Does your organisation have a short-term sickness problem?
The EEF has called on the government to step up its efforts to tackle the problem of sickness absence.
coalition
Employment is up but small businesses still need more support
The latest employment statistics, released by the ONS last week, showed a 0.1% decrease in the unemployment rate.
Will the National Loan Guarantee Scheme help contractors?
The National Loan Guarantee Scheme may be just the thing to help small businesses access cheaper finance and create more opportunities for umbrella company contractors.
REC says something must be done about youth unemployment
After last week’s disappointing jobs statistics showed that youth unemployment is still increasing, the REC has called on the business community to become involved in proactive initiatives such as the Youth Employment Charter.
Reducing non-EU umbrella company contractors could damage UK’s wealth
The Migration Advisory Committee has said the UK economy could be permanently damaged if the government persists in restricting immigration for skilled workers from outside the EU.
Will more people end up working like an umbrella company contractor?
The CIPD has said that everyone should be entitled to flexible working rights, not just parents and carers.
Poor service standards have been going on for years in HMRC
Umbrella company contractors may be interested to learn that MPs do not accept HMRC’s excuse that problems with implementing NPS were to blame for poor standards of service.
More than 160 onerous regulations to be axed
Vince Cable has announced that the coalition intends to scrap or simplify in excess of 160 onerous regulations to free contractors and small businesses from unnecessary bureaucracy.
UK umbrella company contractors unhappy with personal taxation
The Times newspaper recently asked readers to rank the UK against five key competitors for tax, business friendliness, infrastructure, skills and workforce.
Drop in unemployment welcomed but the trend must continue
The FSB recently welcomed the news that unemployed dropped by 88,000 and that a similar number of people entered the workplace.
NHS Trusts expenditure on umbrella company locums increases dramatically
The Royal College of Surgeons warns that government cutbacks have led to some hospitals using inexperienced locum surgeons as consultants. As well as a lack of experience, the organisation says some foreign locums do not have a good grasp of the English language.
REC calls for clarification of AWR in education sector
The REC has called on the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills to provide increased clarity over the way the AWR will operate in the education sector.
Are UK banks bad news for umbrella company contractors?
Lord Oakeshott, the former Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman has accused the UK banks of hindering the economic recovery by refusing finance to small enterprises and charging extravagant rates when they do.
The Agency Workers Regulations are causing concern for umbrella companies
Lawspeed, the recruitment law specialist firm, claims there could be a conflict of interest between HR and finance departments when the Agency Workers Regulations are enforced in October this year.
North wins the first round battle for regional growth funding
Umbrella company contractors might be interested to hear that the government will be distributing £450 million of funding over the next few months to deprived areas as part of its regional growth fund initiative.
Cameron and Cable at loggerheads over immigration cap
David Cameron caused a certain amount of controversy last week when he promised to reduce the number of immigrants coming to this country to “tens of thousands” per year.