Duty of Care
Worker Strategy
Date 09/05/2012 Page 1 of 2 Issue 1.0
Directive 2002/14/EC of the European Parliament established a general framework for improving the information and consultation rights of employees within the European Community. Key Red = Legal Framework Blue = Regulated Activity
1: There are two important Principles to this directive; 1.1 Practical arrangements for information and consultation must be defined and implemented in accordance with national law and industrial relations practices in individual Member States. 1.2 When defining or implementing this strategy, employers and employees' representatives must work in a spirit of cooperation and with due regard for each other's rights and obligations. 2: Employee information and consultation covers three areas in relation to undertakings; 2.1 Economic, financial and strategic developments; 2.2 The structure and foreseeable development of employment, and related measures; 2.3 Decisions likely to lead to substantial changes in work organisation or contractual Relations 3: Key terms used in the Act 3.1 'Undertaking' means a public or private undertaking (task or project) carrying out an economic activity, whether or not operating for gain, which is located within the territory of the Member States. 3.2 'Establishment' means a unit of business defined in accordance with national law and practice, and located within the territory of a Member State, where an economic activity is carried out on an ongoing basis with human and material resources. 3.3 'Employee' means any person who, in the Member State concerned, is protected as an employee under national employment law and in accordance with national practice. 3.4 'Workers' representatives' means the employees' representatives provided for by national laws and/or practices. 3.5 'Information' means transmission by the employer to the employees' representatives of data in order to enable them to acquaint themselves with the subject matter and to examine it. 3.6 'Consultation' means the exchange of views and establishment of dialogue between the employees' representatives and the employer. 3.7 'Employer' means the natural or legal person party to employment contracts or employment relationships with employees, in accordance with national law and practice; 3.8 “Duty of Care� Under National Law The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 is a landmark in law. For the first time, companies and organisations can be found guilty of Corporate manslaughter as a result of serious management failures resulting in a gross breach of a duty of care.
Issued by: Len Gair: Director of Group Projects
Approved by: John Hodgkinson: Managing Director