There will always be those who lose out when a company goes into administration and cannot cover all of its debts. However, the current system does not represent the appropriate balance, since those who have given secure credit to a company are cushioned from the full impact of an insolvency, because the losses are borne by those who work for a company on a self-employed basis, or as contractors or suppliers. Under the current rules it is clearly in the financial interest of a company to break the law, and ignore the statutory redundancy consultation period, if the fine for doing so is less than the cost of continuing to trade, especially since this fine will anyway be paid by the taxpayer. However, while the financial calculation is simple, ignoring the consultation period has a high human cost that appears not to have featured in the decision making process at City Link. Employees were denied a reasonable notice period in which to seek alternative employment and instead, at a time of financial uncertainty, have to pursue a court claim for lack of consultation if they wish to be compensated. While there were differences of opinion as to whether or not City Link could be made viable, and the desired level of return could be achieved, the Committees regret that Better Capital felt its investors' interests could only be protected at the expense of the future of City Link and continued employment for its workers

This inquiry investigates key issues that affect the daily lives of those people who live in the south of Scotland. The Committee held informal seminars in Galashiels, Peebles and Dumfries, in May and June 2014, in order to identify the key issues facing businesses, communities and individuals in the south of Scotland. Several of the issues raised in the meetings focused on the social and economic needs of the residents of the south of Scotland, many of which related to devolved functions which are the responsibility of the Scottish Government. However, some crucial issues were raised which were a direct consequence of the policies and responsibilities of the UK Government, specifically for example, in relation to employment issues. The inquiry will seek to examine the bigger picture, and to address two central questions: i) Are the current structures working as effectively as they could for the benefit of the people of the south of Scotland? ii) How can the UK and Scottish Governments work together with Local Authorities to deliver appropriate and effective policies to support economic development and growth in the south of Scotland?This document sets out the specific terms of reference for the inquiry, raising questions and issues on which the Committee would welcome written evidence.

The most trusted and thought-provoking introduction to employment relations, this book examines key employee relations issues from a critical perspective using contemporary research and a wealth of real-life examples and carefully designed learning features.

In this report the Committee has set out key elements of its work over the 2010-15 Parliament. The Committee believes that it is crucial that select committees follow up their work and do not simply see the publication of a report as the end of the process of scrutiny. Scrutiny should not end with the Dissolution of Parliament. The Scottish Government was clear that the 2014 referendum on independence would be a once generation event, but that does not mean that the relationship between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom will remain unchanged. The recommendations of the Smith Agreement will be implemented during the course of the next Parliament. The major package of legislation, and the revised fiscal framework that will accompany it, will require careful and detailed scrutiny, as will any proposals to go further that the Smith Commission envisaged.

When business imperatives require large enterprises to reorganize, involving the reduction in staff legally characterized as collective dismissal, EU directives and laws across Europe mandate specific procedures to support workers who have been made redundant and impose sanctions where regulatory or judicial scrutiny uncovers violations. It is thus essential that a clearly defined framework of the laws and jurisprudence in force in each Member State be provided for businesses and their counsel to ensure compliance and avoid sanctions. This eminently practical book, the first and only book of its kind, provides exactly such an analysis. The book is structured on a country-by-country basis, with each chapter written by an expert in the country covered and responding concisely to such questions as the following: • How is ‘collective dismissal’ calculated? • Which issues regarding collective layoffs’ procedures trigger legal intervention? • What happens when enterprises provide incomplete or delayed information to labour unions or public officials? • When can a worker be reinstated or claim compensation? Each chapter clarifies the extent to which directives have been implemented in the Member States and whether the law in force provides workers with some more favourable treatments than EU actually requires. Jurisprudence and its practical application are analysed from the perspective of the ‘law in action’ rather than that of the ‘law in the books’. A concluding chapter examines global standards and trends in this area of law. There is no other publication fully devoted to the subject of collective dismissal, extensively elaborated and supported with case law. As a source of reliable information as manifested in the actions of judges, lawyers, solicitors, firms, and labour unions, this book has no peers. It will be welcomed and put to use by lawyers and solicitors specializing in labour law, in-house counsel and human resources professionals at multinational companies, regulatory authorities, and labour unions, as well as by universities and centres of research in the field of European law and labour law. The editors - Roberto Cosio, Filippo Curcuruto, Vincenzo Di Cerbo and Giovanni Mammone - all have extensive experience in judicial and administrative practice related to EU labour law, particularly in Italy. All are well-known authors in this field.

TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 672: Roundabouts: An Informational Guide - Second Edition explores the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of roundabouts. The report also addresses issues that may be useful in helping to explain the trade-offs associated with roundabouts. This report updates the U.S. Federal Highway Administration's Roundabouts: An Informational Guide, based on experience gained in the United States since that guide was published in 2000.

This report describes evaluation methods for transport infrastructure investments to ensure that scarce resources are allocated in a way that maximises their net return to society.