This week’s news in brief
Second class cuts
Consignia is to shed a further 17,000 jobs after announcing yearly losses of
more than £1bn. The troubled firm, currently losing £1.2m a day, is to slash
30,000 jobs over the next three years to try and return the company to
profitability. Most are due to plans to scrap the second post. www.consignia.com
TUC’s stress law call
The TUC is calling on the European Parliament to introduce new laws on
stress and RSI in the workplace. It wants to see a set of Europe-wide targets
for the reduction of workplace injuries, illnesses and sickness absence. Union
officials are also scathing about the 80 per cent reduction in specialist staff
at the EU that has left just 24 people running the health and safety system for
the whole of Europe. www.tuc.org.uk
Heads do not know
Headteachers often don’t realise how much they are spending on recruiting
teachers, research reveals. A survey by Select Education Permanent finds more
than 40 per cent had placed three or more adverts for the last teaching job
they tried to fill, with one-fifth spending more than £500 per advert. However,
45 per cent of respondents did not know how much the whole process cost. www.selecteducation.co.uk
Car cash alternative
More than half of all companies now offer eligible employees the choice
between a company car or cash allowance, according to research. A survey of 700
companies by consultants Watson Wyatt shows that 57 per cent of firms now offer
a cash alternative to a company car, compared to 46 per cent in 2000 and 38 per
cent in ’98. www.watsonwyatt.com
Sector skill initiative
The Sector Skills Development Agency has launched a new campaign to
encourage employers to become involved in the Sector Skills Councils. The
Government agency is hoping to raise awareness of SSCs among HR, training and
business leaders through the six-week advertising blitz. www.ssda.org.uk
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