Farmers group offers solution as 'agricultural wages board' faces abolition

Agricultural buying group Anglia Farmers (AF) has launched a new service to help members manage human resources, payroll and pensions.

Thought to be the first of its kind in the agricultural co-operative industry, AF has developed the service in response to members wanting professional support for a robust and legally compliant system.

The service will be managed by Suzanne Smith who has been working as HR manager at AF for four years: ’If the coalition government go ahead and abolish the Agricultural Wages Board, which looks very likely, our offering will be even more significant.

’The abolition of the Wages Board will bring agricultural workers fully into the scope of the National Minimum Wage legislation. However, the Agricultural Wages Board, also decides on minimum benefits, including overtime rates, holidays, bereavement leave, sick pay and rest breaks ’ matters that are not within the jurisdiction of the NMW.

’The move means that with no AWB guidelines, wage rates and other terms and conditions will be individually negotiated, and without proper processes to deal with this, could lead employers open to Equal Pay claims, Discrimination issues and greater competition with other local employers.

As there are also upcoming changes to the Agency Worker Regulations and Pensions Reforms that are due to come into force shortly, it is essential all employers are aware of these and have implemented plans to comply with them.’

Implemented by a three-strong team of qualified HR and payroll specialists, AF will offer members advice and paperwork for contracts of employment, terms and conditions of employment and a comprehensive payroll bureau service.

Options for HR requirements include issuing employment contracts, defining job descriptions, ad hoc advice on issues such as disciplinary matters, dismissals, redundancy, maternity leave and equal opportunities.

The basic payroll service covers calculation of PAYE and NIC, payslips for employees and HMRC, payroll reports provided either on paper or electronically, P45s, PAYE code changes, online filing of year-end summaries and annual pay and tax summaries for employees. In addition, there is a BACS bureau service to pay employees and HMRC as well as reporting on employees’ benefits-in-kind and supplying P11D forms.

AF member and board director Richard Hirst, who has been trialling the service for his diverse arable farming business, said: ’I am using various elements of the service and while it’s early days I can already see the benefits. Having the professional input to ensure compliance takes a huge weight off my shoulders not to mention the time and cost saving advantages. I can see it will become another very useful back office support service from AF and one that I can build on as and when I need further support. It’s shopping list design means members can pick and choose to suit needs.’

AF director George Bell said: ’We have an excellent team to deliver this service and, like all other services we offer, it is intended to improve efficiency for our members in terms of time and money. In this case, it will ensure HR policies and procedures are in place to enable members to comply with statutory regulations and legal obligations.’

In addition to the HR and payroll service, there will also be a new pensions service designed to help members comply with new legislation that comes into effect for larger employers during October 2012.