As we approach a period of uncertainty, how well is your business preparing itself? Do you find yourselves exploring the effectiveness and efficiency of your workforce?
Do you feel your workforce is better equipped to blend the demands of working from home and onsite?
How well are you protecting your information?
How has your customer journey modified itself without compromising on quality yet finely balancing the welfare of your workforce versus achieving customer excellence?
What security assessments have you conducted?
What tools have you invested in over the last 6 moths to transform and continue to grow your business?
Have you set new and revised ROI across your business?
IT, Legal, Procurement and Data Management teams are going to have a very busy time in the coming months and there is a scent of investment in the air. Many companies are reviewing their IT Infrastructure now. Not only are we in the middle of a Covid19 crisis, but we also face a number of high-profile products ending their support lives over the coming months. Naturally, some big choices lie ahead particularly around hosting, what way will you go?
On-Prem only
Private Cloud only
Single Public Cloud
Multi-cloud
In a recent survey conducted by StepStone, its specialist IT arm reported the following:
72% of Budget holders has shone a spotlight on how important the Tech department is to the daily running of the business
49% of IT Leaders believe their business will increase tech budgets in the future because of new learnings from Covid19
The question is, where are you on this scale, are you thinking ahead and protecting your business? Are you about to secure a new job with a company? If so, are they an investor or a watch this space player? Whatever the case, if you would like some independent advice, please get in touch to learn more about how we can help you.
The UK has experienced its first storm on its shores recently but is this an indication that there is more to come and some which are brewing to impact the economy?
There have been some significant contributing factors and there are more to come in the staffing industry that could have profound affects on both the economy and the future jobs market.
We are all aware of Covid19 and its general disruption on life itself but what other factors are lurking which may still hamper the economy getting back on its feet. Is there another type of storm brewing? Are there emerging and future factors that will affect how quickly we get moving again?
People returning to work from being furlough
The speed at which companies integrate furlough workers to those who have had no break from Covid19
The performance of eco-systems within complex supply chains across many industries – If the mother ship is ready to go, are smaller organisations in the same shape or vice versa…
The attitude of employees returning to work – Will they be at home or in the office?
The general performance of certain industries and further risks of redundancies
The future view of jobs and how these may be required to adapt to withstand any future disruption or pandemic / local outbreaks
The evolving landscape impacting the contractor and the imminent changes to IR35
Brexit – I know, it should incur a fine for using the B word, but it is going to happen
A Tsunami of Talent surging into the market at one time due to issues of redundancy, contracts not being renewed, lack of new projects, lack of demand, higher levels of unemployment and slower levels of graduate recruitment
“Unemployment rate forecast to remain steady as furlough scheme continues The REC and IHS Markit have developed a model to ‘nowcast’ the UK’s headline unemployment rate. The latest nowcast model update points to an increase of just 9,000 in the Labour Force Survey measure of UK unemployment in the three months to July. This would mean that the unemployment rate would hold steady at its current level of 3.9%. Though only marginal, this would mark the first increase in unemployment since the three months to March and follows a decline of 10,000 in the three months to June. The recent changes in unemployment continue to appear relatively mild and contrast with other headline labour market data, including the Claimant Count. These differences can largely be explained by two key factors. First and foremost, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has led to millions of people being placed on furlough as many companies were temporarily closed or ran at reduced capacity. Crucially, people placed on furlough are still classified as employed, while many are also eligible for benefits such as Universal Credit. Secondly, the ONS has recently highlighted an increase in the number of people who are economically inactive – those out of employment who are not looking for a new job – which has also helped to suppress the unemployment rate.” REC Aug2020
As you can see, there is a list of possible factors that could have an adverse effect on our recovery. This is reinforced by the ONS who have recently published their economic view in Q2 : https://bit.ly/3lfLoLQ Does this mean that we accept it and hope that things will slowly get better and back to normal? What is normal? Could this be the awakening of strong leadership and innovation? Can we use this as stimulus to create our own normal and shape our futures?
We have learnt some valuable lessons over the years when economies have been depressed : https://bit.ly/2QpmVWi One of these was to shrink the size of the government and reduce government spending : https://herit.ag/31syimx Can that work now? One thing is for sure, we got out of it then and we will do it again now.
So where do we go from here?
The REC asked the following to several leading organisations. Which job functions in your organisation, if any, do you think will see an increase or decrease of permanent members of staff and temporary agency workers in the next three months?
Overall, forecast demand for permanent staff in the short term was recorded at net: +5 this quarter. Forecast demand was higher than this average in just three occupational groups. Demand for Health & social care workers increased by eight percentage points rolling quarter-on-quarter to net: +39. At net: +26, the balance of demand for Education workers was up by 29 points, whilst demand for Technology staff rose by 12 points to net: +22. Standout occupational sectors for anticipated short-term demand for temporary agency workers included Industrial (+14 to net: +38), Technology (+10 to net: +32) and Legal & HR (+10 to net: +29). Due to limited base sizes these figures should be taken as indicative, not conclusive.
Emerging Technologies
“Where there is a crisis, there’s opportunity”. Robotic Automation and Machine learning are going to create a wealth of opportunities to those people willing to cross train, evolve their job roles and study. Accenture have also published their finding is this area : https://accntu.re/34vSINx
As spending for Al/ML projects increases in organisations, it also shifts focus away from C-level executives and into the hands of middle managers who are expected to formulate strategy, develop, and implement these initiatives with business results. This creates a worry about disappointing management, but also introduces more collaboration between business areas and IT. There is a chance for leaders to make their mark by taking calculated risks, creatively funding the finance of projects, and mobilising the project team to deliver it.
But what if AI/ML isn’t for you, what else is out there? Is IoT still on the agenda, is there an appetite for 5G, is serverless computing going to take off now we must work from home? Although not conclusive, here is some recent evidence explaining the top trends in 2020 : https://tek.io/3gu7NRX
All a bit too techy? These are some examples of how businesses can adapt; yet, there are going to be programs of work that exist now. Such as: Digital transformations, Infrastructure refreshes, Business Process re-engineering, Workflow streamlining, Working practice efficiencies and cost savings, cultural change, organisational design and transformation, health and safety updates, business continuity refreshes, training and education, mental wellbeing, LGBT and diversity and inclusion. All essential items for the modern and progressive workplace to act upon and lead on. All of this and we have not started on the green agenda…
In summary, there is light to be seen if you are in the tunnel, there is opportunity and growth available. We just must think differently about how we reach the end goal. What is certain, is that no matter how much automation or technology is involved, people will remain at the heart of it to drive it successfully through and make it work to improve lives. Keep positive and let us know your thoughts?
Businesses
need to ensure they can meet three key tests before bringing their people back
to the workplace:
Is it essential? If people can continue to work from home they must continue to do that for the foreseeable future. If they cannot work from home, is their work deemed essential or could the business continue to use the Government’s Job Retention Scheme for longer, giving them the time needed to put safety measures and clear employee guidance and consultation in place?
Is it sufficiently safe? Employers have a duty of care to identify and manage risks to ensure that the workplace is sufficiently safe to return to. Employers should take their time with gradual returns to work to test health and safety measures in practice and ensure they can work with larger numbers before encouraging more of their workforce back.
Is it mutually agreed? It’s vital that there is a clear dialogue between employers and their people so concerns, such as commuting by public transport, can be raised and individuals needs and worries taken into account. There will need to be flexibility on both sides to accommodate different working times or schedules as ways of managing some of these issues.
As well as
keeping up to date with the latest Government guidance employers should start
thinking about the following areas, bearing in mind that the physical,
emotional and mental well-being of the workforce must remain the key principle:
Managing returning to the workplace
Dealing with redundancies and related issues once the furlough scheme ends
Managing holidays, sickness and other absences.
How you
manage a return to the workplace will depend on the type of closure
arrangements you have been operating, however there are some common issues you
will need to address:
All workplaces need to observe the Government’s social distancing guidance which seems highly likely to continue for some time to come. All staff who can work from home are expected to carry on doing so. It is essential that employers continue to base any plans for returning to the workplace on up-to-date Government and public health guidance in relation to COVID-19. The Health and Safety Executive will be conducting spot checks and has also published advice and guidance relating to COVID-19 on its website which may be useful when considering health and safety measures.
Given that the priority for every business is managing a safe return to the workplace for staff, it’s crucial to work in close collaboration with your health and safety and occupational health teams wherever possible. Communicate the practical measures you are taking to staff on a regular basis to help reassure them that their health, well-being and safety is your top priority. Make sure employees are clear about what rules and procedures they should follow both in the workplace and at home, especially if they begin to feel unwell.
You will need to review your workplace and consider – can staff maintain a 2m physical distance between each other? How will you manage meetings, interviews and other interactions? What about communal areas such as canteens or kitchen areas? How can you implement resourcing strategies to support physical distancing or staggering working hours so that not all staff are in at the same time?
All of the key protection and hygiene measures will continue to apply to minimise the spread of infection, such as reminding staff about regular and effective handwashing, and providing hand sanitiser. If your premises have been closed for a period of time, you should carry out a deep-clean before you reopen. You should therefore review your cleaning arrangements, for example ensuring all phones/keyboards etc are wiped daily with anti-viral cleaner. You can refer to the Government guidance for more information.
Depending on your working environment, you may need to consider providing additional PPE, including gloves, masks or anti-viral hand gel. If you want people to wear gloves or masks, then you will also need to think about training and briefing staff on their correct usage – since both can be ineffective if used inappropriately. It’s also likely that more large-scale testing for COVID-19 infection will form a key part of facilitating a safe return to the workplace for larger numbers of employees. Employers should continue to monitor the latest government guidance and be prepared to act upon any changes.
Staff who travel or visit other company premises may also need additional equipment or briefing. Remote meeting facilities and video-conferencing should be encouraged wherever possible to minimise the need for staff to travel and/or use public transport.
The risks to people’s health from this pandemic are psychological as well as physical. These include anxiety about the ongoing health crisis and fear of infection, as well social isolation due to the lockdown. Many will have experienced challenging domestic situations, such as juggling childcare or caring for a vulnerable relative, as well as financial worries if their partner has had a reduction or a loss of income. Some will have experienced illness, or bereavement. Even if staff have carried on working and participating in video meetings, they will still need to adjust to working in a shared environment with colleagues. Some may take more time than others and it’s likely that most people will need a period of readjustment.
Some members of staff may have concerns about travelling and socially distancing on public transport – or it may not be as readily available. Many may find that they are still coming to terms with the significant change which society has seen, and the familiar workplace routines could feel very different.
It will be vital to have a re-orientation process for returning staff. Encourage and support every manager to have a one to one return meeting with every employee, where a key focus is on health, safety and well-being. Managers need to have a sensitive and open discussion with every individual and discuss any adjustments and/or ongoing support to facilitate an effective return to the workplace. This is especially important for those who have been furloughed, and should cover topics such as changes in company services or procedures, how specific customer queries or issues are being addressed, or changes in supply arrangements, as well as any changes to their work duties or tasks.
It will be important for every employer to ensure that the organisation culture is inclusive, and that every employee feels they are returning to a supportive and caring environment. The pandemic has had an unequal impact across the workforce in many ways, as different groups of employees, and individuals, will have been affected in diverse ways according to their job role and individual circumstances.
There is no getting away from the facts that unless you are a key worker, the employment market has ground to an almost stand still. There are still pockets of companies hiring people to work remotely but these roles are few and far between.
Although there is no clear end date; and why should there be, we are in unprecedented times, the markets will recover but how remains to be seen.
One thing is clear from all of this, remote working is the new normal. The question is, which companies will carry on embracing the new world and which ones will revert to how things were? Time will tell…
The government announced on Wednesday 4 March 2020 that all employees (or those treated as employees for Statutory Sick Pay) are entitled to payment from day 1 of sickness absence if the absence is in relation to the Coronavirus. This means that they will not have to meet the 4 day qualifying period.
Once government has released more details about whether the eligibility criteria will change, we’ll update this section.
Assembled by Touchscreen Talent Limited for clients
as of 26/2/2020
There
is lots of information on the internet advising the public on this matter. To
save you time, we have sifted the employer-relevant materials from NHS, Gov.UK
and Public Health England sources.
Some
of this information is repeated or re-iterated in greater depth.
This
could be classified as a global pandemic and is a dynamic situation, so listen
to news broadcasts and if the UK Medical Officers raise the risk re-visit the
quoted websites for an update.
Remember;
you have a duty of care to yourselves, your family, to your business viability,
to your employees and also a public duty as well; assess all of these aspects
of advice and take the right decision for YOU.
In
the event of mandatory isolation or medically advised self-isolation there is
no legal obligation to do anything other than follow statutory regulation on
sickness pay (SSP) or contractual agreement on absence (CSP) if this written
into your contracts.
Do
not put your business at risk by encouraging ‘presenteeism’ or allowing
potential carriers to infect your teams because they do not want to lose pay.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new illness that can
affect your lungs and airways.
What’s the risk of
catching coronavirus in the UK?
The UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk
to the public from low to moderate. But the risk to individuals remains low.
Health professionals are working to contact anyone
who has been in close contact with people who have coronavirus.
Symptoms of coronavirus
The symptoms of coronavirus are:
a cough
a high temperature
shortness of breath
But these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have
the illness.
The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that
are much more common, such as cold and flu.
Urgent advice: Call 111
now if you’ve been:
to Hubei province in China in the last 14 days
to Iran, areas of northern Italy in lockdown or “special care zone” areas in South Korea since 19 February
to other parts of mainland China or South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath
to other parts of northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar since 19 February and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath
in close contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
Call 111, stay
indoors and avoid close contact with other people.
There are lockdown areas in northern Italy and
special care zones in South Korea
How coronavirus is
spread
Because it’s a new illness, we do not know exactly
how coronavirus spreads from person to person.
Similar viruses are spread in cough droplets.
It’s very unlikely it can be spread through things
like packages or food. Viruses like coronavirus cannot live outside the body
for very long.
How to avoid catching or
spreading germs
There are things you can do to help stop viruses
like coronavirus spreading.
Do
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your
sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
put used tissues in the bin immediately
wash your hands with soap and water often – use
hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
try to avoid close contact with people who are
unwell
Don’t
do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
Do I need to avoid
public places?
Most people can continue to go to work, school and
other public places.
You only need to stay away from public places if
you’ve been:
to Hubei province in China in the last 14 days
to Iran, areas of northern Italy in lockdown or “special care zone” areas in South Korea since 19 February
to other parts of mainland China or South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath
to other parts of northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar since 19 February and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath
in close contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus
Treatment for
coronavirus
There is currently no specific treatment for
coronavirus.
Antibiotics do not help, as they do not work
against viruses.
Treatment aims to relieve the symptoms while your
body fights the illness.
You’ll need to stay in isolation away from other
people until you’ve recovered.
As of 26 February, a total of 7,132 people have
been tested in the UK, of which 7,119 were confirmed negative and 13 positive.
The Department of Health and Social Care will be
publishing updated data on this page every day at 2pm until further notice. If
more cases are confirmed in the UK, it will be announced as soon as possible by
the Chief Medical Officer of the affected country.
We have been working in close collaboration with
international colleagues and the World Health Organization to monitor the
situation in China and around the world.
Returning travellers
Based on the scientific advice of the Scientific Advisory Group for
Emergencies (SAGE) the UK Chief Medical Officers are advising anyone
who has travelled to the UK from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea,
Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days and is
experiencing cough or fever or shortness of breath, to stay indoors and call
NHS 111, even if symptoms are mild.
We are carrying out enhanced monitoring of direct flights
from these areas. Passengers will be told how to report any symptoms they
develop during the flight, at the time of arrival, or after leaving the
airport.
These areas have been identified because of the
volume of air travel from affected areas, understanding of other travel routes
and number of reported cases. This list will be kept under review.
If you have returned from these specific areas
since 19 February, you should call NHS 111 and stay indoors and avoid contact
with other people even if you do not have symptoms:
If you have returned from these areas since 19
February and develop symptoms, however mild, you should stay indoors at home
and avoid contact with other people immediately and call NHS 111. You do not
need to follow this advice if you have no symptoms.
northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini)
Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos
Myanmar
Health protection
regulations
The Health Protection
(Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 have been put in place
to reduce the risk of further human-to-human transmission in this country by
keeping individuals in isolation where public health professionals believe
there is a reasonable risk an individual may have the virus.
Information about the
virus
A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group,
coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus
include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing
shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe
symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with
long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.
Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of
coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China.
northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini)
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised UK nationals
to leave China where possible. If the situation continues to escalate the
pressure on the Chinese health system may intensify, and it may also become
harder for people to travel.
This change does not affect our advice for those
returning from Wuhan or mainland China.
Travellers from Wuhan
and Hubei Province and other specified areas
stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu
call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the area
Please follow this advice even if you do not have
symptoms of the virus.
Lockdown areas in northern Italy:
in Lombardy: Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano
in Veneto: Vo’ Euganeo
Special care zones in South Korea:
Daegu
Cheongdo
Travellers from other
parts of China and other specified areas
This advice applies to travellers who have returned
to the UK from the following areas:
China
Thailand
Japan
Republic of Korea
Hong Kong
Taiwan
Singapore
Malaysia
Macau
If you have returned to the UK from any of these
areas in the last 14 days and develop symptoms of cough or fever or shortness
of breath, you should immediately:
stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu
call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the country
Please follow this advice even if your symptoms are
minor.
If you have returned from these areas since 19
February and develop symptoms please follow this advice. You do not need to
follow this advice if you have no symptoms:
northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini)
Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos
Myanmar
Read more about what you should do if you’re asked to
self-isolate.
Summary of action taken
We have introduced advanced monitoring at airports
with direct flights from China.
A team of public health experts has been
established in Heathrow to support anyone travelling in from China who feels
unwell. These hubs will bring in rotational teams of 7 clinicians, working in
shifts, who will be on hand to support patients on arrival. This is in addition
to medical staff who are already permanently in place at all UK airports and
the advice issued to all UK airports for people travelling to and from China.
The government has issued clinical guidance for the
detection and diagnosis of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and infection
prevention and control.
The Chief Medical Officer, Medical Director at PHE
and Medical Director at NHSE/I have issued advice via a CAS (Central Alerting
System) alert to frontline staff to increase awareness of the situation and any
actions to take.
Most people who develop symptoms will get them
after leaving the airport and so the priority is providing UK residents and
travellers with the latest information to make sure they know what to do if
they experience symptoms, and the NHS and PHE have an established plan to
respond to someone who becomes unwell.
China has also introduced port-of-exit screening so
people already exhibiting symptoms are not allowed to leave the country.
Diagnosis and analysis
Based on current evidence, novel coronavirus
(COVID-19) presents with flu-like symptoms including a fever, a cough, or
difficulty breathing. The current evidence is that most cases appear to be
mild. Those who have died in Wuhan appear to have had pre-existing health
conditions.
The UK is now one of the first countries outside
China to have a prototype specific laboratory test for this new disease.
Healthcare professionals who are contacted by a patient with symptoms following
travel to Wuhan have been advised to submit samples to PHE for testing.
Individuals should be treated in isolation
After the experience of severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) in 2003, PHE developed a series of diagnostic tests to detect
any member of the family of coronaviruses. These have been used for several
years and were able to detect the first UK case of Middle East respiratory
syndrome (MERS) in 2012.
With the first reported publication of the genome
sequence of a 2019 novel coronavirus, PHE was able to rapidly develop further
specific tests for this virus, working with WHO and global network of
laboratories.
When a clinician suspects novel coronavirus
(COVID-19), they take samples from the nose, throat and deeper respiratory
samples, package and send them safely to PHE Colindale. PHE can provide a
laboratory result from this specific virus on the same working day.
PHE also has the capability to sequence the viral
genome and compare this to published sequences from China, if a case occurs.
This will provide valuable information on any mutations in the virus over time
and allow an improved understanding of how it spreads.
Guidance to assist professionals in advising the
general public
Updated 25 February 2020
If you have lived with or had close contact (within
2 metres for 15 minutes or more) with a confirmed case of COVID-19, you should
contact NHS 111 for further advice.
1. Preventing spread of
infection
There are general principles you can follow to help
prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:
wash your hands often – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. This is particularly important after taking public transport
avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
avoid close contact with people who are sick
if you feel unwell, stay at home, do not attend work or school
cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin. See Catch it, Bin it, Kill it
clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home and work environment
if you are worried about your symptoms, please call NHS 111. Do not go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment
If you have lived with or had close contact (within
2 metres for 15 minutes or more) with a confirmed case of COVID-19, you should
contact NHS 111 for further advice.
you do not need to avoid contact with other people
your family do not need to take any precautions or make any changes to their own activities
If you become unwell:
stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with other flu viruses.
follow this home isolation advice sheet
call NHS 111 immediately in order for you to be assessed by an appropriate specialist in hospital, as quickly as possible
3. Symptoms and what to
do
You should look for any of the following symptoms
in the 14 days after the day you return from specified countries and areas:
cough
difficulty in breathing
fever (a temperature of 38 degrees C or higher)
If you have any of these symptoms, you should:
if it is an emergency, call 999 and tell them which country you have returned from in the last 14 days
if you are unwell, but it is not an emergency, call NHS 111 and tell them which country you have returned from in the last 14 days
Whilst you await further advice from NHS 111:
avoid contact with others
stay at home, do not attend work or school
do not travel while sick
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Throw tissues in the bin
wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser if soap and water are not available
4. Feeling unwell while
away from home
Do not go to your GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre
or a hospital if you become unwell. Instead call NHS 111, or 999 if an
emergency (if you are seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk) and
tell them which country you have returned from in the last 14 days.
Whilst you wait for advice from NHS 111 or an
ambulance to arrive, try to find somewhere safe to sit where you are away from
other people, and avoid touching people, surfaces and objects. Cover your mouth
and nose with a disposable tissue when you cough or sneeze and put the tissue
in your bag or pocket. then throw the tissue in the bin. If you don’t have any
tissues available, cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
4.1 On public transport
If you become ill whilst on public transport, stop
your journey when you are able to do so and stay where you are and call NHS
111, or 999 if an emergency (if you are seriously ill or injured or your life
is at risk), and tell them which country you have returned from in the last 14
days.
If you become unwell whilst at an airport, bus
station or train station before a long journey, seek medical help as above and
do not start or continue your journey.
4.2 In outdoor public
spaces
If you are outside in an open space when you become
unwell, stay where you are and call NHS 111, or 999 if an emergency (if you are
seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk). Tell them which country you
have returned from in the last 14 days.
4.3 Leisure activities
For example, at shops, restaurants, gyms, cinemas,
theatres, and sporting events.
Speak to a member of staff, keeping at least 2
metres distance from them to reduce the risk of spreading infection. Ask them
to find a room or area where you can isolate yourself behind a shut door, such
as a changing room or staff office. If it’s possible to open a window, do so
for ventilation.
Call NHS 111, or 999 if an emergency (if you are
seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk) and tell them which country
you have returned from in the last 14 days.
4.4 Places of worship
Isolate yourself behind a shut door if there is a
room or area available. If it’s possible to open a window, do so for
ventilation. If there is nowhere you can isolate yourself, return to your place
of residence by the most direct route. Call NHS 111, or 999 if an emergency (if
you are seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk) and tell them which
country you have returned from in the last 14 days.
4.5 Educational settings
Keep 2 metres away from others and if possible,
find a room or area where you can isolate yourself behind a shut door, such as
a staff office or unused classroom. Make sure that children know to tell a
teacher if they feel unwell. If it’s possible to open a window, do so for
ventilation. If you need to go to the bathroom whilst waiting for medical
assistance, use a separate bathroom if available.
Call NHS 111, or 999 if an emergency (if you are
seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk) and tell them which country
you have returned from in the last 14 days.
People who have returned from Category 1 specified countries and areas, in
the last 14 days should avoid attending school, work or university. People who
have returned from Category 2 specified countries and areas in
the last 14 days, are advised to stay at home if they develop symptoms. All
other students should continue to attend school or university.
4.6 At work
(non-clinical settings)
People who have returned from Category 1 specified countries and areas
should not attend work for 14 days after their arrival.
Find a room where you can isolate yourself away
from others and shut the door. If it’s possible to open a window, do so for
ventilation. If you need to go to the bathroom whilst waiting for medical
assistance, use a separate bathroom if available. See below for advice on
cleaning workspaces.
Call NHS 111, or 999 if an emergency (if you are
seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk) and tell them which country
you have returned from in the last 14 days.
4.7 With friends and
family
Find a room where you can isolate yourself away
from others and shut the door. If it’s possible to open a window, do so for
ventilation. If you need to go to the bathroom whilst waiting for medical
assistance, use a separate bathroom if available.
Call NHS 111, or 999 if an emergency (if you are
seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk) and tell them which country
you have returned from in the last 14 days.
It is important not to get too close to other
people if you become ill – try to maintain 2 metres distance between yourself
and others in order to reduce the risk of transmitting infection.
There are no restrictions for contacts of people
who have recently been to Category 2 specified countries and areas and
are well.
If someone is unwell in the household and has
recently returned from specified countries and areas,
please phone NHS 111 for further advice.
4.8 Mass gatherings
If you have returned from Category 1 specified countries and areas, in
the last 14 days you should avoid mass gatherings. The risk to the general public
attending mass gatherings is very low.
4.9 Post, packages,
take-away food
The virus does not survive well for long periods
outside the body and so it is highly unlikely that COVID-19 can be spread
through post or packages.
It is highly unlikely that COVID-19 can be spread
through food.
5. Cleaning shared
spaces
If a person becomes ill in a shared space, these
should be cleaned using disposable cloths and household detergents. Wash your
hands after cleaning.
To name but a few, with the Olympics, European Football
championships and Chris Froome back in the saddle to perhaps contest another
Tour De France victory, there is plenty to look forward to in 2020.
Will the Employment Marketplace also offer this mixture of delights?
Only time will tell…
Our forecast for 2020 is build upon a number of factors but
will result in a positive year. We anticipate:
An immediate reaction to Brexit
An increasing number of companies declaring blanket “inside IR35” announcements
A turbulent H1 within the contracting community because of legislation changes in April 2020
Increased numbers of contract roles from H2 onwards
Increased levels of Permanent vacancies
A greater demand of engagement tools to create and elevate an organisation’s EVP
Permanent Salaries to stabilise in H2 / Q3 after a modest overall rise in them
Increased numbers of career contractors moving
back into Permanent jobs
Training was certainly on the agenda in 2019. Many companies
realising that staff retention is key if they’re going to keep the best people.
Training has been on the HR agenda for years yet due to economic circumstances,
it’s something tough for businesses to keep pace with the overall demands and
expectations on training. Thankfully, 2019 can evidence that increased
investment and a steady L&D ship will pay off [https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/ld-budgets-grow-to-facilitate-future-skills-needs/]
2019 also witnessed rapid increases in salaries being
offered to permanent members of staff. The cost of paying recruitment fees,
inducing new hires, reduced periods of productivity and decreased morale was
mitigated in 2019 by increased levels of counter offers and passive candidates
gaining confidence in approaching their current employers and asking for
increases in wages.
…Real wage growth Regular pay grew by 3.5% (in nominal terms) for permanent and temporary employees in Great Britain, for the period between August–October 2018 and August–October 2019. When considering the change in real terms (i.e. adjusted for CPI), however, regular pay increased by 1.8%. For October 2019, the average regular pay wage, before tax and other deductions, was estimated by ONS at £510 per week in nominal terms. The real-terms figure (at constant 2015 prices) was £472 per week, which is still £1 (0.2%) lower than the pre‑recession peak of £473 per week recorded in April 2008 – reported by REC in December 2019
Last year also saw large numbers of employers having to
review their rewards and benefits packages and working arrangements to cater
for the needs of new hires. A handful of rapidly growing businesses and those
experiencing aggressive growth were required to uplift their salaries to make
themselves more desirable in a very competitive marketplace. With the UK now
employing more people than ever before, it was key for companies last year to
differentiate themselves and elevate themselves in order to be noticed and
secure the talent that is in high demand.
Remote working or virtual teams also saw an increase and is
growing in both reputation and popularity. As the need for staff grew last
year, new thinking was adopted to leverage collaboration tools and adopt
greater levels of trust and creativity to ensure talent was secured and
projects were delivered.
This model was increasingly used by companies who hired
contractors last year, There was an increase in the number of remote working roles offered last
year and even some permanent others had offers accommodate elements of flexible
working to secure top talent, even if it wasn’t on offer at the beginning of
the recruitment process.
Contractors didn’t have all their own way last year, whilst
there was a steady and constant demand for contract resource for the first 9
months of 2019, the demand declined towards the end of the year as uncertainty
grew over the forthcoming changes to IR35.
…Short-term forecast demand for temporary agency workers
remained in positive territory this quarter (Q2) at net: +2, despite falling by
1 percentage point from the previous rolling quarter. However, it remained a
notable 12 percentage points lower than the level recorded in the same period
last year. The short term forecast demand for temporary agency workers is
notably lower in the public sector (net: -16) than in the private sector (net:
+13). KPMG
A lack of clarity and
miscommunicated information has drastically affected the attitudes towards
hiring contractors and blanket decisions have been made in advance of the
changes in legislation. These are tricky waters to navigate presently and it
will clear up as time passes.
…This quarter, significantly more employers felt that
economic conditions were worsening rather than improving. At net: -33, this was
up one percentage point from the previous rolling quarter. In contrast,
employers’ confidence in making hiring and investment decisions fell by three
percentage points to net: -8, the lowest level since REC records began in
mid-2016 – REC
Reports in 2019 consistently broadcast the shortage of
skills within a number of industries especially Engineering and technology
which doesn’t appear to be easing up and will without doubt be affected by the
result of Brexit and the potential talent drain which will result from
increased numbers of professional seeking work overseas or sought after talent
heading back to their lands of origin to find new wealth and help stimulate
other parts of the global economy.
Are contractors going back into Permanent employment? There
is no data supporting this to date although with many IT based roles being
captured by the changes in IR35, time will play its part to reveal the volume
of people who jump back into permanent employment to secure improved working
rights and benefits.
All in all. You can say we did pretty well to forecast the
trends last year; so, we’ll see how we fair this year. Keep posted for our 2020
predictions.
