregulation plan, giving businesses confidence that specific issues and concerns will be addressed according to a clear timetable.

"Businesses up and down the country say that there needs to be a clear culture change, making local regulators into allies for business and growth rather than just enforcers."

Neil Carberry, CBI Director for Employment, said: “Employment laws should set a necessary minimum standard in the workplace, but they can get in the way of open and frank communication between employees and employers.

“The CBI has called for protected conversations in the wake of the default retirement age being removed in April. These would provide a safe mechanism which builds confidence in management and helps businesses make better decisions.

“I’m delighted the Government is looking at protected conversations. In countries like France, these enable employers to discuss issues openly with staff without fear of a tribunal.”

[haynes]

More than half of my office would be looking for a new job any day soon then

[Straight4ward]

The Adam Smith Institute will be proud of him.

Are there any of his party's beliefs that he wouldn't sacrifice for his own empowerment?

[Pinky 1]

Well we can now get the kids back up the chimney, and just in time for xmas

[POSTMAN]

I guess us in the smoke are 'slackers' according to this c***...
Old slackers face the boot: Bosses get new powers to tell workers to retire
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/ ... do?mid=511" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good job I made this ( :ncfo ) before I got old and started slacking.
Oh and as for his mate :vcfo oh and his mate. :dcfo

[fishtank]

Great idea...when can we start getting rid?

[DGP1]

not only that FT but where are the others? Are they also slacking off and not even bothered to come into work

On a more serious note: Managers already have enough power to sack people who are really unproductive but they fail to do it because it requires them actually working......................the incompetent and inefficient stick out well enough.

[pants123]

NICK CLEGG IS A TOOL.. i cannot believe these people coming out with this dictator stuff, who do they think they are, id like to see NICK CLEGG try to work as a working class person... JAMES CAMERON AND NICK CLEGG = GADDAFFI DICTATORS..

[pants123]

I guess us in the smoke are 'slackers' according to this c***...
Old slackers face the boot: Bosses get new powers to tell workers to retire
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/ ... do?mid=511" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good job I made this ( :ncfo ) before I got old and started slacking.
Oh and as for his mate :vcfo oh and his mate. :dcfo

nice, but i think the HAMMER should be bigger... its only today on the news the business secratery VINCE CABLE not paying tax, VAT while he dictates to the country i'm clamping down on all people who don't pay their way... these DICTATORS are in power... its time for a LIBYA revolution i think..

[daveyeff]

Great idea...when can we start getting rid?

lmfao

[demon]

will never happen why even post it on here

[TrueBlueTerrier]

will never happen why even post it on here

Why not its a news item about employment and we are all working.

Even if it never happens it does at least show what the Coalition is thinking, and although they probably won't go this far, it does not mean they won't at least move towards it.

It also shows how skewed their thinking is. They want workers to work longer to save on Pensions etc, then they float this idea which will inevitably make it easier to sack older workers. Not exactly joined up thinking and , in my eyes at least shows that this Government is going to make it easier to make a profit, and hard to earn a living wage.

[fishtank]

will never happen why even post it on here

What do you base that on demon?
Royal Mail itself is trying to get an opt out from having to put up with 65+ members who want to stay on.
This Government will do anything to make it easier to sack people...they call it growth stimulus.

You sack 6 people on £20k and employ 7 people on £15k...you've done your bit to bring down the unemployment figures and you've made yourself £15k to smuggle off to the Cayman Islands.
It's win/win....well it's win/win/lose actually but who gives a f**k about some lazy,old fart.
Age and performance are only excuses,next it will be because you looked at the boss the wrong way.

[Tman]

Then again there never seems to be any shortage of MC ops staff more than happy to point out the terminally lazy or useless colleagues in thier midst, and not all wear a collar and tie to work...

[fishtank]

Then again there never seems to be any shortage of MC ops staff more than happy to point out the terminally lazy or useless colleagues in thier midst, and not all wear a collar and tie to work...

Not just an MC phenomenon that one.
I think it's known as misdirecting the audience in magic circles.
Look at him,don't look at me..look at him.