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InterQuest appoints Eldridge CEO •‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒→ IT, analytics and digital staffing specialist InterQuest Group has appointed Chris Eldridge as its new chief executive. ve. An InterQuest statement revealed Eldridge would succeed Mark Braund, who ho it y was announced in July would be leaving to join telecommunications company Coms as its new CEO early next year.
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ARRESTS FOLLOWING RAID ON RECRUITMENT AGENCY
OSBORNE’S PAYROLL PLANS SLAMMED BY UMBRELLA, SELF-EMPLOYED GROUPS
Five people were arrested following raids, including at the Derby office of Smart Recruitment UK, the Derby Telegraph reported. In a joint operation led by the Pensions Regulator and involving Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire police, and the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, three men and a woman were arrested at the recruiter’s Derby office. The fifth was arrested in a separate raid at a business in Nottingham city centre. All were arrested on suspicion of fraud. A statement from the Pensions Regulator, sent via Nottinghamshire police says a sixth person, who voluntarily attended a police station, was questioned. It also says all those arrested were released on bail with appointments to return to a police station in the new year. A spokesperson for the Pensions Regulator told Recruiter it was unable to comment further on an ongoing investigation. Recruiter also contacted Smart Recruitment but was told no one was available to comment. More: http://bit. ly/1kshROv
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USE SOCIAL MEDIA CAUTIOUSLY Recruiters have been warned to tread carefully when vetting candidates using social media because of potential discrimination claims. Last month job board Evenbreak founder Jane Hatton cautioned recruiters in the use of professional networking site LinkedIn, among other social media sites, saying it could lead to unconscious bias. Employment lawyers warn while using social media to vet candidates is not illegal, recruiters need to make sure they are not basing hiring decisions on discriminatory factors. Elizabeth Marshall, an associate in the employment practice at technology and digital media law firm Kemp Little, told Recruiter in a statement: “This is actually more complicated than one might think. In particular, social media sites often contain information relating to a candidate’s age, gender, race, political views and sexual orientation, none of which should be taken into consideration when deciding on their suitability for a role. If they are, the business is likely to face an expensive discrimination claim.” More: http://bit.ly/1RXxqZj
I M AG E S | J E SS H UR D / SWN S / G ETTY / SH UTTER STO C K
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THERE ARE SOME
4.6M SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS IN THE UK WHO WILL HAVE TO GO ON THE PAYROLL •‒‒‒‒‒→
Organisations representing umbrella companies and the self-employed have condemned reported government plans that would see freelancers and contractors working through personal service companies (PSCs) moved onto the payroll. The Guardian, quoting a government source, reported Chancellor George Osborne is planning the measure that would see freelancers and contractors forced on to the payroll if they work for a business for more than a month. Attacking the proposal, trade association for professional employment services FCSA chief executive Julia Kermode said in a statement the plan would have a “significant” impact on the UK economy, contractors and companies that hire them. “There are some 4.6m self-employed workers in the UK who will have to go on the payroll of each of the clients they work for after a month if this legislation comes into force. It is simply not workable.” The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) CEO Chris Bryce said he is seeking urgent clarification on whether the plans are under serious consideration and if they are, he urged a rethink. “Springing such a measure on a sector already short on confidence could cause significant harm to the economy which relies on independent professionals for flexibility and innovation.” More: http://bit. ly/1WMglmp WWW.RECRUITER.CO.UK 9
12/11/2015 14:18