By Janet Shearer FCIPD - HR consultant and MD, JDS HR Services
Since
the Covid-19 pandemic started in March this year, both employers and employees
have had to respond to the UK government's decision to lock down the country. Each
of the governments (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) have had
separate and different guidelines that significantly affect businesses with
staff based across the UK. For those that are predominantly office based or
work in jobs that involve meeting clients etc, remote working has brought about
a new set of challenges.
As an employer supporting your employees to work from home safely, efficiently
and productively, this has been a major challenge.
Getting it right or wrong will impact on the working relationship and the psychological contract. The pandemic has created a whole new raft of employment issues from recruitment, furlough, right through to redundancy dismissals.
Many employees may be shielding, have caring responsibilities for relatives, are also parents and have had to juggle working from home, alongside looking after children, whilst maintaining their wellbeing. Some may have experienced a bereavement or know someone that has been ill with the virus.
According to the CIPD, it is predicted that there is likely to be a significant increase in the number of tribunal claims as a result of the pandemic. The employment relationship has the potential to be fraught and fragile, how you conduct and carry out your responsibilities as an employer is even more vital. Employees are essential to the success of your business so it is important that they are supported and feel valued. This is where your HR team, comes in to play, by managing the people aspects, expert handling, either in-house or alternatively consider outsourcing to external HR consultants to avoid the potential additional costs of possibly being faced with defending an employee's claim to an employment tribunal.
As an employer, what can you do to facilitate your employees' health & safety and wellbeing whilst working remotely (including those on furlough)?
- Having good IT equipment & systems
- Health & safety risk assessments
- Regular communications, 121 meetings. Many companies are using various media such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Videocalls and Skype for meetings
- Be mindful of GDPR
- Encourage people to take regular breaks and not to work excessive long hours
- Encourage work/life balance
- Support employees' wellbeing, putting in place an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
And don't forget to check-in on your HR people too! As a result of Covid-19 the UK economy has had a significant impact, therefore, home or remote working is likely to be a continued feature of the way we do business.
For further information
contact Janet Shearer:
Email jdshr@btinternet.com
Tel 07771 653234
