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Proper management of staff is only way for UK to succeed
Although I was shocked to read the recent opinions of Mark Ellis concerning the abolition of unfair dismissal legislation, this paled into insignificance compared to my horror at seeing so many of my colleagues in agreement.
The current legislation leaves more than enough scope to remove staff who have misbehaved or underperformed - it simply encourages us to follow a correct procedure in managing and dismissing staff to prevent ad hoc sackings on a whim.
If we manage our HR function correctly and ensure that we recruit, train and manage our staff effectively (all of which adds considerably more value to the business than this hire-and-fire mentality), there should never be a need to breach the legislation.
Contrary to Ellis's assertions, the real crippling factor for UK business is managers and so-called professionals who cannot see that the proper management of staff is the only way for UK plc to succeed. Anyone who fails to provide staff with strong guidance on expected performance and a reasonable chance to succeed, or who wishes to dismiss staff without a proper investigation and opportunity to present their case (which is all that the legislation demands), should be barred from the profession and responsible for managing nothing more important than tying their own shoelaces.
If HR is supporting this kind of nonsense and considering only what reduces our own administrative workload rather than fighting for the proper management of staff to enhance performance and profitability it is no wonder we are not given recognition as a strategic function.
Carole Spencer
HR and development manager, Devon
Make the system better rather than scrap it
Mark Ellis argues that the interests of 'UK plc' would be best served by relieving employers of the requirement to observe any form of disciplinary or dismissal procedure.
I would argue strongly that having statutory procedures in place - however imperfect they might be - to govern an employer's discretion to discipline or dismiss members of the workforce are a feature of an advanced democratic society. Moreover, most studies of workplace motivation indicate strongly that employers can expect high
