The AWR is a significant new piece of Employment Legislation which came in to affect in the UK in October 2011. The legislation has been passed by the European Commission and will affect all UK companies who recruit temporary workers. There is no opt-out. 

Brief Overview: The aim of the AWR is to ensure that temporary workers have the same basic employment and working conditions as comparable permanent employees who are directly employed by the client hirer. This will not change the employment status of the agency worker who will still not have the right to claim unfair dismissal and redundancy pay. There are two main steps to the AWR giving the temporary worker day 1 and week 12 rights: 

Day 1 rights consist of: 

• Access to shared on site facilities (canteens, child-care facilities) and access to information concerning relevant employment vacancies within the company

12 week rights which match a comparable permanent employee: 

• Basic pay, overtime and shift premia
• Bonuses and commission attributable to workers individual performance
• Holiday pay 
• Right to be paid when attending ante natal appointments and classes
• Pregnant workers must be offered suitable alternative work if the current role cannot be fulfilled, or they are entitled to be paid for the remainder of the expected duration of the assignment 

This is only a brief overview of the regulations and we urge you to look in to this further. Full guidance can be downloaded in PDF form from www.bis.gov.uk and searching under Agency Workers Regulation. Our additional notes can be provided if requested - please email info@goldhawkassoc.co.uk or call 01622 697750.

New measures announced to boost British business:

Government announces new measures to help small businesses grow and create jobs, export to new markets, secure finance and cut red tape.

The Prime Minister said: 

“British SMEs are already doing incredible things, but we urgently need more of them to follow that boldness. We need this to be a country where more people think ‘I can start my own business and I can sell to the world. 

“Our determination is to come through these difficult times stronger, to trade our way to growth and jobs. We need to show real optimism about the future, and we need to show real aggression about pursuing Britain’s interests in the world. The markets are there to be tapped; the deals are there to be done, the opportunities are there to be capitalised on. Now together we must seize them.”

Full article see: http://www.bis.gov.uk/news/topstories/2011/Nov/sme-business-growth

95 million invested in UK Jobs economy:

The second round of the Government’s Regional Growth Fund will help create and safeguard more than 200,000 jobs across England.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: 

"I am delighted to be able to announce this boost to business, which will jump start growth and create jobs that last in the places that really need it.

"The first pot of Regional Growth Fund money is already making a difference across the country - helping to rebalance our economy so that every region and sector benefits."

Full article: http://www.bis.gov.uk/news/topstories/2011/Nov/regional-growth-fund-to-help-small-businesses

Getting paid on time: