Most employers believe the forthcoming Information and Consultation Directive will have little impact on the way they currently consult with staff and provide information in redundancy situations.
A survey of 89 employers by Personnel Today’s sister publication IRS Employment Review found that 37 per cent believe their existing consultation arrangements for redundancy would be affected by the forthcoming legislation. But 55 per cent were confident that it would not affect the way their redundancy consultations are conducted.
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The study shows that 78 of the organisations surveyed had made redundancies in the past two years. Around a third attributed the moves to restructuring within the organisation, while a quarter cited external economic pressures, such as loss of orders or contracts. Eight organisations mentioned plant or office closures as the reason, while other factors included the impact of IT developments, outsourcing and changing skill requirements.
A total of 42 organisations (54 per cent) had used voluntary redundancy, and three-quarters had made compulsory redundancies. More than half provide outplacement or sup-port services to help redundant staff find more work. The most frequently used forms of support and services were one-to-one counselling and the use of on-site resources. www.irsemploymentreview.com, 020 8686 9141
