This week’s news in brief
Website on shortlist
PersonnelToday.com has been short-listed for a prestigious publishing award.
The website, launched in October 2000, is one of just six sites short-listed in
the Best New Business-to-Business Launch category of the Periodical Publishers
Association Interactive (PPAi) awards. Â www.personneltoday.com
Paris trip winner
Janet Boott, HR administrator at TDG European Chemicals, has won a weekend
for two in Paris in the Personnel Today drug and alcohol survey’s prize draw.
She has also won two days’ training and consultancy for her company from the
Drug and Alcohol Service at Alcohol Concern & DrugScope. Runners-up Anita
Hayne of Hewlett Packard, and Mr A Hammond of Titan Travel won two days’
training and consultancy at half price.
Choice beats stress
A new report has found that three-quarters of working people would rather
have complete control over their existing working hours, than work five hours
less at fixed times. The Industrial Society research, which coincided with
national work-life balance week, reveals that employees who have more choice
over when they work feel less stressed. Â www.indsoc.co.uk
Usdaw wage demand
The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers is calling for a legally-binding
minimum wage for 16- and 17-year-olds and full national minimum wage for
18-year-olds. General secretary Bill Connor said workers under the age of 18
are unprotected by a "gaping hole" in the law and could legally be
paid just 50 pence an hour. Â www.usdaw.org.uk
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Acas calls for duty
Acas has criticised the Government’s proposal to remove its duty to
conciliate in cases involving wage deduction, breach of contract and redundancy
payments. In response to consultation on reform of the tribunal system, Acas
chairwoman Rita Donaghy said, "We feel the Government’s proposals to
remove our duty to conciliate in some cases is at odds with the overall aims of
the proposals." Â www.acas.org.uk