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EU social policy is perhaps the most controversial aspect of European integration yet, despite all the political clashes on the matter, concepts like “social Europe” or “social dimension” remain ill‐defined and imprecise terms. Intends to outline and clarify in detail the debate about whether or not the European Union should have competence with regard to labour market affairs. A key message is that social policy has been controversial because it has become embroiled in the debate about the future political direction of the EU. In particular, three contrasting political models –symbiotic integration, integrative federalism and neo‐liberalism – have been put forward as organizing principles for the EU and each has a coherent view of what form social policy should take at the European level. It is the clash between these three models that has caused EU social policy to be so contestable and intractable.

The Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Act 1986, requires all private sector employers in Australia with more than 100 employees to report annually on programmes they have developed to improve women′s employment opportunities. A criterion sampling approach was used to identify organizations whose public reports to the Affirmative Action Agency in 1992, contained at least some evidence of affirmative action programme development. There were 288 organizations identified in this way. The employment profiles of these 288 organizations for the period 1991‐1993 are compared with a random sample of another 288 organizations reporting to the agency over the same period. There are no clear conclusions which can be drawn from the employment profiles. What does emerge from the analysis is that simple quantitative measures of the effects of affirmative action are clearly inadequate to capture women′s employment experiences.

As the volume and complexity of employment legislation increases, small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) without access to internal human resource expertise are increasingly vulnerable to litigation and its associated costs. The disproportionate impact of employment regulation on the small firm has long been a concern of SME owner‐managers and is expected to increase as a result of the recent rapid expansion of labour law in the UK. This paper will consider evidence from a recent survey of small businesses, which examined their main employment concerns and the sources of advice they use on employment relations matters. The survey’s findings illustrate the particular challenge increased employment rights presents to the smaller organisation. It identifies a need for more intensive support tailored to the specific circumstances of individual firms in developing proactive approaches to human resourcing which not only comply with but also reflect the spirit of the legislation.

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the limited body of research that focuses on the efficacy of sexual orientation anti-discrimination legislation in reducing discrimination.

Reviews past research that documents overt and subtle forms of workplace discrimination against gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals and describes how legislation plays an important role in changing social norms and underlying attitudes.

Empirically demonstrates that legislation effectively can reduce discrimination.

Informs legislative debate and promotes the expansion and adoption of national, state, and local legislation on sexual orientation anti-discrimination legislation.

Reviews government and employer policies towards older workers and shows that there has been a massive decline in economic activity among older workers over the last two decades. The major cause is identified as economic recession which has encouraged employers, with the support of government, to target older workers for redundancy. In addition, older workers have been over‐represented in declining industries. Once out in the labour market older workers face considerable age discrimination. Recently, population ageing has encouraged all political parties to revise their policies on age and employment. Each now recognizes the value of older workers, although there is fundamental disagreement about the best means of encouraging employers to change their practices. The then Conservative government favoured a voluntary approach while the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats have been more favourably disposed towards comprehensive legislation outlawing age discrimination. Argues that a combination of both approaches is desirable and, moreover, that it will also be necessary to revise policies on training, pensions and social security.

Since the 1980s, public policy developments have promoted the role of the voluntary sector in a variety of UK settings. In parallel, there has been a growing interest in the impacts of employment relations regulation. This paper combines these themes by exploring the impact of the Employment Relations Act (1999) on the Scottish voluntary sector. Provides evidence, based on data from larger voluntary organisations, that the legislation has potential impacts, particularly regarding unfair dismissals, trade union recognition and parental leave. An underlying issue is the emergence of personnel management capability in conditions of increasingly complex labour market regulation.

Aims to review the research literature and legislation on outplacement and re‐employment interventions in Belgium and present results of qualitative research and case studies of companies, regarding interventions during organizational restructuring.

Comprises a literature review, qualitative (semi‐structured and in‐depth) interviews with workers and experts, and case studies of companies.

The literature on interventions suggests the importance of “traject‐counselling” for affected workers as a most valuable intervention during organizational restructuring. In‐depth interviews with job‐insecure workers highlight the importance of fair treatment, and especially of interactional justice. Case studies and interviews delineate the components that make re‐employment initiatives successful: outplacement interventions include emotional support, training of skills and individual coaching or guidance. Belgian legislation regarding outplacement and re‐employment initiatives is unique and extensive. Possible weaknesses, however, are the complexity of procedures, the unfamiliarity of the public with the legislation and the lack of legislation at an international level.

The reported results are based on qualitative research only. In the future, quantitative evaluation studies need to be performed, in order to evaluate the outcomes of re‐employment initiatives and of the implemented legislation.

The results highlight the need for training of all partners involved in organizational restructuring: workers, managers and outplacement consultants.

This study offers the first integrated account of research results on measures needed to re‐employ workers during (and after) organizational restructuring in Belgium. Various methods (literature review, qualitative interviews and case studies) are used. The results include valuable suggestions for other European countries.

In the previous monograph, a discussion took place on what constitutes dismissal and when the termination of the contract of employment takes effect. These two aspects treat the first of the statutory qualifications necessary to enable the employee to exercise his right not to be unfairly dismissed, namely that he must first be dismissed.

The purpose of this paper is to use neo‐institutional theory to examine organizational responses to the age discrimination at work legislation, recently introduced in the UK. The paper examines reasons managers advanced for the introduction of human resource (HR) policies about age discrimination, in addition to legal compliance.

A longitudinal survey of HR managers and four case studies within a range of UK organizations are used to elicit data on organizational responses.

Unsurprisingly, the introduction of the new legislation has created strong coercive pressure on organizations. However, the results also provide evidence of mimetic and normative pressures within organizations. There is a complex range of factors that influence changes to policies and practices. In addition, the impact of organizational context, manager stereotypes and public and private sector differences are examined. The implications for explaining coercive change in organizations in terms of different legal philosophies and for future research are discussed.

This paper adds to a currently sparse literature on the introduction of age discrimination policies by organizations and uses a neo‐institutional framework to examine the forces that may affect the introduction of these policies over and above legislation.

The status of employee which draws the distinction between a contract of service and a contract for services, and the practical aspects of the two relationships have been discussed. The transfer of the employee by the permanent to the temporary employer has also been considered. It is now proposed to treat a variety of employment relationships which will include short term and casual labour, temporary workers supplied by an agency, labour only sub contracting, outworkers, apprentices, students and cadets, part time labour, crown employment, office holders; probationary employees and finally merchant seamen. The criterias discussed and analysed in relation to the status of employee apply to some, but not to all, of these employment relationships.