Companies turn to solicitors for help with employment laws

Recent changes in employment legislation are having a major effect on businesses and are so complex that companies are being forced to consult solicitors to interpret the new laws, according to a new survey. 

In a survey of 2,000 companies in the midlands - conducted by Birmingham-based Pinsent Curtis and the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry - 85% of the respondents said the rapid introduction of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998, Working Time Regulations 1998 and the Employment Relations Act 1999 was having a major effect on their businesses; 34% rated the effect as "significant". 

More than 70% of respondents said European legislation was having a negative impact on human resources management at their companies. 

Almost all of the respondents said that their businesses would suffer as more legislation was enacted. 

Respondents were also concerned over the lack of time allowed to deal with changes and the poor written guidance and models of best practice. 

In 45% of cases, respondents said they were being forced to rely on external lawyers as their primary source of information in interpreting the new legislation.

"Law Society's Gazette"