Workers worried

Nov 14 2007 by Chris Knox, The Journal

WORKERS are worried about the level of discrimination against people with mental or physical disabilities, according to a new report.

A survey of 1,000 adults by disability insurer Unum showed that just over a third were satisfied with attitudes towards mental disability and 42% said they were happy with employer attitudes to staff with a physical disability.

Fewer than half of those questioned said they supported the way their company tackled bullying at work, while other concerns were voiced at the way racial discrimination was treated.

Strikes called off

STRIKES by train drivers at three rail companies were called off after an agreement to hold fresh talks in separate disputes over pensions. Members of the drivers’ union Aslef at new franchises London Overground, London Midland and East Midland Trains had been due to walk out on Thursdays or Fridays until the end of the month in the latest in a series of stoppages. The union’s executive committee called off the industrial action after the new rail franchise companies replacing Silverlink agreed to talks about the pension problems that caused the dispute.

Reducing footprint

BUSINESSES are being urged to calculate and reduce their carbon footprint under a scheme designed to help them cut their energy use and save money. The Carbon Trust is launching an online carbon calculator for businesses, which it says will allow companies to quickly work out their main carbon impacts and how they can reduce emissions. According to the Government-funded Trust, businesses could save almost £350m this winter (December to the end of February) through cost-free or low-cost energy-saving actions such as energy-efficient light bulbs or opening blinds to utilise natural light.

Pensions transfer

PENSIONS buy-out firm Paternoster has completed its biggest deal to date when it took over two of media group Emap’s final salary schemes. Assets worth £170m have been transferred to Paternoster as it takes on the full liabilities of the schemes, which together have 1,700 members. The deal is the biggest transfer that Paternoster has completed to date, and is also thought to be the biggest that has taken place in the UK so far this year. At the same time the buy-out firm has agreed to take on all of the scheme’s future liabilities for a one-off payment into the pensions of £40m, making the deal unique.