As might be expected, given the responses to the previous question, both groups were very supportive of a general ban on smoking in the workplace. When it comes to monitoring staff time taken for cigarette breaks, the responses were more moderate, with 54% of UKBB, but 70% of UKBAB supporting.
Four questions in the April Survey addressed issues surrounding changes in regulations affecting business. Businesses find change time consuming and therefore costly to cope with, and being aware of relevant changes is an issue.
The first question was related to whether businesses actively seek out changes in government regulation. 49% of UKBB respondents do so to a high or moderately high extent.
When it comes to whether businesses are responsible for ensuring they are up to date, only 55% of respondents think they are, to a high or moderately high extent. In contrast, 85% of UKBAB respondents said that it is business's responsibility to keep up to date.
In terms of getting the information needed to keep up to date, the favourites were different between the two groups. Other Business Organisations was top for UKBB respondents, with Media second and Accountant third. Business Advisers were fifth on their list. Unsurprisingly, UKBAB respondents chose Business Advisers first. Second was the Internet and third, Media.
The final question asked about the impressions of those in business themselves, or in the UKBAB survey, those advising businesses, about compliance with changes in government regulations by businesses generally. 65% of UKBB respondents and 74% of UKBAB respondents strongly, or relatively strongly, have the impression that many businesses, in practice, choose to ignore changes until forced to comply.
Listed below are extracts from feedback received in Survey
BB71 April 2004.
Comments are listed under sector headings.
Views expressed are those of individual panellists and may not represent those
of the University.
production & Manufacturing
Tend to use different sources for different type of advice. Accountant for financial, solicitor for employment and other legal matters and CE Auditor for regulatory changes.
Smoking is not allowed and no breaks are allowed, so no monitoring is necessary
The CBI is a good source for business to be kept up to date with legislation, but not mentioned in your question.
Retail
In practice almost everywhere is a workplace and I believe this (proposed smoking at work ban) is yet another tentacle of bureaucracy setting out to ensnare us all.
Trade Associations are primary source for legislative updates
Business Services
I use a book on time Management, which I review whenever I have time.
Although I am a strong advocate of the paperless office I do work for a large client, who are horrendous in terms of the amount of printing off and distributing that they do.