Dealing with discrimination and equal opportunities issues is fast becoming a key topic amongst manufacturers, according to manufacturers organisation EEF.

The top three employment related issues concerning the UK’s employers remain: disciplinary matters, redundancy and reorganisation, and contracts of employment.

EEF, which provides employment advice to its membership of more than 6,000 manufacturing companies, received over 23,000 calls for support on employment related issues during the period July through December 2006. 

Peter Schofield, EEF director of legal and employment affairs, says: “Despite the government's rhetoric about reducing burdens on business, our figures show that employers are continuing to carry the costs of dealing with increasing amounts of employment legislation. In particular, in the wake of the new age discrimination regulations effective last October, it is no surprise that we are seeing greater levels of enquiries on age discrimination from employers wanting to avoid the numerous pitfalls.

“In the coming period we expect to see more enquiries associated with extended maternity pay, and rights to request flexible working, as new legislation in these areas comes into effect.  We also expect to see an increasing number of enquiries on sickness absence.”