Update for Ex Com on Employee and Industrial Relations

PCS have published the transcript of an undated document entitled "Update for Ex Com on Employee and Industrial Relations" written by Jonathan Donovan, HMRC's Deputy Director Employee Relations and Advice.

It is not the most well crafted of documents I have ever encountered; the grammar and spelling leave much to be desired, eg page 2:

"..ARC have called of their dispute with HMRC.."

Notwithstanding that, the document boils down to saying relations with ARC are "normalised" but relations with PCS need to be improved, or its influence marginalised "by maintaining dialogue only to meet statutory minimum requirements".

The writing has been on the wall for many years, quite why this has taken PCS by surprise now is beyond me.

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

The Valentine's Day Strike

One week ago (Valentine's Day), apparently, Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC) members went on strike for a day in protest against HMRC's new performance management system demanding fixed quotas (wherein 10% of staff fall in the bottom rating regardless of their performance).

May I ask if anyone (staff or non staff) noticed any effects of the strike?

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Valentine's Day Strike

The Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC) has informed HMRC that its members will take strike action on Valentine's Day.

The union represents senior managers and professionals in HMRC, its members are displeased with the new performance management system demanding fixed quotas wherein 10% of staff fall in the bottom rating regardless of their performance.

From April 2013 HMRC introduced a new three tier performance management system. For 2013/14 HMRC says it has set a guided distribution of 20% “Exceeded”, 70% “Achieved” and 10% “Must Improve”.

This is not a new concept, many "successful" private sector companies have used this technique (or variations thereon) eg Enron and Arthur Andersen (the failed accountancy firm that audited Enron). Seemingly the fear of "failure" is meant to be "motivational".

The ballot approving the strike had a turnout of 48%, of which nearly 60% voted in favour (ie 29% of ARC member voted in favour of strike action).

ARC president Gareth Hills is quoted by economia:

“ARC members have been asked to strike not for money, but in pursuit of some basic principles: reducing bureaucracy so we can do our jobs, a fair performance appraisal, rewarding, not penalising, promotions; and a fair deal for professionals.

Our members are not faceless bureaucrats, but real people striving every day to serve the Government and the public. The work they do builds schools, hospitals, libraries and playgrounds. It’s work that funds the social fabric of the UK and delivers for the nation. They deserve a fair performance system, one which allows them to do their job free from the tangle of bureaucracy.”

An HMRC spokesperson said:

“We are determined to improve our service delivery under the wider Civil Service Reform package. Assessing the performance of staff through a fair and reasonable performance appraisal system is a key part of these reforms.

We remain committed to resolving disputes through dialogue and we will do everything possible to ensure services to the public are not affected by industrial action by a small minority of our workforce." 

Comments and views are always welcome .

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"