As you will be aware from the significant news coverage, and much debate, Covid 19 restrictions in England have been lifted from today, with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales set to ease
restrictions in the coming weeks.
In light of this, many businesses will be seeking to return their employees to the workplace and reduce or stop working from home. Some employees who remain on furlough will also be required to return to work – although the furlough scheme does not formally end until 30th September 2021.
Where you are intending to return employees to the workplace and/or end furlough leave, we can supply pre-drafted template letters for those clients signed up to our Advice Line.
It has been mooted that some, possibly even many, employees will not wish to return to their workplaces, either at all or certainly full-time, and it may be worth considering and discussing so called “hybrid” working with your teams. Of course, at the end of the day, whether you agree to some form of flexibility in where your employees work is up to you; many employers are seeing this as an opportunity to reduce office costs and provide their employees with a better life/work balance, but it may not be suitable for your business – although you would still have to consider any formal flexible working requests that are made (please speak to us if this happens). If you are considering continuing working from home for your employees, do discuss with us what you need to put in place to ensure safe working practices, health & safety and maintain morale/communication.
