THE HUB’S WEEKLY NEWS SNIPPETS

We hope you found last week’s NEWS SNIPPETS interesting. It’s amazing how many stories there are in seven days – and this week’s been particularly busy – but here THE HUB RETAIL RECRUITMENT’S top four which we think apply to the industry but also to each of us as individuals.

BHS UNDER THREAT: When Philip Green sold BHS last year for £1, it was obvious that all was not well with the business. KPMG has now reported that the company will go into administration after 25th March if it cannot reach an agreement with its landlords when rents become due that day. Although the business has been ailing for years, it’s one of our High Street institutions, much the same as C&A was. Here’s a full article on the situation – we wish the company well, and especially the staff for whom this is such a difficult situation to be living through.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/03/07/bhs-warns-over-13bn-in-unpaid-debts-if-it-goes-out-of-business/

MORRISON’S COURT RULING HAS FAR REACHING IMPLICATIONS: What happens when a member of staff commits a criminal act? They are dealt with through the criminal justice system, and likely to be sacked by the employer. But now the landscape has changed because of a ruling by the Supreme Court. A Morrisson’s employee attacked and assaulted a customer at one of its petrol stations – it was racially motivated.  The ruling has said that Morrison’s was accountable for the behaviour of that employee. So from now on, a company can potentially be sued for the behaviour of staff in a customer-facing role. This ruling has far reaching implications so here’s a couple of links to help understand what those might be.

http://www.theguardian.com/law/2016/mar/02/supreme-court-finds-morrisons-liable-for-employees-at-work

http://www.cipd.co.uk/pm/peoplemanagement/b/weblog/archive/2016/03/03/employers-may-be-massively-more-liable-for-staff-misdemeanours.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=cipd&utm_campaign=cipdupdate&utm_term=68296&utm_content=090316-5117-6606–20160309091502-Employers%20may%20be%20‘massively%20more%20liable’%20for%20staff%20misdemeanours

WORKING INTO OUR 70s?: More depressing news this week about pensions. It seems likely the State pension age is going to rise to 70, and probably beyond that, within a generation. What this means is that not only will we have to work a lot longer that we ever thought, but that our pension contributions have to increase if we want to be be able to retire and be financially comfortable. Estimates are that contributions must double to about 15% of salary. As individuals – and employers – we’re going to have to work out how to do this. Here’s a couple of links that help with understanding the direction this is all going in.

http://www.cipd.co.uk/pm/peoplemanagement/b/weblog/archive/2016/03/03/what-would-a-new-state-retirement-age-mean-for-employers.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=cipd&utm_campaign=cipdupdate&utm_term=68296&utm_content=090316-5117-6606–20160309091257-headlines

SUNDAY TRADING: Moves to change the Sunday Trading laws and letting local councils decide on the right times for their communities may now falter as the Scottish National Party has said it will block the move. Estimates are that Sunday Trading might extend by up to six hours if the change gets through. And it will go a long way to ironing out some of the quirks that have built up since Sunday hours came in over 20 years ago. This is an interesting article that sets out the issues well. We’ll be watching out for the result.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35759590

We could go on as so many things have emerged this week. We hope you find these top 4 of interest – and of course we’ll add any updates. Do let us know what you make of the stories, or if there’s other topics you’d be interested in – at The Hub Retail Recruitment we’re always interested in your views. Our next issue will be out on Wednesday 16th.