More
than four in 10 managers report that the number of unfair dismissal cases has
grown over the last year, according to a survey of 2,000 employers.
More
than half of the organisations taking part in the research by the Future of
Work programme report reveal that the amount of time managers spend on
employment-related issues has increased in the past 12 months.
The
study, funded by the Economic & Social Research Council, finds that one in
six companies have reported an increased wage bill for legal advice about
employment-related issues.
The
research also reveals that most organisations are doing no more than the legal
minimum required to meet the family needs of their female employees.
Only
3 per cent of employers provide any daycare programme for employees’ children
and only 8 per cent offer any financial assistance for this.
Few
companies have plans to introduce improvements in this area over the next year.
Only 5 per cent of employers are planning to enhance maternity pay beyond the
state minimum, 2 per cent are intending to contribute to the cost of childcare
and 4 per cent of organisations are introducing or extending term-time working
arrangements for parents.