News, News, News – the recession!

You can’t avoid the most recent news that we are ‘out of recession’, but what are your thoughts in the sectors you work in? Are you feeling a positive move out of the slump? A few headlines have caught my eye ……

The Guardian’s headline, which I love, read “UK economy: out of intensive care but still confined to bed”. Having had a hubby in intensive care several years ago I am well aware of the long & painful road to recovery!

Reuters headline was “Britain crawls out of recession”. Matt Falloon from Reuters wrote “The Office for National Statistics said on Tuesday gross domestic product rose by 0.1 percent between October and December, well below analysts' forecasts for growth of 0.4 percent and lower than all the predictions in a Reuters poll. For 2009 as a whole, the economy shrank by 4.8 percent -- the worst yearly performance since records began in 1949. The Labour government has been banking on a strong bounce back to growth to help overturn its poor opinion poll ratings before an election expected in 100 days, but these weaker than expected figures make a political comeback even trickier.”

The Telegraph’s most recent article regarding the recession was headed “Bumpy road ahead as Britain limps out of recession”. It then went on to say “Although Britain’s 18-month recession has now technically ended, the lacklustre recovery alarmed financial experts amid fears of a further slump and prompted a political storm. The weak economic figures undermined Government assurances that the economy would bounce back strongly from the worst recession since records began in 1948 and raised questions over the plans drawn up by both of the main political parties ahead of the imminent general election.
British families, meanwhile, were warned that interest rates are now unlikely to rise in the coming months, which means their savings will suffer. The value of the pound also fell which will make holidays abroad more costly. The weak recovery also threatens to derail the improving housing market – and the recent fall in unemployment - as companies become concerned about the country’s economic prospects.”

Personally I haven't yet seen an upturn in the recruitment business as a result of the return to growth. This is no major surprise as employment usually takes longer to recover than other economic indicators. It is good news we are out of recession and lets hope the growth rates sprint ahead in the next couple of months.

Top LEGAL JOBS

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It’s Snow Joke (again!)

It feels like only yesterday that I wrote a similar blog post …. an already suffering economy is really going to feel the pinch as ‘snow absence’ rates in the UK reach almost 14% and cost economy £0.5bn a day (according to Firstcare). Despite being predicted snow and this fairly lengthy cold snap we still seem to be unprepared and able to cope with carrying on as normal. We appreciate that blocked roads, dangerous driving conditions and cancelled public transport means that commuters are unable to get to work, but its does completely amaze me how little effort some people make to get to work. I do understand though, as a parent that many schools are closed, forcing working parents to stay at home. My Son’s nursery was closed yesterday but has reopened today and I take my hat off to them as they are one of the only ones in the area to open!

I have an old school friend that lives north of Glasgow, she experiences 2-3 foot of snow on a regular basis and is always amused by the chaos snow causes south of Brum!!

I noticed on twitter yesterday that Peter Jones (aka Dragons Den tall man) said that he had just ranted “where’s the commitment” at an employee who didn’t make it to work, but then got stuck himself!! He then went on to tweet “on a serious note, if you are driving today, please be careful. It is quite bad out there, goodness knows how Santa does it each year!”

That brings me on to Rebecca Clake, organisation and resourcing adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). She has said: "Employers should make clear to employees that they should not risk life and limb to get to work, and be understanding if employees need to leave early to avoid getting stranded unnecessarily on their way home - particularly if conditions worsen during the working day."

Fair enough. Anyway, back to business - whilst it is fun for many, having a day at home or venturing out to sledge or build a snowman – many SMES will suffer a back-lash from the fact that their workforce are absent. The cost to businesses across the UK due to lack of production is immense.

p.s; that’s my gorgeous Son in the picture!!