It has become clear from the government’s daily briefings that we are not ‘out of the woods’ when it comes to the devastating impact of coronavirus. Strict rules on social distancing will need to remain in place until specific criteria are met.
We know that many people are keen to return to some sort of normality but might be feeling anxious and uncertain of what the immediate future holds, which is only natural given the circumstances. So, what can managers and business owners do now to ease this anxiety and create the best circumstances to move beyond lockdown? David Hudson, Director at The HR Dept, talks about where to focus now in order to set your business up for success later.
Focus on what you can control
Despite the lockdown being a Government-imposed requirement, something that remains firmly in your control is having open communication with your people. If you are unsure about what your business is going to look like post lockdown, start having conversations with employees now to help inform your decision making. Remember that if employees are on furlough leave, it is still important to check-in on their mental well-being and communicate company updates, so long as they are not actively doing work whilst furloughed
Plan your next move
The results from your conversations with employees will help to direct your planning activities. From what we have seen already, there are a few items that you can expect to see on your list:
Requests for flexible working
Many employees have started to become accustomed to working from home. As the lockdown eases and employees are slowly allowed back to work, you may start to see an increase in requests for remote working. Is it something you would like to continue or perhaps introduce post lockdown?
Concerns over health and safety
You may find that some employees are reluctant to return to work or carry out certain duties through a perceived fear of danger to their health. This carries significant risk for you as an employer. Make sure that the working environment is safe before asking employees to return by carrying out an objective risk assessment and acting on any hazards it identifies. You must do what you can to reassure employees that it is safe to return to work, sharing evidence of your risk assessment with them.
A need for wellness benefits
There’s no doubt it’s been a difficult time for employees and just as they need a safe and healthy environment to return to, they will also need support to manage and maintain their mental well-being. You may want to revisit your wellness strategy before employees return to work and train your managers on how to support workplace mental health. An Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential counselling is an affordable and effective way to start.
Refresher training
Employees that have been on furlough leave may need some refresher training when they return to work or perhaps their role has been modified due to essential changes to your business. You can save time by having them complete eLearning courses during their furlough leave. Just remember that they are entitled to the National Minimum Wage for their time spent training.
Workforce restructure
Your company and even industry may look very different once the lockdown eases. In response, you may need to look at a workforce restructure which might include redundancies and/or lay-offs. It would be wise to consider this now, so that you have all of the correct paperwork and processes in place if the time comes.
Here To Help Wandsworth Businesses
If any of the above are on your radar and you would like to talk through your options before putting a plan in place, give us a call. Our highly qualified and knowledgeable HR experts have a deep understanding of employment law. Whether you need HR support with employment contracts, managing disciplinaries or anything else on your journey as an employer, we can help.
