The news makes gloomy reading. The headlines scream scary figures and worst-case scenarios but read between the lines, look beyond the immediate crisis, and it is abundantly clear that many victims of Covid haven’t even been ill. Those in the hospitality, travel, sport, or beauty industries – to name just a few – have seen their businesses decimated. There’s still no sign of the end of the tunnel, let alone any suggestion of the light we’re all looking for.
Furlough to Go
Furlough was initially set to last until 31 October, with a sharp spike in unemployment numbers expected then. However, with the extension of the job retention scheme until March next year, it may seem that many people have been given a reprieve.
Nonetheless, thousands and thousands of workers are said to be “unemployed, they just don’t know it yet” and the UK unemployment rate stands at its highest level in over three years.
Digital Dole Queues
The unemployment rate rose to 4.5% in the three months to August, compared with 4.1% in the quarter before. Office for National Statistics figures show that redundancies soared to their highest level since 2009. The tier system, the latest lockdown, and the new, blanket imposing of tougher tiers from 2 December all point to more business closures and more job losses.
In figures from the ONS, around one-and-a-half million people were unemployed between June and August. Redundancies stood at 227,000. ONS deputy national statistician for economic statistics, Jonathan Athow, said there had been a “sharp increase” in those out of work and job hunting since March. “Overall employment is down about half a million since the pandemic began.”
Lives and Livelihoods
These are not just numbers and figures. The implications aren’t purely financial. These are people. These are hopes, dreams, and livelihoods – and lives.
The prospect of redundancies is never an easy one to contemplate. For the employer as well as the employee, redundancy can be a minefield professionally and emotionally. Covid-19, lockdowns, furlough and the job retention scheme have muddied the waters further whilst also making job losses inevitable across countless industries and sectors.
Every business has been affected in some way regardless of size or location. Small business owners may feel added responsibility or be closer to the employees; a larger business may have staff at all levels concerned for their livelihoods.
Get Redundancy Right
Now more than ever, it is vital to get this right. Not just for your employees, their futures, and their wellbeing but for your business. Get it wrong, make a simple error and you could be making the most expensive mistake imaginable and crossing into Unfair Dismissal territory. You owe it to your staff AND your business to get it right.
What does getting it right entail? Business owners often believe that Employment Law seems to be weighted in favour of the employee, so it’s important to ensure you have someone in your corner. Someone to ensure that every ‘I’ is dotted and every ‘t’ crossed. This is where an HR specialist is essential. An HR specialist takes these added headaches away – after all, hard times are hard times for employers as well as employees.
Getting the Right HR Support
Ladybridge HR Consultancy is dedicated to supporting any types of business with any type of HR support required. There is no one-size-fits-all service – every business is as unique as the people working there. HR support can be delivered remotely or on-site; in or out of standard business days and hours; and throughout Stockport, Manchester, Macclesfield, Cheshire and beyond.
Mistakes happen. Mistakes that lead to employment tribunals can be catastrophic for a business of any size. Don’t make the mistake of scrimping on HR support.
Ladybridge HR will work through a detailed and comprehensive redundancy procedure checklist, ensuring that your business follows every step required in law to negate unfair dismissal claims. From step 1 – establishing whether there is a genuine redundancy situation – through to step 13 – handling subsequent appeals – and over 50 sub-steps therein.
HR Support for Employers with Employees in Mind
Ladybridge HR, with over 30 years’ in-depth HR experience and expertise, takes care of dotting every ‘I’ and crossing every ‘t’ for you, ensuring everything is correct and lawful AND including indemnity insurance.
This is how your business gets it right, looks after their people, and avoids the spectre of unfair dismissal claims. And if you’re still not quite convinced professional HR support is a wise investment, this blog post from last year makes for sobering reading.
HR support through what can be a harrowing time for YOU as well as your people isn’t just looking out for yourself. It’s doing the right thing. And with Ladybridge HR on your side, you’re doing the right thing for your business, but with the staff in mind. Ladybridge HR delivers HR with a heart.