Small businesses encounter the Ice Age

Introduction of the third phase of the Information and Consultation of Employees (ICE) Regulations in April 2008 met with a frosty reception. Firms with as few as 50 employees are now covered by these somewhat daunting Regulations.

The Regulations give employees rights to information and consultation about issues such as:

• The business’s economic situation.
• Employment prospects.
• Decisions likely to lead to substantial changes in work organisation or contractual relations including redundancies and transfers.

The Regulations are triggered by a formal request from 10% of your workforce (with a minimum of 15 employees) or you can start the process yourself. A number of our clients already operate joint consultative arrangements with their workers and may be able to rely on existing arrangements to meet obligations under ICE.

In reality, the ICE Regulations are about good workforce communications and there is no particular need to be fazed by them. What's more, your workforce may never trigger a formal request! Neither should you let them inadvertently become a back-door route to union recognition/collective bargaining.

It may be wiser to devise your own arrangements, rather than await the possibility of a formal request. ES Consulting can help you to review your communication strategy and we have a low-cost service suitable for even the smallest businesses. For details phone 0845 073 0250.

Alternatively, if you simply wish to ensure your existing consultative arrangements are compliant or you need further advice on this matter, contact our Advice Line on 0845 073 0240.