The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has called on the government to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees, raise awareness among employees of the 2012 pension reforms, and introduce a £2.50 an hour training wage for internships lasting three months or longer.
The CIPD’s 2011 public policy platform, Blueprint for Growth, is divided into two sections: boosting the labour market and improving employment practice.
Dr John Philpott, chief economic adviser to the CIPD, said: “The government wants to foster a strong private sector-led economic recovery but we have yet to see a coherent strategy for economic growth to sit alongside the Chancellor’s very clear cut approach to reducing the fiscal deficit.
“The coalition needs to show greater urgency in implementing measures to help boost the long-run supply side capacity of the UK economy, which must include efforts to boost productivity by improving the way in which businesses manage the people they employ.
“There needs to be a step-change in the UK’s leadership and people management skills if we are to close productivity gaps with our international competitors. The government recognised this in its skills strategy last year and committed to establishing a new framework to support better management and leadership. We now need action to turn the ambition into reality.”
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