date: 3 April 2008

embargo: 00.01hrs Sunday 6 April 2008

New information and consultation rights give staff a louder voice at work

From today (Sunday) companies and organisations employing between 50-100 staff will need to have systems in place to allow meaningful dialogue to take place between managers and staff, says the TUC.

Welcoming the new Information and Consultation regulations, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'These changes mean that employees in smaller companies will have a right to be told what's going on in their workplaces.

'It should put a stop to shock situations where in the past staff heard their jobs were to be axed via text messages or found out from local media.

'Well-run companies have been informing and consulting their employees for years. Sensible employers know that helping staff feel valued and involved in the running of their firm or organisation gives them a more competitive edge. Only bad managers who insist on keeping their staff in the dark about company decisions and their futures have anything to fear from this new legislation.

'Information and consultation also provides unions with an opportunity to increase their presence in workplaces, particularly those where there are union members but where the boss has until now been refusing to engage collectively with staff.'

For more information visit http://www.worksmart.org.uk/rights/staff_consultation

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (300 words) issued 6 Apr 2008