Letters


Best payroll letter wins a bottle of Laurent Perrier Champagne

Winning letter

Many thanks from Phil Nilson

I returned to the office today to discover – to my utter surprise and delight – that I have topped Payroll World’s poll!

I must confess that, when I first saw my name in your 50 nominations, I was a little taken aback. Upon reflection, however, I came to think that the inclusion of myself – and three HMRC colleagues – was something to be proud of; it is a great indicator of how far HMRC has come in its efforts to improve relations with payroll professionals, as well as other customer groups. I wonder how many of us would have been on such a list 10 years ago? To then top the poll is simply the icing on the cake.

I am stunned to be honoured in such a way by a group of people for whom I have the utmost respect: I admire the dedication and professionalism of people in payroll. They have an enormously important job to do and, if I’ve learned anything in my dealings with them over the years, it is that they appreciate honesty and plain speaking. I suspect that has played a major part in the voting process.

In time-honoured fashion, therefore, I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me – but I’d also like to thank my colleagues in HMRC, particularly those in the Business Customer Unit.

Without the support they provide, I couldn’t do what I do, and I think this award reflects well upon both my immediate colleagues in the Employer Team, the Unit and, indeed, the department more widely.

Let’s hope we can build upon this relationship in years to come.

Phil Nilson, HMRC Employer Programme

Delay to paternity changes

In response to the article entitled ‘Paternity Leave’ (June 2009), the proposed changes to paternity leave will bring legislation in line with current working practices, but by delaying them even more the government sends a strong signal to working parents about who the main carer should be.

Currently, the mother is forced to stay home as fathers are not given extended paid leave, but the ideal would be to allow the choice of allocating flexible leave to either parent. I can appreciate businesses may be concerned with the costs involved, but it is a necessary step towards equality and fairness. The Equality & Human Rights Commission’s proposition seems fair and balanced without putting pressure on businesses.

Parenthood is often shared between two people, so it is only right that parental leave reflects this. Eventually, this could lead to an improvement in women’s prospects by shifting the biases around hiring women of child-bearing age within some businesses. Unfortunately, this won’t change unless there is a similar standing in the opportunities for both mother and father to be equally and actively involved in caring for the child.

Chris Parke, managing director, Talking Talent

You’re hired, but how?

Another year, another room full of hopefuls trying to impress Sir Alan at job interviews. You’d think he would have learned his lesson and checked the candidate’s history before the final stages. CV lies might not have been the only reason why Lorraine was kicked out of The Apprentice, but it didn’t help.

Employers can easily run a background check, verifying employment history and qualifications, as well as checking criminal records. If you fall at this first hurdle, you may never get a chance to prove yourself to your chosen employer.

Businesses incur huge costs for recruiting the wrong person – the CIPD estimates the average cost of recruitment is £7,250. An accurate CV is essential to getting a job, and the risks of getting caught are high – not every employer is as trusting as Sir Alan.

George Elkington, business development director, NorthgateArinso

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Don’t forget that the writer of the best letter each month wins a bottle of Champagne!

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