Video call irritation, a rise in Child Benefit and updated recycling rules for businesses
If your business frequently utilises video calls in the workplace, then you may find ACAS’s recent survey results interesting. Plus, how a rise in Child Benefit could affect employers and the updated rules around recycling for businesses.
Workplace Communication: Survey Reveals Employee Frustrations
A new survey by workplace expert Acas has revealed that nearly a third (31%) of employees dislike using video calls at work, with other communication methods also causing frustration among workers.
The survey asked employees which methods of workplace communication they found most irritating. The results showed:
- 31% of employees dislike video calls.
- 25% find messaging apps such as Teams and Zoom irritating.
- 21% dislike phone calls.
- 11% even find face-to-face conversations frustrating.
While most employees are comfortable with various communication methods, these findings highlight that preferences vary significantly in the workplace.
Finding the Right Balance
Acas Interim Chief Executive Dan Ellis commented on the findings:
“The way we communicate at work can impact us all. Our survey reveals that most employees are fine with different types of communication, but it is clear that for some people a particular method is better.
“We know good communication is really important to business success. The key for bosses is talking to staff to find out what works for them as well as the business, and finding solutions that encourage people to talk to each other most effectively.”
The Importance of Communication Flexibility
The survey results suggest that you should be mindful of how communication methods in your business’ workplace affect productivity and employee satisfaction. Relying too heavily on one form of communication, particularly video calls or instant messaging, could lead to frustration among your staff.
You can take proactive steps to ensure workplace communication remains effective by:
- Offering a mix of communication options to suit different preferences.
- Encouraging teams to agree on preferred methods for different types of discussions.
- Being mindful of “video call fatigue” and not overusing virtual meetings.
- Ensuring that communication remains clear, concise, and purposeful.
By taking these considerations into account, you can create a more efficient and comfortable working environment that supports employee engagement and productivity.
See: https://www.acas.org.uk/video-calls-most-irritating-form-of-workplace-communication
Child Benefit Increases from 7 April: What Employers Need to Know
From 7 April 2025, families receiving Child Benefit will see an increase in their payments. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced that the weekly rate will rise to £26.05 for the eldest or only child and £17.25 for each additional child. This means an annual payment of £1,354.60 for the first child and £897 for each subsequent child. These payments, usually made every four weeks, are automatically into claimants’ bank accounts.
One way parents can manage their Child Benefit is via the HMRC app, which allows them to make and adjust claims and update their details.
What This Means for Employers
While Child Benefit is a personal entitlement for families, there are several ways this update can be relevant to businesses and employers:
- Supporting Employees’ Financial Wellbeing: This increase in Child Benefit can provide a small but valuable financial boost to employees with children. Encouraging staff to check their eligibility and claim what they are entitled to can help reduce financial stress and improve overall wellbeing.
- Payroll Considerations and High-Income Employees: Employees earning between £60,000 and £80,000 may be subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). From summer 2025, affected employees will be able to opt to have this charge deducted via their PAYE tax code, reducing the need to file a Self Assessment tax return. Employers may need to provide guidance on this option and ensure payroll systems are updated if and when new tax codes are received from HMRC.
- Maternity and Parental Leave Advice: Employees taking maternity or parental leave should be reminded to claim Child Benefit as soon as possible after their child’s birth. Claims can only be backdated up to three months, so prompt action is crucial.
- National Insurance Credits Awareness: Claiming Child Benefit also provides National Insurance (NI) credits, which contribute to an individual’s State Pension entitlement. Employees who choose to opt out of receiving payments (to avoid HICBC) should still make a claim to secure these NI credits.
Key Actions for Employers
- Inform staff about the Child Benefit increase and encourage eligible employees to claim.
- Educate high-income employees about the upcoming PAYE tax code option for HICBC.
- Ensure payroll teams are aware of the changes, particularly around HICBC deductions.
- Remind new parents of the importance of claiming Child Benefit promptly to secure payments and NI credits.
By keeping employees informed about these changes, businesses can contribute to their financial wellbeing and support parents in managing their family finances.
If you or your employees would like any further information or help, please feel free to contact us. We would be happy to help!
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/child-benefit-boost-for-millions-of-families
Car Manufacturers Fined £77 Million for Illegal Collusion
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has fined 10 car manufacturers and two trade bodies a total of £77.7 million after uncovering illegal agreements that distorted competition in the UK market.
The investigation revealed two major breaches of competition law: restricting advertising claims about vehicle recyclability and colluding on the cost of recycling end-of-life vehicles (ELVs).
Here are some key findings from the investigation
1. Restricting Sustainability Advertising
Car manufacturers are legally required to provide information about the recyclability of their vehicles. However, the CMA found that:
- Manufacturers agreed not to advertise if their vehicles exceeded the minimum recyclability requirement of 85%, even when the actual percentage was higher.
- With the exception of Renault, they also agreed not to disclose the percentage of recycled material used in vehicle production.
- The agreement, active between May 2002 and September 2017, was documented in the ‘ELV Charta’ – sometimes referred to as a “gentleman’s agreement” – and had the intention of avoiding a competitive race among manufacturers in relation to recyclability advertising.
This prevented consumers from making fully informed choices about a vehicle’s sustainability and may have discouraged innovation in eco-friendly technologies.
2. Buyers’ Cartel on Recycling Costs
Vehicle manufacturers are required to provide a free recycling service for customers’ old or written-off cars. This service is often outsourced to third parties. However, the CMA found that:
- Eight manufacturers – BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot Citroen, Renault, Toyota, Vauxhall, and Volkswagen – agreed not to pay companies for ELV recycling services.
- Additional companies and trade bodies, including Nissan, Mitsubishi, Jaguar Land Rover, ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association), and SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders), later joined the agreement.
- The agreement, which lasted from April 2004 to May 2018, prevented recycling service providers from negotiating fair pricing.
This anti-competitive practice discouraged investment in greener recycling solutions and potentially increased costs for recycling firms.
Consequences and Fines
All involved companies, except Mercedes-Benz, which received immunity for reporting the cartel, have agreed to settle and pay fines.
Some companies, including Stellantis (Peugeot Citroen, Vauxhall, and Opel), Mitsubishi, and SMMT, cooperated with the CMA early and received reductions in their fines under the leniency policy.
The largest fines include:
- Ford: £18.5 million
- Volkswagen: £14.8 million
- BMW: £11.1 million
- Nissan & Renault: £9.98 million (shared fine, plus an additional £2.8 million for Nissan)
The fines must be paid by 2 June 2025.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/car-industry-settles-competition-law-case
Workplace rules on separating recycling and waste now in force
New rules on how recycling and waste should be sorted in workplaces came into force in England on 31 March 2025.
The rules are designed to simplify recycling procedures while reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill or for incineration.
Under the new rules, workplaces with 10 or more employees need to arrange for collection of:
- Dry recyclable materials – this would include plastic, metal, glass, paper and card.
- Food waste.
- Residual (non-recyclable) waste.
Depending on their waste collector, workplaces may need to separate paper and card from other dry recyclable materials.
The Environment Agency is the regulator for the new Simpler Recycling rules. They have confirmed their commitment to supporting businesses, both waste producers and collectors in applying the rules.
Further recycling changes will come into force for businesses and households over the next couple of years as the Simpler Recycling rules take effect.