Infozone – the briefing: 19/02/10

Topics covered in this week's Infozone briefing include: cut working week to 21 hours call; More job losses likely in 2010; and training investment will pay off.

CUT WORKING WEEK TO 21 HOURS CALL

The working week should be cut to 21 hours to boost employment and the economy, a think tank has suggested.

The New Economics Foundation said the reduction in hours would help to ease unemployment and overwork, while helping staff to become more productive. It admitted people would earn less, but said they would benefit from an improved quality of life and have more time to carry out worthy tasks.

The 21 Hours report said employees would have better scope to look after children or other dependants, plus more opportunity to perform civic duties, while older people would be able to delay retirement.

MORE JOB LOSSES LIKELY IN 2010

Job losses remain likely in 2010, according to financial experts. Last month, official figures showed that the UK had only just moved out of recession, causing concern that the British economy could dip back into contraction, prompting a second wave of job losses across the private sector.

Richard Lim, an economist at the British Retail Consortium, warned: "Spending has dropped, so some companies are posting losses and not making the levels of sales. Businesses and retailers have managed to keep on staff, but this has come at a cost of margins. Looking forward to 2010, the question mark is whether businesses will be able to maintain the levels of labour."

TRAINING INVESTMENT WILL PAY OFF

Businesses are being reminded not to neglect investment in people as they seek to save and make money. The advice, in Creating Value: saving money and making money for you and your business, suggests that investing in training to employ fewer, smarter people, will pay dividends. For more advice, visit www.caterersearch.com/cvs