Randstad’s UK-wide ‘Shifting Sands’ Seminars focus on Agency Workers Regulations
Top employment law experts Randstad is hosting a series of seminars throughout the UK based on the findings of their latest published report ‘Shifting Sands’, which highlights the social, economic and government policy changes affecting the jobs market.
Keynote speakers will provide guidance on how to protect the organisational cost base whilst managing change in the evolving workplace and discussions will be led concerning the impact of the Agency Workers Regulations (AWR), one of the most complicated legislative workplace changes to hit the UK, coming into force on 1 October 2011.
According to research by Randstad, the world’s second largest recruitment and HR services company, over a third of organisations (37 per cent) surveyed in Randstad’s ‘Shifting Sands’ report, admit that they are not familiar with the Regulations.
The AWR will ensure agency workers receive the right to the same basic working and employment conditions as those in the equivalent permanent job recruited directly by their host organisation. Some rights will apply from day one, such as the same access to facilities and job vacancies. Other rights, such as pay and some benefits, will apply after the agency worker has been in the same job for 12 weeks.
The impact of the AWR will vary across industries, according to their use of temporary workers, with sectors such as construction, education and healthcare likely to face some of the greatest challenges, but as agency workers make up about four per cent of the UK workforce, the highest proportion in Europe, Randstad estimates that at least half of them will be affected by the AWR.
Diane Martyn chief executive officer of Randstad Staffing, UK, says; “The Randstad seminars will take place throughout May, in major cities including Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, London and Bristol. They will provide an invaluable opportunity for organisations to learn how they can effectively maximise the implications and opportunities brought about by the AWR Regulations.”
She continues; “Whilst Randstad recognises the initial challenges that the AWR poses, we support the Regulations in their ambition to professionalise the use of agency workers and, in particular, give greater recognition to those that are paid on an hourly basis and often working unsocial hours, hence our commitment to ensure greater understanding of their implications.”
The Randstad Shifting Sands seminars will also highlight other key challenges on the HR agenda this year, including preparation for automatic enrollment in workplace pensions for all workers, temporary or permanent, in 2012; the transformation of the public sector, as a quarter of the workforce is engaged directly or indirectly in delivering public services; and appropriate recruitment and retention strategies in the light of skills shortages and demographic change.
Shifting Sands features in Randstad’s multi-million integrated national marketing campaign, which includes prime time advertisements on national television, full page colour advertisements in daily newspapers, and online advertisements.
The Shifting Sands Seminars will take place on the following dates at these locations. Booking information and the full Shifting Sands report is available at www.randstad.co.uk
The next available dates are:
Liverpool 10 May
Manchester 11 May
Leeds/Sheffield 12 May
Newcastle 17 May
Bristol 19 May
The blog for smart businesspeople
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Road or air parcel couriers. Which is best?
The fluctuating cost of oil is nothing new, but a recent surge in price has caused a knock-on effect which has – so far – been felt most keenly in the aviation industry.
While Shell shareholders celebrated a 41 percent rise in first quarter profits, airlines like Delta and US Continental Holdings responded to the rocketing price of oil by adding $420 of fuel surcharges on flights to and from the U.S and Europe.
Now Troon-based courier service, Parcels Please is urging money-savvy consumers to save by opting for land-based courier companies as opposed to stomaching the added cost of sending parcels by air.
A spokesperson for the company said: “Fuel surcharges have a knock-on impact to the cost of tickets as well as the cost of sending mail and parcels via air.
“Surcharges are at least 50% higher than they were three years ago so we can expect the cost of air-based courier services to rise.
“While some argue fuel surcharges are just another way for airlines to make money, as long as these companies can prove it is a reimbursement of costs, consumers just have to live with these price hikes.”
While the rising cost of crude oil has also seen a hike in the price at the petrol pumps, the jump has certainly not been as severe with the average cost of a litre of fuel rising by between 10 – 20p.
Speaking about the rise in petrol prices a spokesperson for Parcels Please said: “Road-based courier are used to minor fluctuations in prices at the pump so, unlike air couriers, are unlikely to adjust their prices dramatically, if at all.
“On top of this, the 1p per litre cut in fuel duty laid out in 2011's Budget as aimed to help keep businesses on the road.
“This means customers of companies like Parcels Please can still enjoy competitive and cheap parcel delivery to France and other UK and European destinations without having to worry about the soaring cost of oil.”
While Shell shareholders celebrated a 41 percent rise in first quarter profits, airlines like Delta and US Continental Holdings responded to the rocketing price of oil by adding $420 of fuel surcharges on flights to and from the U.S and Europe.
Now Troon-based courier service, Parcels Please is urging money-savvy consumers to save by opting for land-based courier companies as opposed to stomaching the added cost of sending parcels by air.
A spokesperson for the company said: “Fuel surcharges have a knock-on impact to the cost of tickets as well as the cost of sending mail and parcels via air.
“Surcharges are at least 50% higher than they were three years ago so we can expect the cost of air-based courier services to rise.
“While some argue fuel surcharges are just another way for airlines to make money, as long as these companies can prove it is a reimbursement of costs, consumers just have to live with these price hikes.”
While the rising cost of crude oil has also seen a hike in the price at the petrol pumps, the jump has certainly not been as severe with the average cost of a litre of fuel rising by between 10 – 20p.
Speaking about the rise in petrol prices a spokesperson for Parcels Please said: “Road-based courier are used to minor fluctuations in prices at the pump so, unlike air couriers, are unlikely to adjust their prices dramatically, if at all.
“On top of this, the 1p per litre cut in fuel duty laid out in 2011's Budget as aimed to help keep businesses on the road.
“This means customers of companies like Parcels Please can still enjoy competitive and cheap parcel delivery to France and other UK and European destinations without having to worry about the soaring cost of oil.”
(EDITOR: Whilst this is of no benefit to people needing to send parcels to worldwide destinations (unless using slower sea freight is not an option) it would certainly make sense to look at costs comparing air and road freight within Europe.)
Website for employers staffing up around London 2012 Games has launched
Businesses and organisations who are considering taking on extra staff in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic Games can now have access to a pool of enthusiastic and available talent, who are all looking for roles related to the Games.
Created in response to the overwhelming demand from jobseekers for information about jobs with London 2012 sponsors, contractors and suppliers, Adecco, the official recruitment services provider of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, has launched www.jobsforthegames.co.uk.
Employers can now access a dedicated ‘Recruiter Zone’ of the site, where they can register and begin posting available roles and vacancies and browse through relevant CVs, using a collection of search and matching tools to identify future employees.
Created in response to the overwhelming demand from jobseekers for information about jobs with London 2012 sponsors, contractors and suppliers, Adecco, the official recruitment services provider of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, has launched www.jobsforthegames.co.uk.
Employers can now access a dedicated ‘Recruiter Zone’ of the site, where they can register and begin posting available roles and vacancies and browse through relevant CVs, using a collection of search and matching tools to identify future employees.
Organisations can also take advantage of a range of advertising opportunities, including job and brand advertising on the site.
www.jobsforthegames.co.uk is designed to directly link employers with those searching for work with London 2012 sponsors, contractors and suppliers. Employers who are looking to fill roles related to the Games are urged to sign up now to secure the best possible talent. Job seekers already registered on the site are looking for a wide range of roles, from catering and tourism to security and cleaning work, plus technical and professional roles.
Steve Girdler, Adecco’s Director of London 2012 Partnerships, said, “Employers big and small will be looking take maximum advantage of the business opportunities provided by the London 2012 Games. In order to do so they will need to staff up and inevitably the pool of talented people is finite. The job board provides employers with a captive audience of keen and available jobseekers. In the first week of the website going live for job seekers, over 45,000 people interested in securing a role related to the London 2012 Games registered their interest, uploading their CVs and signing up for email alerts to keep them updated with new, relevant roles as they become available.
“Via www.jobsforthegames.co.uk we can offer employers a dedicated, central source of talent, enabling them to secure new and additional staff via a fast and effective route. With over 45,000 people who are interested in supporting the Games already registered, and that figure is increasing on a daily basis, we expect the site to prove an essential tool for employers and job seekers alike.”
With the London Organising Committee (LOCOG) predicting that tens of thousands of new jobs will be created by London 2012 sponsors, suppliers and other businesses that will be staffing up around the Games, www.jobsforthegames.co.uk is expected to prove a key tool for HR managers, across the UK. Adecco will be highlighting all the fantastic job opportunities created by the London 2012 Games to the East London Host Boroughs, thereby helping to support LOCOG’s local recruitment initiatives in these areas.
www.jobsforthegames.co.uk is designed to directly link employers with those searching for work with London 2012 sponsors, contractors and suppliers. Employers who are looking to fill roles related to the Games are urged to sign up now to secure the best possible talent. Job seekers already registered on the site are looking for a wide range of roles, from catering and tourism to security and cleaning work, plus technical and professional roles.
Steve Girdler, Adecco’s Director of London 2012 Partnerships, said, “Employers big and small will be looking take maximum advantage of the business opportunities provided by the London 2012 Games. In order to do so they will need to staff up and inevitably the pool of talented people is finite. The job board provides employers with a captive audience of keen and available jobseekers. In the first week of the website going live for job seekers, over 45,000 people interested in securing a role related to the London 2012 Games registered their interest, uploading their CVs and signing up for email alerts to keep them updated with new, relevant roles as they become available.
“Via www.jobsforthegames.co.uk we can offer employers a dedicated, central source of talent, enabling them to secure new and additional staff via a fast and effective route. With over 45,000 people who are interested in supporting the Games already registered, and that figure is increasing on a daily basis, we expect the site to prove an essential tool for employers and job seekers alike.”
With the London Organising Committee (LOCOG) predicting that tens of thousands of new jobs will be created by London 2012 sponsors, suppliers and other businesses that will be staffing up around the Games, www.jobsforthegames.co.uk is expected to prove a key tool for HR managers, across the UK. Adecco will be highlighting all the fantastic job opportunities created by the London 2012 Games to the East London Host Boroughs, thereby helping to support LOCOG’s local recruitment initiatives in these areas.
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Call centres leave customers more contented than web
An analysis by ServiceTick provides new evidence that the personal service from call centres can deliver unanticipated benefits as compared to online customer management.
ServiceTick monitors customer satisfaction and NPS scores for brands using both online and IVR surveys. Analysing data across more than 150,000 surveys the company (www.servicetick.com) has identified that customer satisfaction (CSAT) and NPS scores are consistently higher when asked in an IVR survey generated at the end of conversation with a call agent.
By contrast scores from web-generated surveys produce lower scores. On average CSAT scores were 22 percentage points higher and NPS scores were 69 points higher when generated by IVR surveys.
Thomas Cowper Johnson, former director of brand at Norwich Union and now a director at ServiceTick commented: “We’ve looked at data over a sufficient period of time and a significant number of surveys and the evidence is there. Customers are more satisfied and more likely to recommend a brand when they have had human contact with a call agent.
"We’ve all experienced the frustration of a web process that doesn’t work but with that we have no way of sorting things out. A professional call agent can respond to issues and sort out problems on the spot, leaving the customer happier."
(EDITOR: Just so long as the call centre is locally-based and staffed with well-paid professionals who know their subject well.)
ServiceTick monitors customer satisfaction and NPS scores for brands using both online and IVR surveys. Analysing data across more than 150,000 surveys the company (www.servicetick.com) has identified that customer satisfaction (CSAT) and NPS scores are consistently higher when asked in an IVR survey generated at the end of conversation with a call agent.
By contrast scores from web-generated surveys produce lower scores. On average CSAT scores were 22 percentage points higher and NPS scores were 69 points higher when generated by IVR surveys.
Thomas Cowper Johnson, former director of brand at Norwich Union and now a director at ServiceTick commented: “We’ve looked at data over a sufficient period of time and a significant number of surveys and the evidence is there. Customers are more satisfied and more likely to recommend a brand when they have had human contact with a call agent.
"We’ve all experienced the frustration of a web process that doesn’t work but with that we have no way of sorting things out. A professional call agent can respond to issues and sort out problems on the spot, leaving the customer happier."
(EDITOR: Just so long as the call centre is locally-based and staffed with well-paid professionals who know their subject well.)
VAT a concern? Not any longer
Top independent VAT and customs duty specialist, The VAT Consultancy, is today launching a new bite-sized programme of specialist webinars. The fast fact sessions will cover a broad range of topics as part of the company’s commitment to providing the latest intelligence in these complex financial arenas.
The webinar program kicked off at 9.30am Thursday 5th May with ‘Managing VAT Cashflows’, a critical topic for businesses of any size and never more important than in the current economic climate. VAT & Customs Director Julie Park will demonstrate how, with good housekeeping in this area, it is possible to add real value to the bottom line.
A second webinar, taking place at 2.00pm on Friday 6th May will look at Managing VAT for Academies, focusing on new rules which were introduced on 1 April 2011. VAT Director and local authority expert, Steve McIntyre will outline the changes, detail what can be claimed, how to do so, and provide tips on how to submit accurate returns.
The VAT Consultancy webinars are free. Register at vat@thevatconsultancy.com
For those unable to attend, a helpline is available via VAT webinar.
When things go wrong, mediation may be the answer
CEDR Solve, Europe’s largest independent mediation service provider, announces it is dropping standard mediation support charges for clients. The saving for clients is possible because CEDR Solve feels there is now a good, broad understanding of the principles of mediation within the legal sector, meaning CEDR Solve’s Dispute Resolution Advisers generally no longer need to spend as much time informing its clients on the benefits of the process.
There will be no drop in the quality of the service that lawyers have come to expect from CEDR Solve, whether they are approaching one of its 40 direct group mediators, asking CEDR Solve to select a mediator for them, or asking for recommendations from the 132-strong CEDR Solve Panel of mediators for clients to choose from.
Gregory Hunt, director of CEDR Solve, said “Mediation has been around for long enough for us to see it incrementally increase in popularity, and we have seen levels of knowledge and skill amongst its users growing too. We are fortunate today that those who appoint mediators now normally have the confidence to do so with less assistance from our expert Dispute Resolution Advisers, and that represents a saving we have been able to pass on to our customers.”
Eileen Carroll, Deputy Chief Executive of CEDR and a senior CEDR Solve Mediator added, "I would like to pay testimony to the CEDR Solve Dispute Resolution Advisers who over the years have helped literally thousands of parties in dispute and their legal teams in the UK, Europe and around the world.”
To find out more visit CEDR’s website – www.cedrsolve.com.
Monday, 2 May 2011
PR agencies that 'don't do digital' will be in trouble, warn experts
Following a recent survey by the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA), which showed that 28% of PR agencies don't have a formal digital strategy in place, Punch Communications, advises these agencies to sort this out, or risk being left behind.
A PR agency that hasn't adopted a digital approach or, perhaps more importantly, isn't offering services associated with the web/Internet to clients, may rapidly find themselves out of touch with growing digital trends and approaches and it would be a big task for such firms to catch up with the times.
An agency that keeps its finger on the pulse has a greater chance of keeping abreast of the constant online transformations within social media, mobile web and search engines. This also means clients of these agencies can enjoy greater consultancy and benefits, resulting in longer lasting working relationships.
Punch Communications has understood the importance of having a digital strategy for many years. It has adapted gradually over time to bring clients a unique and integrated print and digital PR, social media and search engine optimisation offering.
The success of Punch’s three sided service can be observed in the expansion of the Midlands-based company, which has grown three fold during the past two years. This is a clear indication that businesses are searching for a PR agency that fully understands the digital world and how the various channels work together in one strategy.
Keredy Stott, senior account manager with Punch Communications said: “The digital world moves at a rapid pace and is arguably where the future of PR lies. PR companies that do not embrace online communications, whether with bloggers or via social networks, could find themselves lacking clients over the coming years as the industry continues to shift.
“The individuals that work for these PR agencies will also suffer in the long term and may find themselves under trained. The PRCA’s survey found that the average proportion of training budget spent on digital fluency training was just 30 per cent, which does not reflect the true need in the field.”
For more information about Punch Communications and the integrated services it offers, please visit www.punchcomms.com or call 01858 411 600.
(EDITOR: I have worked with Punch over the years with several of their clients for print-based publications and Punch is a key player in digital and non-digital PR.)
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