Positive news alert: Some businesses are hiring and thriving
Throughout 2020, the devastation caused by coronavirus dominated the headlines. More often than not, the stories were about exponential spread, rising death tolls and redundancies, revealing the enormity of the crisis and its impact on our health and the economy.
This year, a key message is one of hope. More than 25 million people have received at least their first dose of the vaccine, kids are back in school, and we have a route map out of the current lockdown.
Extending the government’s stimulus package to support businesses and keep people employed, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will stay open until the end of September.
Many will be pleased about the extension, but some have criticised it, calling it a delay of an inevitable rise in unemployment when the scheme eventually ends.
Sectors that have been hardest hit during this time will need to take stock and should seek advice on effective workforce planning. Others, it seems, are not only hiring, but thriving, and creating new opportunities for employment.
In its latest labour market outlook, the Chartered Institute of Professional Development (CIPD) reported that over half of employers surveyed intended to recruit in the first quarter of this year. A promising statistic after a year of frightful figures.
Reported sectors showing signs of growth included healthcare, education, finance, insurance, and tech.
Many of us saw delivery drivers more than our friends and family last year. It may not be surprising then to know that convenience driven courier services are also experiencing a boom. Businesses in this sector looking to engage many more contractors may like to seek professional advice. Classifying employment status can be a complicated and high risk area of HR.
It has been said before that from tragedy comes triumph: A saying which the start-ups emerging from the pandemic are likely to agree with.
From Petflix style streaming services for cats and dogs in lockdown, to new mobile health-tech apps improving research and well-being. Creative digital endeavours are springing up everywhere, showing a bright side for the future of work.
Back to school, but not back to the office…yet
Back to school isn’t usually the main topic of discussion in March, but this year is already like no other.
Schools re-opened earlier this month as the first steps of the government’s plans out of lockdown took effect.
The re-opening of schools provides a return to some normality for families and working parents who have been homeschooling for many of the past 12 months. As such, employers who furloughed working parents for childcare purposes can facilitate a return to work.
For many, a return to pre-COVID life feels closer than ever with the vaccine being rolled out at speed. However the government has warned against the dangers of complacency. For clarity, the main “stay at home” message applies until 29 March in England. The current message in Scotland and Wales is “Stay Local”.
Despite this, research suggests that one in five employees is attending the workplace unnecessarily.
The government’s plan for easing lockdown restrictions gave some insight into when certain types of businesses can expect to reopen. However, with no official timeline for office workers, some employers will be unclear as to how they should manage their staff.
To help, here’s a reminder of the current guidance on attending the workplace.
Employees should only leave home for work purposes where it is unreasonable for work to be done from home. This includes, but is not limited to, people who work within critical national infrastructure, construction or manufacturing that requires in-person attendance.
Some employees will prefer attending the workplace, it may benefit their mental health or provide a safe space for them to work effectively. In this situation, it is permitted for employees to attend a COVID-secure workplace. We’d advise keeping a record of anyone attending and the reasons why.
Free rapid COVID testing is now available for all businesses in England. If you have done a COVID risk assessment and have employees attending the workplace, providing access to tests can help to instil confidence in those employees who cannot work from home during this time.
Spring cleaning the paperwork pile
Lighter evenings coincide with the gradual easing of lockdown restrictions. The new life associated with this change in seasons brings hope to those wanting to move forwards.
This year, spring cleaning the house may also lead to a shakeup of the home office. Where did this lengthy to-do list come from?
The pandemic forced many employers to make quick and essential changes last year, which can result in more admin and HR tasks.
Amid a crisis, HR admin tends to fall a few places on the priority list. But given the protection that it provides a business and its employees, it’s an essential component for success.
If you made changes to your business last year, it could be time to review your employment contracts and company handbook to make sure they are up to date and reflect the current situation. These documents underpin your whole employment relationship with your staff. They describe what rights they have, what rules they must follow and what happens if they breach them. Contact us if you’d like to discuss this.
Sizing up staff for a return to work
Under a national law in Japan that came into effect last year, companies and local governments must now measure the waistlines of Japanese people between the ages of 40 and 74 as part of their annual check-ups.
Employers may be required to pay more into the national health care system if the waistlines of employees, their families and retirees exceed the government’s limits of 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women.
At the time, we thought we would never be doing that in the UK. However, in a COVID return-to-work questionnaire, the DVLA has asked staff for their waist measurements.
The question, which was said to have been included under Welsh government guidance, formed part of a points-based risk assessment to identify those who could return to work safely and those that were more vulnerable.
However, many people are very sensitive about their size. So finding a more subtle way of identifying those at risk of obesity or diabetes is advisable.
If you’d like professional advice when interpreting guidance for your return-to-work process, we’re here to help.
Are you ready for the robot revolution?
Through opening their first cashless store outside of the US this month, Amazon have provided Londoners with a sneak preview into the future of retail. Self-serve tills have been operational in supermarkets for some time. In this store, however, it seems there’s even less of a need for onsite personnel.
The pandemic may well have accelerated our need for reliable automation, but the so-called robot revolution was already well on its way.
A World Economic Forum report has suggested that machines will be taking care of as much as half of all work tasks by 2025.
Jobs at risk of automation have high levels of repetition and routine, such as data processing, administration, shelf-filling and waiting in hospitality.
Of course, someone will need to be there to diagnose and resolve situations when “the computer says no”. So upskilling employees is crucial for effective and successful automation.
Going green with your team
One positive to come from the pandemic is that social distancing and restricted travel have reduced the carbon footprint of society.
Will all this good for the environment be undone when normal life resumes?
One way that you can ensure your efforts are not wasted is to keep the green theme going in your business.
Get employees on board by sharing your values (something extolled in the book “Conscious Business”). This might include reducing waste, promotion of green commuting or setting green challenges for the team.
Not only will you be helping to combat climate change, but having a cause in common is a great morale booster.