With the British Economy now really starting to feel the impact of the spread of Covid-19, many of our Client's are expressing concern about their ability to continue to trade. Our advice to ALL of our Clients is to follow a basic emergency preparedness protocol. Identify your essential functions and put a plan in place for those before moving on to the less essential functions. Most businesses can survive a short-term crisis as long as they maintain their minimum operation level. You may need to focus on meeting your existing obligations, and pause any activity aimed at winning new work. Some key things to consider in advance: 1. Don't assume that all your staff have an internet connection and a PC/laptop at home. Check this with your team in advance and make individual plans where necessary. 2. It's likely that schools and childcare will be amongst the first enterprises to close their doors. How many of your staff will need to stay at home if the schools close? 3. Do any of your staff have existing medical conditions that make them more susceptible to complications? 4. Are any of the functions of your business impossible to sustain without free movement of staff? 5. How far can your workforce be reduced before it becomes critical? If you would like help to create a more robust Emergency Preparedness plan in preparation for the weeks to come, please feel free to contact us.

April 6th sees the implementation of the “Good Work Plan”, an overhaul of existing employee rights. The primary impacts to employers are outlined below. New right to a Written Statement of Terms All new employees and workers will have the right to a statement of written particulars from their very first day of employment. Amendment to Agency Worker Rule Once agency workers have satisfied the 12-week qualifying period, they will be entitled to equal pay to workers who are engaged directly by the employer. Changes to IR35 rules for the private sector IR35 rules will be implemented for medium and large businesses in the private sector, setting out further rules about self-employment, taxation and penalties for evasion. Holiday pay reference period adjustment The holiday pay reference period will increase from 12 weeks to 52 weeks. New parent bereavement law Bereaved parents will have the right to two weeks of leave following the loss of child under the age of 18, or a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy. If you are unsure about how these changes will affect you, please feel free to contact us. We can help you to limit the impact and put compliant documents and procedures in place.