COVID-19: Future Workforce Planning – So What’s Your Plan?

Future Workforce Planning – So What’s Your Plan? by Andrea Palmer, Head of HR at Aspire Human Resources

The Prime Minister has announced his ‘roadmap’ for easing the coronavirus lockdown and, as we all know, we will be eased gradually into the ‘new normal’ in all aspects of our lives and we will all need to make changes to the way we all work, socialise, spend time with our families and take a holiday to recharge our batteries!

This also means that you as a business may have to plan for some tough choices post-lockdown and I believe in this interim period, especially before we move from the current Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS), which is due to end on 31 July 2020, to the new scheme from 1 August 2020, we need all need to think ahead and plan for this ‘new normal”.  See our new item which provides further information about changes to the JRS and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.

One major consideration is how to manage your staff levels in order to protect your business moving forward. So, what is your plan?

My advice is to start planning now whilst you have time. I think we can all agree the last few months have gone a lot quicker than any of us expected.

I also believe for some employees, being furloughed has not been quite so bad as they thought. This could result in the workforce wanting to make some changes to the way they work too, particularly with regard to their own work life balance and the environment.

I am sure this will include:

1. Wanting to work from home more often, or permanently, to reduce the amount of travel.
2. Asking to move to reduced days and pay as they have adapted financially to only having 80% of their pay.
3. Not taking so many long-haul holidays and wanting to take holidays in the UK.
4. Early retirement.

These will no doubt have an impact on your business, workforce planning etc and if you also believe Covid-19 will still have an impact on your business once the JRS closes at the end of October 2020, it is imperative to start planning for the future and the ‘new normal’.

So ……. What is your Plan? First Steps …….

1. The most important first step is to take a look at your workforce and where do they sit in the life cycle of employment. For example, are they newly employed, have a family or taking family leave, retirement planning or are they near the point of wanting to retire? and then??
2. Talk to us at Aspire Human Resources we are here to give you HR advice on how to plan, prioritise and be positive in these interesting times. We have extensive experience in supporting employers and their staff with planning, prioritising and, more importantly, being positive during these unprecedented times. We can assist with the following:

• Identify ways to avoid a redundancy situation.
• Furloughing and staff lay-offs.
• Managing and consultation regarding the re-negotiation of Terms and Conditions.
• Updating contractual documentation.
• Planning a robust redundancy process for if the worst happens and you need to reduce your workforce.

Why not give us a call on 0121 445 6178 for an initial chat over the phone to discuss the practical support we can provide to you to help your business plan for the future.

See our recent Aspire Human Resources Video Chats on Furlough and Business Continuity.