The pros and cons of the furlough scheme extension Published:
15 Mar 2021 The furlough scheme s extension to the end of September 2021 will continue supporting businesses financially struggling during the pandemic. However, HR is concerned about the mental health and decline in skills of furloughed employees.
For many in HR, particularly those in closed sectors like hospitality, the extension announced 2 March was a relief as more jobs will be able to be saved.
However, other are concerned that the scheme is continuing to delay the inevitable, keeping employees in limbo and having a detrimental impact on both skills and wellbeing.
People teams are now left with a decision - is it ethical to continue the furlough scheme? Or would it be better to make redundancies now and support employees with moving on in their careers?
Published:
22 Feb 2021 Employers may be able to insist that new employees take the COVID-19 vaccine, however HR is concerned it will create a minefield of compliance and discrimination issues.
Last week (15 February) justice secretary Robert Buckland said that it may be legal for businesses to insist that new staff be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of their employment.
However, Buckland added it was unlikely employers would be able to apply the same mandate to current employees, as it would need to be written into their contracts which would be subject to discussion.
In January, London plumbing firm, Pimlico Plumbers, faced an onslaught of criticism when chairman Charlie Mullins said it would be introducing a ‘no jab, no job’ policy as soon as possible, making the vaccination a term of employment.
Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec
06 Jan 2021|
XpertHR warns employers not to force employees to take COVID-19 vaccine
UK employers can’t force their employees to take the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available, XpertHR warns as it launches new HR resources on vaccinations for staff - but they should inform their workforce about the vaccination programme and encourage them to be vaccinated.
In early December a new Opinium poll
[i] suggested that more than a third of the public (35%) are unlikely to take a COVID-19 vaccine when available, while 48% worry it will not be safe, 47% worry it will not be effective and 55% worry that it will have side-effects.