CIPD gives welcome to Brownís workplace agenda

CIPD gives welcome to Brownís workplace agenda ñ but warns against forcing HR into ìcorporate policemanî role

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development gives its broad support for many of the bills contained within the Governmentís draft legislative programme unveiled today, 11 July 2007. The programme, Gordon Brownís first as Prime Minister, contains three bills of particular relevance to HR professionals; including an Education and Skills Bill, an Employment Simplification Bill and a Pensions Bill.

Education and Skills Bill:
Martyn Sloman, CIPD Skills Adviser comments, ìMany of the proposals contained within the education and skills bill are aimed at giving young people and lower-skilled employees access to training. The duty on employers to release young people to undertake training and check that they are participating before employing them is particularly noteworthy. However, while HR will be expected to encourage and check that such training is being carried out, it should not be the employerís role to enforce this policy.î

Employment Simplification Bill:
Ben Willmott, CIPD Employee Relations Adviser comments, ìWe are delighted that the Government is acting upon the the Gibbons review recommendations made earlier this year, particularly in scrapping the statutory dispute resolution procedures. As CIPD research shows, these have done little to improve the dispute resolution process, and actually made things worse.î

According to CIPD research, around one-third (29%) of employers believe disputes are less likely to be resolved informally following the introduction of the statutory dispute resolution procedures in October 2004, which introduced minimum three-step disciplinary and grievance procedures.

Pensions Bill:
Charles Cotton, CIPD Reward Adviser comments, ìMany of the proposals contained in the Pensions Bill would improve access to occupational pension schemes without harming employers or existing pension arrangements. As CIPD research shows, the introduction of mandatory employer contributions would not lead to a levelling down of existing pension arrangements. Such an introduction also levels the playing field between companies, which may stimulate fairer competition.î