Umbrella company, recruitment and contractor news.

Easy ways to prevent injuries at work, umbrella company contractors told

Posted by Daniel FrostThere are a number of simple techniques that could prevent accidents occurring in the workplace, which are also cheap to implement, company umbrella contractors may be intereste...

How umbrella company contractors could reduce stress in 2011

Posted by John CrawleyAnyone with an umbrella company who is feeling the strain heading into the new year has been advised on how they could deal with the problem.With the Stoke Association recently ...

Umbrella company contractors 'should look for stress'

Posted by John CrawleyA financial hit could be felt by businesses which do not deal with workplaces filled with people suffering from stress, those with umbrella companies have been warned.The Stress...

Health & safety assessments 'do not affect IR35 eligibility'

Posted by John CrawleyContractors with an umbrella company have been told that filling in health and safety forms is usually a "neutral point" as far as IR35 issues are concerned.This advic...

LBRO review 'could reduce regulatory burden on umbrella company users'

Posted by Sarah PuttA review is to be conducted into the burden that regulations regarding health and safety impose on contractors and umbrella company users - and the effectiveness of measures put i...

Contractors help govt curb its emissions

Contractors using umbrella companies could be buoyed by the news that the government is using workers to help reduce Whitehall's heating bill by carrying out energy-efficient improvements.David P...

HSE: Contractors need to remain safe

Safety issues for contractors using umbrella companies were highlighted today when one firm was fined after it erected dangerous scaffolding that then collapsed because of high winds.The Health and S...

Health and safety is a basic requirement for homeowners

Contractors using umbrella companies should be protected while on a job, according to an expert, who said that people need to realise the impact a worker's death or injury can have on families an...

Firms urged to discourage non-genuine absence

Firms have been advised to have thorough absence policies in place in order to discourage non-genuine absences.Return-to-work interviews, collecting absence data and thorough training should be used,...

Health and safety legislation review announced

Concerns regarding the application and perception of health and safety legislation are to be addressed by Lord Young, the newly-appointed adviser to the prime minister for the sector.He is set to und...

Wellbeing schemes 'improve absence rates'

The benefits of offering wellbeing schemes have been highlighted by one employment expert.Bosses are investing more in the health of their freelance contractors and permanent staff and taking absence...

Employers 'must help protect workers from stress'

Employers have been urged to take steps to reduce stress among their workers, including freelance contractors. The first move is to educate staff about the symptoms and signs of stress, so they can r...

Firms 'must ensure freelance contractors are prepared for fire'

Companies must take steps to ensure all workers in their buildings, including professional contractors, are aware of what to do in case of a fire.Figures from insurance firm RSA have revealed that a ...

Fit note system 'puts onus on employers to help freelance contractors'

The scrapping of the sick note system, which has been in use since the creation of the NHS in 1948, will put the onus on employers to get freelance contractors and other staff back to work following ...

Plants 'can boost health for freelance contractors'

Wherever they are working from, freelance contractors should have plenty of greenery around them to boost concentration and wellbeing, according to one scientist.Plants have a "profound psycholo...

US sends warning over NSW Australia property plans

Employers are being encouraged to get all their employees, including professional contractors, involved in health and safety in the workplace.The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a new ...

Freelance contractor health issues 'must be considered by employers'

Bosses should ensure proper procedures are in place for dealing with mental and physical health issues faced by freelance contractors.Firms should be open with staff so they know any issues will be d...

Guidance on fit notes released

Professional contractors who have had to take time off work because of ill-health will be given the support they need to get back to employment sooner with the new fit note system.Replacing the tradi...

Construction decline 'could hit contractor skills'

The slow recovery of the construction industry could result in the loss of engineering contractor skills, it has been claimed.Potential funding cuts across by government could result in public sector...

Ministers warned over NHS IT spending cuts

Ministers have been warned to be wary of cutting back too much on IT contractor payroll jobs when making cost reductions across the NHS.The government needs to be keen to undermining technology progr...