News and analysis HR news briefing
The HR news briefing:
Coronavirus changes the way the UK works
What you should know:
In January Chinese officials
announced they had identified
a new virus belonging to the
Coronavirus family. The first
case recorded in the UK was on
31 January, and the World
Health Organization declared a
global pandemic on 11 March.
There have been hundreds
of thousands of cases, with
experts fearing the death toll
could continue to rise as the
virus spreads.
The government announced
the Health Protection
(Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
to reduce the risk of further
transmission by keeping those
who had either tested positive
for the virus, or were showing
symptoms, in isolation. This has
led to many employees being
told to work from home.
The recommended seven- to
14-day isolation period has led
to arguments around the
amount of Statutory Sick Pay
employees are entitled to.
What you should do:
Matt Jenkin, a partner and
head of employment law
at Moorcrofts, said the
Coronavirus pandemic will
inevitably lead to increased
sickness absences.
With school closures
announced on 18 March and
government guidance, working
from home will be something
employers have to implement.
As the pandemic continues
and the economic
repercussions are felt, Jenkin
warned businesses will
inevitably look at cost savings
including salary reductions
and redundancies. But this
should all be done sensitively.
“HR needs to be aware of
added stress being caused to
their workers who are already
facing worries over health, family
and personal finances,” he said.
HR will be expected to
provide guidance on how SSP
should work in practice, health
and safety issues, information
security, equipment and costs.
Jenkin said given the
challenges ahead with costs,
saving measures are likely to
come to the forefront.
“HR should make sure they
understand how they can make
changes to hours of work and
salary,” said Jenkin.
Official statistics show continued fall in EU workers
What you should know:
The latest migration statistics
from the Office for National
Statistics have shown that
migration to the UK for work
has continued to drop. The
number of EU citizens arriving
for work in the year ending
September 2019 was 79,000, which is the lowest
since 2004.
This decrease came soon after the government
announced its proposed immigration system,
which will not allow people who are considered
‘low skilled’ to come to the UK for work.
Jay Lindop, deputy director of migration
statistics at the Office for National Statistics, said:
“EU net migration has fallen, while non-EU net
migration has gradually increased since 2013 and
is now at the highest since 2004.
“Since 2016 immigration for work has
decreased because of fewer EU citizens arriving
for a job. Meanwhile, immigration for study has
gone up and is now the main reason for migration.”
What you should do:
Head of policy and public
affairs at the Recruitment &
Employment Confederation
(REC) Sophie Wingfield said:
“Under current government
plans it is likely that
immigration from the EU will
continue to fall, especially after January 2021.”
Wingfield suggested in the short term
employers and HR should be prepared for filling
vacancies to be harder.
“This is especially true for roles that the
government considers ‘low skilled’, as the new
immigration system contains no route for ‘lowskilled’
migrants,” she said.
“The REC is calling for a temporary visa route,
which would allow people of all skill and pay
levels to come to work in the UK for two years,
and then apply to stay through other immigration
routes. Migrant workers are a vital part of the UK
economy, and restricting them from working here
will only make our labour shortages worse.”
Top 5
most read
Statutory Sick
Pay a temporary
day-one right
Sick pay is now
mjj
1
available to
employees on day
one of sickness
rather than
day four
bit.ly/HRsickpay
2
In-work poverty:
all work and
no pay
Why work is no
longer a route out
of poverty in the UK
bit.ly/
HRinworkpoverty
3
Coronavirus and
the impact on
employee rights
Lawyer Tatevik
Grigorian looks at
the pandemic’s
impact on
the workplace
bit.ly/HRcoronav
4
IR35 to be
delayed for
a year
The new tax
measures will now
be introduced on
6 April 2021
bit.ly/HRir35delay
5
How can
businesses stay
safe during a
virus outbreak?
There are many
steps organisations
can take to control
the spread
of Coronavirus
bit.ly/HRcorona
protection
8 HR April 2020 hrmagazine.co.uk
All photography: AdobeStock
/hrmagazine.co.uk