Pictured above: (l-r) Brian Hall, Lorraine Teague and Mike Malone

Over 100 delegates attended a breakfast seminar, organised by BHSF, which addressed several key issues, including absence management, taking profits out of benefits and the ever-increasing burden of legislation. 

Speakers at the Motor Cycle Museum, Solihull, were Brian Hall, sales and marketing director at BHSF Ltd., Lorraine Teague, partner at Shakespeare Putsman LLP, and Mike Malone, former senior finance manager at the Rover Group. 

Lorraine Teague outlined the increasing amount of legislation companies were facing, including changes to the default retirement age, the Bribery Act, the Equality Act, Agency Workers Regulations, flexible working, paternity leave, time off for training, tribunal reform and the Employer's Charter.

Mike Malone addressed absence management and advocated a comprehensive policy spelling out the levels and standards expected, a notification process, penalties for poor attendance, remedial measures and a "robust process and system".

Brian Hall's piece sought to explain the price advantages achieved by employers through not-for-profit suppliers. Examples were given on how employers could reduce their employee benefits costs whilst maintaining or even improving quality.