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Coronavirus: Your workplace questions

Steve Bridger

| 0 Posts

Community Manager

26 Mar, 2020 16:59

At this difficult time, we'd like to offer people managers (and others) who are not CIPD Members an opportunity to ask questions about their specific workplace challenges.

We hope that collectively, the Community will feel able to chip in with guidance and signpost support and resources where these exist.

Thank you. 

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  • Gemma

    | 0 Posts

    16 Apr, 2020 10:06

    It's not so much a workplace question but a question that I've not yet seen answered by CIPD themselves and I think others have asked as well (and I don't want to start yet another COVID related thread) - however - what are CIPD doing to support members at the current time in regards specifically to membership costs/renewals?

    Will they be reducing their renewal costs so that members who are on a reduced income or whose employers can no longer meet the cost of this for them, can keep their membership and not have to sacrifice it and the support available to them by having the membership.

    I may be wrong, but I've seen nothing from the CIPD about this topic and personally I feel that they need to address this issue sooner rather than later.
  • Geoffrey

    | 0 Posts

    16 Apr, 2020 14:26

    In reply to Jemma:

    Furlough date has been extended. www.gov.uk/.../furlough-scheme-cut-off-date-extended-to-19-march
  • Helen

    | 0 Posts

    16 Apr, 2020 15:02

    In light of the HMRC update yesterday and in particular the agreement needed to furlough. Some of my clients have a lay off clause in their contracts and some dont. For the ones tht dont we have got the employees to sign a variation to agree to furlough. For the employees that have the lay off clause we have issued a notice of furlough. But I am begining to panic now.

    This is the clause
    Lay-Off & Short-Time Working
    The Company has the right to lay you off and/or place you on short-time working.
    You will not be paid during the period in which you are laid off; however, this does not affect your entitlement to the statutory guarantee pay if you qualify.
  • Val Santos

    | 0 Posts

    16 Apr, 2020 15:47

    I have a question. Some of our employees are asking if we can pay off their vacation balance. I understand the government has created temporary legislation to allow a longer carryover period. However, from a legal perspective, can we just payout the vacation if we want to? Our company has no problem doing it, especially because some of our employees family members lost their jobs and the money would be very helpful. Thanks for any info provided. Val
  • Mark

    | 0 Posts

    17 Apr, 2020 08:32

    In reply to Val Santos:

    We've decided not to just in case it breaks the 3 week minimum furlough requirement to claim the grant. We've been pushing the CBI on this question and nothing. Whilst you can chose to pay more that 80% or about £2500 if an employee fits in that category, annual leave is technically a different animal and I don't want us to get caught out. For example we have carried over Easter Holidays and not paid those days at 100%.
  • Ami Moore

    | 0 Posts

    21 Apr, 2020 06:17

    In reply to Kim:

    Hi, I might be a bit late for you but i’ll share in case you still haven’t had an answer anywhere - i’ve read on the government website - if those that have in work universal credit and are furloughed they may be entitled to an increase of universal credit. This at least tells me that people on Furlough are still able to receive Universal Credit. ‘This is listed under the Gov.uk FAQ - Furlough.
  • Ami Moore

    | 0 Posts

    21 Apr, 2020 06:23

    In reply to Helen:

    Hi Helen, it is best to have an agreement recorded regardless to the lay-off clause. It is stipulated that both parties should agree to Furlough. Furlough is more financially positive than a lay-off, we have not had many issues with gaining agreement. It would mean more work but peace of mind.
  • Val Santos

    | 0 Posts

    21 Apr, 2020 15:43

    In reply to Mark:

    Thanks for sharing your experience. We have also decided not to do a vacation payout. We are allowing them to take the extra days we offer for 2 years as well. That should make people happy.
  • Caroline Downing

    | 0 Posts

    24 Apr, 2020 14:50

    Hi, does anyone know what the rules are for an employee who it currently on furlough leave goes about attending jury service. Do we have to stop the furlough leave and restart after the service or does the furlough leave and Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme continue through the jury service? Thanks
  • Steve Bridger

    | 0 Posts

    Community Manager

    24 Apr, 2020 16:22

    In reply to Caroline Downing:

    But Caroline.... unless I'm mistaken, they are all suspended, aren't they - not least because juries selected to hear such cases may not be well enough to attend.

    www.theguardian.com/.../jury-trials-put-on-hold-in-england-and-wales-coronavirus
  • Andrew

    | 0 Posts

    26 Apr, 2020 08:38

    In reply to Lucy:

    The ability to carry forward four weeks of annual leave only applies where it was not reasonably practicable for a worker to take some or all of the leave as a result of the effects of coronavirus – “this will mean staff can continue working in the national effort against the coronavirus without losing out on annual leave entitlement” (gov.uk website). Therefore, if you aren't in that sort of organisation then you can continue with your existing annual leave policy.

    I was actually wondering what other employers, not in that sort of organisation, are doing around annual leave. Are the rules being relaxed at all where you work?
  • Keith

    | 0 Posts

    26 Apr, 2020 09:33

    In reply to Andrew:

    There’s nothing stopping all employers relaxing the rules ( or keeping them) the guidance is so wide as to capture everyone. The relaxation isn’t an instruction and doesnt prevent even those caught up in this enforcing their holiday rules if they deem it appropriate.

    We are still requiring staff to take sone leave as we believe it’s in their interests to do so.

    Most NHS staff are still required to take leave and often it’s in the rota.
  • Jon

    | 0 Posts

    28 Apr, 2020 10:51

    Hi

    I have been asked to investigate solutions to deliver virtual training in place of classroom sessions. Does anyone use anything apart from Skype / Teams / ZOOM?

    Ideally id like something where I can see what the delegates are doing as well as just presenting?
  • Arianna

    | 0 Posts

    28 Apr, 2020 22:01

    Hello everyone,

    Any advise on best practices or ideas to plan the return to work when the UK lockdown ends?

    Thank you,

    Arianna
  • Keith

    | 0 Posts

    29 Apr, 2020 07:17

    In reply to Jon:

    Jon our of interest what do you have against zoom? It seems to offer what you are looking for?