Has Blair really been so bad?

Legacy of a raft of poorly drafted legislation
The legacy of 10 years of Blair’s Britain is a raft of poorly drafted employment legislation that is often no more that a knee jerk reaction to a situation or to appease one group or another.

Much of the legislation is so poorly draft that anyone who can read past Key Stage 2 could see the holes in it.

As an HR professional and other HR professional I know have over the last 2 or 3 years have seen an increase spurious grievance and employment tribunal claims. We are now suffering from the likes of the Human Rights Act where the rights of the one take precedence over the rights of the many.
What ever happened to the notion that any individual with a genuine claim to take it to a tribunal, where it would be heard fairly without the need for an expensive legal team? Now unless you employ a barrister your chances are limited.

As for the standards of those hearing the claims, I am aware of one case where both the employer and the employee made complaints about the hearing.

HR is now full of individuals who at best could have their knowledge of employment law described as weak. They take the PC line, hook, line and sinker. Common sense seems to be dead but has be replaced as head of the family by the black sheep of the family “Political Correctness”.

You only have to look at the example last week where a Thomas the Tank Engine ride at Drusillas Park, in Alfriston, near Eastbourne, Sussex was banned from advertising for a Fat Controller – in case it discriminates against thin people.

I was banned by a newspaper from using the word “man” in an advert for a handyman despite the advert stating clearly in large letters that we were seeking applicants from any gender and it was a job title. Their view was that man indicated gender.

Before anyone says they were correct I suggest they look at the Oxford English dictionary as man in there means a human being.

We now regularly see English being misused. Words that did indicate gender are now being used to indicate either gender examples being actor and author.

We regularly see the introduction of words into to dumb down a situation, a non HR example being joy riding what ever happened to theft.

I am not saying a return to the days of the mill where 5 years were forced to work for 10 hours a day but a situation where the balance is fair between employer and employer. I would suggest the current situation is such that is is not fair to either.

One Response

AnonymousUser says:

May 2, 2007 at 8:53 am

Legacy of a raft of poorly drafted legislation
The legacy of 10 years of Blair’s Britain is a raft of poorly drafted employment legislation that is often no more that a knee jerk reaction to a situation or to appease one group or another.

Much of the legislation is so poorly draft that anyone who can read past Key Stage 2 could see the holes in it.

As an HR professional and other HR professional I know have over the last 2 or 3 years have seen an increase spurious grievance and employment tribunal claims. We are now suffering from the likes of the Human Rights Act where the rights of the one take precedence over the rights of the many.
What ever happened to the notion that any individual with a genuine claim to take it to a tribunal, where it would be heard fairly without the need for an expensive legal team? Now unless you employ a barrister your chances are limited.

As for the standards of those hearing the claims, I am aware of one case where both the employer and the employee made complaints about the hearing.

HR is now full of individuals who at best could have their knowledge of employment law described as weak. They take the PC line, hook, line and sinker. Common sense seems to be dead but has be replaced as head of the family by the black sheep of the family “Political Correctness”.

You only have to look at the example last week where a Thomas the Tank Engine ride at Drusillas Park, in Alfriston, near Eastbourne, Sussex was banned from advertising for a Fat Controller – in case it discriminates against thin people.

I was banned by a newspaper from using the word “man” in an advert for a handyman despite the advert stating clearly in large letters that we were seeking applicants from any gender and it was a job title. Their view was that man indicated gender.

Before anyone says they were correct I suggest they look at the Oxford English dictionary as man in there means a human being.

We now regularly see English being misused. Words that did indicate gender are now being used to indicate either gender examples being actor and author.

We regularly see the introduction of words into to dumb down a situation, a non HR example being joy riding what ever happened to theft.

I am not saying a return to the days of the mill where 5 years were forced to work for 10 hours a day but a situation where the balance is fair between employer and employer. I would suggest the current situation is such that is is not fair to either.