One in four employers considering cutting 'too generous' holidays
More than a quarter of private sector employers are considering cutting holiday entitlement for staff in a bid to reduce employee benefit costs, reveals a new survey conducted by BDRC Continental. The study of 403 SMEs with between 2 and 250 employees puts the spotlight on the value of employee benefits. To read the full story click here.
Bacs late payment survey
Since 2006, the Omnibus has been used by Bacs to identify the experiences of late payments from customers among Britains SMEs (up to 250 employees). The latest survey found that a third of SMEs reported that big businesses are behind late bill settlement, while not for profit and public sector companies were most likely to pay their bills on time. To read the full story click here.
Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets Business Barometer
The Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets Business Barometer is a monthly survey of UK business opinion. The survey is completed around the middle of each month and provides an early indicator of expectations and economic trends at the business level. To read the Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets Business Barometer May report click here
Mixed views on bank holidays
Almost one third (30 per cent) of the UK’s small and medium sized enterprises expect the two consecutive bank holiday weekends in April to bring more benefits than disruption to their businesses. To read the full story in City A.M. please click here
Businesses prefer time off for training to parental leave as government throws them a lifeline over new regulations
Between the 7th of February and the 18th of March 2011, BDRC Continental conducted 501 telephone interviews with owners and FDs in small, medium and large businesses which reveals that while employee’s rights to paternity leave are well understood, few SMEs are aware of an impending change in regulation that will give employees the right to request time off for training. To read the full story please click here
Second Quarterly ‘Business Distress Index’ (Barometer of Financial Distress)
In December 2010, BDRC Continental conducted 500 telephone interviews with owners and FDs in small, medium and large businesses on behalf of R3 which reveals that over 850,000 businesses are experiencing decreased profits. To read the report click here or to read the full story in the Daily Telegraph click here
Half of SMEs do not offer employee benefits
BDRC Continental’s research in November 2010 paints a bleak picture for employees’ future pension pots. While contributory pension schemes are the benefit most likely to be on offer, only one third (34%) of all businesses offer a scheme to some employees. Life insurance and private medical insurance were the next most commonly offered benefits. To read the full story click here
The Government hopes the private sector will start hiring as the public sector starts firing. But SMEs beg to differ, at least in the short term.
To read about this exclusive survey by BDRC Continental in association with Management Today, click here
