CIPD’s 2011 public policy platform

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) today launches its 2011 public policy platform – an agenda designed to secure the economic recovery, improve job prospects for all and boost UK productivity. Blueprint for Growth calls on policy makers to encourage more investment in the key leadership and management skills that will underpin economic success in the coming decades, while also highlighting the need for the Government to adopt a flexible approach to fiscal policy if the pace of economic recovery slows markedly in the coming months.

Launching the Institute’s public policy platform, which is divided into two sections: Boosting the labour market and Improving employment practice, Dr John Philpott, Chief Economic Adviser to the CIPD said:

“The Government wants to foster a strong private sector led economic recovery but we have yet to see a coherent strategy for economic growth to sit alongside the Chancellor’s very clear cut approach to reducing the fiscal deficit. The coalition needs to show greater urgency in implementing measures to help boost the long-run supply side capacity of the UK economy, which must include efforts to boost productivity by improving the way in which businesses manage the people they employ. But the Chancellor should also demonstrate a willingness to ensure there is sufficient demand in the economy to reduce the considerable unused capacity available at present, and if necessary revise the speed and scale of the planned fiscal squeeze. A fiscal ‘Plan B’ could take many forms and need not require major adjustment to the coalition’s long term fiscal policy objectives – it would also be far better than sticking with ‘Plan A’ if unemployment rises sharply in the coming months.

“There needs to be a step-change in the UK’s leadership and people management skills if we are to close productivity gaps with our international competitors. The government recognised this in its skills strategy last year and committed to establishing a new framework to support better management and leadership. We now need action to turn the ambition into reality.”

In addition to fiscal flexibility and leadership and management skills, Blueprint for Growth also calls on the Government to:
• Maintain the number of Tier 2 work-related visas at or near 20,000 and retain the intra-company transfer exemption for those earning over £40,000 from the migrant cap
• Introduce a £2.50 an hour Training Wage into National Minimum Wage legislation for internships lasting three months or longer
• Extend the right to request flexible working to all employees
• Establish mediation as a routine part of the employment tribunal claims process
• Raise awareness among employees of 2012 pension reform

This article was published by the CIPD