Charity supporting older people in Devon
When COVID-19 hit, our long-standing client, a charity in Devon supporting older people, faced significant challenges as they adapted their operations. While continuing their vital work, they encountered employee concerns regarding furloughs and work fairness. We worked closely with their senior management team to navigate these issues, ensuring fair treatment and clear communication, ultimately allowing them to maintain their essential services during a stressful time.
What was the challenge the client was facing?
This charity is a retained client of enlightenHR has we have provide ongoing HR support to them over a number of years in Devon.
When COVID-19 hit, the charity continued to operate albeit in a different way throughout the lockdowns. This caused some issues with a few employees wishing to be furloughed rather than work, seeing it as unfair that others were being placed on furlough whilst they had to continue to work.
The imperative was to find a way to ensure that the charity could continue to support older people in the most appropriate way during an extremely stressful situation for both colleagues and clients.
What we did
We worked with the senior management team to assess each individual case within the Government advice regarding the use of the furlough scheme (where the employee needed to shield; where there were childcare issues for example or where the work was suspended).
We provided clear guidance on where, if the employee was needed to work but refused to do so, that would be unpaid leave as work was available and the organisation needed them.
The Values of the organisation were key in this decision making and in our advice. Treating colleagues fairly and transparently, ensuring that the situation was explained to them paramount.
Result
Each colleague was considered based on their personal circumstances rather than a blanket dictate which meant that colleagues felt listened to and treated as an individual.
The organisation was able to navigate the minefield of COVID-19, ensuring that they took care of their colleagues whilst continuing to provide vital support to the older communities they engage with. Engaging enlightenHR in this process elevated stress within the senior leadership team as they knew they were accessing the most accurate and up-to-date information and being advised on the best way to apply that to individual situations; this enabled them to get on with the job in hand.
Feedback
“I have worked at the charity for over seven years and have benefited so much from Alison and her team’s HR support and guidance with a range of issues – some simple, most rather complex and tricky! Having been out of HR for a number of years before I came to work here, I was a little rusty, but having enlightenHR to consult with gave me the tools to handle employee issues with confidence. I am in awe at how quicky and accurately Alison and her colleagues manage situations!“
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