This article is from page 57 of the 2005-10-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 57 JPG
MAKING sure that they are not breaking the law and keeping up with rapidly changing employ- ment legislation is one of the top worries for business owner man- agers, mid-west business people were told at a meeting last night. The group were being briefed by the Chamber of Commerce on a new service which will help take the pain and the risk out of employer/employee dealings. The new Chamber HR service for the first time in Ireland, offers employers an interpretation of the law, expert advice on human resources management as well as indemnification against the legal and award costs associated with responding to a claim in the La- bour Relations Commission or Employment Appeals Tribunal. Announcing the service, Chief Executive of Limerick Cham- ber Maria Kelly said, “feedback from our members strongly indi- cates that businesses, especially SMEs, struggle to understand
and keep abreast of changes in employment legislation. Yet they are responsible for compliance and implementation.”
Poor HR practice is not a de- fence in court, the gathering heard. “Chamber HR seeks to protect those who endeavour to comply with the law but lack the expertise to do so,” the CEO said.
Those attending the briefing were told that recently, the La- bour Court awarded €15,000 to a Congolese temporary call centre employee who was dismissed af- ter he made a 24 minute long dis- tance phone call while at work.
In another case quoted to the meeting, the Employment Ap- peals Tribunal awarded €3,000 to a bar worker for unfair dis- missal having been sacked for allegedly selling cannabis to col- leagues while at work.
“A potential fair dismissal can become an actual unfair dis- missal if good procedures are not scrupulously followed. When it comes to employment law, igno-
rance 1s no defence,’ the Cham- ber CEO said.
The service is supported by the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland (CCI) and is being part- nered by Peninsula Business Services, the largest employment law consultancy in the UK which has offices in both Dublin and Manchester.
Peter Done, Managing Director of Peninsula added that, “From personal experience, I know that common sense doesn’t count and owner managers need expert ad- vice and support. That is the gen- esis of Chamber HR. Peninsula is proud to be involved in providing this unique and indispensable service.”
The Chamber HR service 1s also providing details on “Chamber Business School” a FAS funded Chamber initiative that provides members with local access to training courses on people and performance management skills.
Details of how to avail of the service can be had by contacting any chamber of commerce.