Synopsis of Publications

Why age diversity must be embraced

While Scotland's steadily declining population is a well-known phenomenon, figures from the Registrar General predict that Edinburgh and the Lothians are set to buck the trend, with the capital set to expand by about 3.4 per cent by 2018. But, take a closer look at these figures and you witness a pattern that will concern businesses, jobseekers and policy makers alike

For more information on this issue contact Chris Phillips.

Published in the Edinburgh Evening News - 23 September 2004

Smoke gets in your eyes

Existing laws protecting workers' health seem set for more rigorous enforcement where secondary smoke is concerned, while entirely new legislation may even lead to an outright ban of smoking in public places

For more information on this issue contact Jane Fraser.

Published in the Press and Journal - 13 August 2004

Stick to rules in conflicts or come unstuck

While peace and harmony in the workplace is something we all strive for, it is inevitable there will, occasionally, be conflict

For more information on this issue contact Jane Fraser.

Published in the Edinburgh Evening News - 10 August 2004

Glass ceilings and sticky floors

While the intentions behind provisions such as extended maternity leave and flexible working are commendable, some are questioning whether these are, in fact, achieving the desired effect...

For more information on this issue contact Amanda Jones.

Published in the Press and Journal - 6 August 2004

Time to open the books

When 2,400 workers at the UK's biggest injury-claims specialist were sacked by text message, the story inevitably hogged the headlines. Although the Accident Group might have been the highest-profile instance of what has been dubbed "cornflake redundancy syndrome", it was just one of a number of such incidents in the past year. Now, new legislation is set to clamp down on the growing trend of employees first hearing of workplace redundancies over their morning cereal...

For more information on this issue contact Jane Fraser.

Published in The Herald Business - 25 June 2004

Why flexible work can tie women down

While research by the think-tank Demos has found that a modern breed of women's networks is developing to help female professionals get ahead, it is not all positive news for the fairer sex

For more information on this issue contact Amanda Jones.

Published in the Edinburgh Evening News - 17 June 2004

Tribunals try to temper temp turmoil

Agency work can provide job-seekers with flexibility and the opportunity to put themselves in front of a large number of companies which, in turn, gains an efficient means of bringing in the specific skills they need, for as long as they require...

For more information on this issue contact Jane Fraser.

Published in the Press and Journal - 4 June 2004

Final drag for smoking at work?

The risks of exposing staff to second-hand smoke are well documented and, with a warning having recently been sounded that the "date of guilty knowledge" under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 has passed, the issue has come to a head for many businesses.

For more information on this issue contact Jane Fraser.

Published in the Scotsman - 28 May 2004

Part-timers to be kept in the frame

Part-time employees may now have a right not to be treated less favourably than comparable full-time workers, but there are still an estimated 60,000 claims brought before employment tribunals throughout the UK from employees who were, in the past, not allowed to join a pension scheme because they worked fewer hours than their colleagues.

For more information on this issue contact Amanda Jones.

Published in the Scotsman - 23 April 2004

Dangerous driving at work

Up to a third of all road traffic accidents involve somebody who is at work at the time, according to a new publication, produced in partnership between the Health and Safety Executive and Department for Work and Transport.

For more information on this issue contact Jane Fraser.

Published in the Scotsman - 5 December 2004