This week’s news in brief
Age diversity drive
Pensions Minister Ian McCartney has launched a website to provide practical
help for employers and staff on ending age discrimination at work. The
Department for Work and Pensions has also published an evaluation of the
voluntary code of practice on age diversity in the run up to new laws in 2006. Â www.agepositive.gov.uk
Youth training target
The Government has called on employers to help increase the number of young
people on Modern Apprenticeship schemes.
It is working with the Learning and Skills Council to deliver a range of
recommendations by the Modern Apprenticeship Advisory Committee, aimed at
encouraging more than a quarter of young people to enter apprenticeships before
they are 22 by 2004. Â www.dfes.gov.uk/modapp/
E-policies trend
Nearly two-thirds of HR departments have introduced policies on e-mail and
Internet use in the past four years, research claims. The IRS Employment Review
also reveals that almost all employers have a formal HR policy on employee
discipline and grievances and are least likely to have policies on work-life
balance. www.irseclipse.co.uk
HSE prosecutions
The Health and Safety Executive’s second annual Offences and Penalties
Report shows there were 1,500 separate health and safety offences by public,
private and voluntary organisations and individuals during 2000/2001. In this
period the HSE prosecuted 2,077 offences, successfully gaining convictions for
70 per cent. www.hse-databases.co.uk/prosecutions
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Rail staff in ballot
South West Trains staff could vote to strike over Christmas following
disputes over pay and conditions and the way the company operates its
disciplinary procedures. RMT will ballot its 2,100 South West Trains members
this week on pay and conditions, although only 660 train guards and drivers
will vote on the dispute over disciplinary procedures.
