How do you feel about a change to the EU’s Working Time Directive?

The British Chambers of Commerce is asking the business community to vote on a poll they have set up. The deadline for your votes is fast approaching - as it closes this Friday 3rd October!

The directive lays out legislation to prevent workers from working too many hours in a week, how long breaks should be and how long holidays should be. The recent planned alterations to the directive include the option for workers to ‘opt out’ of the maximum 48 hour week and opt to work longer hours - some groups see this is a wrong move.

The British chambers of Commerce is asking for your view on the debate as the European Parliament will be looking at the EU Employment Council’s comprimise text next month and it is important that the British Chambers of Commerce has a clear view on members’ preferences.

To take the poll, visit the British Chambers of Commerce website by clicking here….

On Friday 31st October, the grandeur of St George’s Hall will take centre stage for a fabulous black tie ball in aid of raising money for Liverpool Unites, the official charity of the Daily Post and Liverpool ECHO.

Following the massive success of the Liverpool Unites: Concert for Rhys at the ECHO arena in August, the Halloween ball is aimed at local businesses.

An Italian Choir and a champagne reception will kick off the evening followed by a delicious three course dinner provided by Northwest award winning caterers, Carringtons, and an evening of surprises and full entertainment will follow. There is a very special guest appearance from the leading ex Atomic Kitten ‘Natasha Hamilton’, and performances from MD Productions and ‘The Band With No Name’ which all promises to produce a lively evening of entertainment. A charity auction with our surprise celebrity compere and exciting prizes will help to raise further funds for Liverpool Unites.

The Halloween Ball is ticket only and tables of ten are available but selling fast. Tickets are £1000 for a table. Please call 0151 522 9362 to book your tables and to find out further information.

Plus - Liverpool Chamber members will receive a 5% discount if they book a table.

Here’s an interesting (short) essay from America looking at the current economic crisis.

It postulates that failing to recognise the change from industrial to information and service economies has resulted in a failure to account for modern businesses’ greatest assets - talent, staff, innovation, communication and more….

In the industrial economy, value is added by taking raw materials and turning them into finished goods, which are then brokered to their destination in some supply chain, and consumed or used to produce further value.

The entire philosophy of our accounting and systems for valuation are based on this system which was developed for assessing risks in the renaissance for trading and raiding (European war financing) ventures.

Accounting methods really haven’t been updated to keep up with the changes as service and information economy overlays have changed the game.

We have no way to account for our greatest assets in the modern economy — talent, staff loyalty, team productivity in innovation, effective communication of information through media and business channels, and so on.  These are all without accounting value in our current systems.

Read the full article by Sheva Nerad over on the Gather website.

Article found via Boing Boing.

Has she got a point? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.