The policy agreement published by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats contains a number of pension reforms that older workers should be aware of.
Towers Watson says the commitment to review the State Pension Age is more significant than bringing forward the earnings link for the Basic State Pension by another year, that higher rate tax [...]

Yesterday saw the dawn of a new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government. Among the issues that have already emerged from the negotiations between the parties, there are a number that may impact on employment law, pay and benefits. These include:
1. An end to plans for employers’ NI contribution rise, but the employee component will, most likely, still go [...]

Martin Warren, practice group head of Eversheds’ human resources group, has claimed that the make-up of any new coalition government is likely to have an impact on the UK’s industrial action laws.
He said: “One of the first tasks of the new government will be to seek to reduce the UK’s budget deficit through public-sector spending [...]

The next government must deliver the means to continue an economic recovery and boost the UK jobs market, according to the head of an employment body.
Kevin Green, chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), called for the next administration to focus on three issues – public sector reform, economic growth and protecting the [...]

Almost two thirds of business leaders agree a change in government will bring improvements to the job market.
With election polls pointing towards a change of government this week, a survey of senior executives by management careers site TheLadders.co.uk found the party that best represented the needs of the jobseeker was the Conservatives (37%), followed by [...]

Following the election debates, political leaders have been accused of not addressing the reform of public-sector pensions properly.
According to AXA Life, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg ‘touched on pensions issues’.
The Conservatives have talked about capping public-sector pensions at £50,000 per year, closing the MPs’ final-salary scheme and asking an independent office of budget [...]

As the leaders of the three main political parties join for the final of the groundbreaking televised debates on Thursday 29 April, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has raised key arguments which it believes are vital to strengthening economic recovery that each party leader should answer to.
Small businesses are the UKs biggest [...]

In an effort to keep you abreast of the election issues, HRreview puts the spot light on the Tories’ pledges and the impact on recruitment:
Economy and tax:
•Abolish the rise in National Insurance Payments for anyone earning less than £35,000, paid for by £6 billion in efficiency savings in 2010/2011;
•Make small business rate relief automatic;
•Cut the [...]

Over the next few days, the three main political parties are publishing their manifestos. But what do they mean to recruiters? Labour manifesto highlights the following pledges which could have specific implications for recruitment as well as for resourcing in the public sector.
Economy and jobs:
•An expectation that the economy will create one million [...]

Companies may be required to report on their progress to get more women into the boardroom, under proposals announced this week. It comes as new research shows that sixty per cent of people think there are not enough women directors in big businesses.
The survey which has been commissioned by the Government Equalities Office for International [...]