Sixty-seven per cent of managers admit to ‘knowing little’ about the Information and Consultation (I&C) directive due to be introduced next year.
The survey conducted by the European Study Group shows that only 37% of businesses have a dedicated budget in place for informing and consulting employees.
The UK Government’s Information and Consultation of Employees (ICE) Regulations implement the EC directive which will give all employees, in undertakings employing more than 50, rights to be informed and consulted systematically, through their elected representatives, on matters affecting their jobs and their future employment prospects.
The results show that just 5% prefer to inform and consult employees via employee representatives, while an overwhelming 80% choose to do so through direct communication.
Evaluation was found to be a low priority with a third of respondents relying on ‘gut feeling’ rather than hard data when drawing conclusions.
Most employers see the new laws as an obligation rather than a benefit with only 40% saying that the outcome of consultations regularly influence business decisions.
Workers conveyed their dismay with bosses’ skills with 45% damning managers for their lack of any training in I&C.
Half admitted to winging it saying they were adopting an ad hoc approach while a more diligent 58% hoped to go beyond simple compliance by moving towards best practice.
Gerry Sutcliffe, Employment Minister commented:
“The DTI has put implementing the Information & Consultation directive at the heart of our strategy for high performance workplaces. I am very grateful for the help the European Study Group and its member companies have given, which has helped us shape our thinking to ensure we end up with legislation that is workable.”
A staggered implementation will be based on company size.
• 6 April 2005 – undertakings with at least 150 employees
• 6 April 2007 – undertakings with at least 100 employees
• 6 April 2008 – undertakings with at least 50 employees
The survey was conducted among senior HR and employee relations professionals working within organisations employing nearly one million employees collectively.
