Government's new advice utility 'presents no competition for HR'

Government's new advice utility 'presents no competition for HR'

29.8.2008

A recent announcement that the government is to offer an online utility for the owners of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has been met with indifference from human resources (HR) employees.

Small businesses losing money through complex calculations such as maternity leave and redundancy pay are to benefit from an online cost-calculating resource.

The government-run website will also offer legal advice on employee-related issues, Personnel Today reported.

However, HR insiders, whose functions may be threatened if SMEs go it alone, have said that the launch of this resource does not compromise their services.

Dean Gardner, strategic HR outsourcing director for Northgate HR said: "It's all well and good to provide advice, but SMEs need a lot more than that. How do you deal with the people element using a website or a calculator? You need more than that."

The Employing People campaign is part of a government initiative designed to help cut the costs hampering SMEs in the UK by £365 million.

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