Informing and consulting on the up

The implementation of the Information and Consultation Directive has prompted a flurry of activity to improve consultation arrangements, albeit among a minority of employers.

The study, based on responses from 160 employers, reveals that one in four (24%) has established a permanent consultative body or committee since the beginning of 2003. In total, two-thirds of UK employers have a permanent consultation mechanism in place.

Almost a third of employers (32%) have sought the agreement of their workforce that current information and consultation arrangements are satisfactory, and a further 14% plan to do so.

  • High on the agenda: employee information and consultation    Writing in IRS Employment Review, Sarah Welfare presents the full results of the survey, based on responses from 160 organisations, together employing just over half a million people (514,791).

    Also

    Employers warned about ICE   Amicus assistant general secretary Tony Burke has warned companies not to produce inferior information and consultation agreements, or face a legal challenge from the union.

    Case studies: Information and consultation in practice   IRS assesses the impact of the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 on pre-existing consultation arrangements at Schrader Electronics and insurer Royal London.

    Information and consultation: the union response    Some unions view the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 as a threat to existing collective bargaining arrangements rather than a chance to gain a foothold in non-union organisations.

    Information and Consultation Regulations in context    IRS examines how the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 relate to other obligations to consult and identifies some difficulties the new Regulations might pose for employers.

    Information and consultation obligations take effect    Access HR & Compliance Centre's extensive range of resources on the new Regulations, which came into effect on 6 April 2005.

    Information and consultation of employees: the basics   Key requirements of the legislation and guidance on possible approaches employers may take are provided in the HR & Compliance Centre employment law reference manual.