The Engineering Employers Federation has urged the Government to be flexible
in the way it implements the EU Directive on Information and Consultation.
The Government is about to publish its initial consultation on the
directive, which will mean companies will be obliged to inform and consult with
staff on issues that may have an impact on their employment, including
redundancies and restructuring.
David Yeandle, the EEF’s deputy director of employment policy, called for a
legislative approach that allows employers and staff to comply with the
directive in a manner that suits them. "The EEF recognises the valuable
contribution that informing and consulting employees on a regular basis about
business issues can make to improving organisational performance," he
said.
"However, the way in which the Government implements this directive
will have an important impact on whether the tangible benefits that can be
obtained are achieved."
Yeandle believes that if the Government produces prescriptive legislation to
enforce the directive it will be counter-productive.
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Organisations with 150 or more employees have three years to implement the
changes, those with fewer than 150 have five years and those with less than 50
staff have six years.
