How Can Employers Ensure Redundancies Are Handled Correctly?

Covid-19 has taken a significant toll in more ways than we ever realised it would, and innumerable businesses across the country have been forced to lose valuable employees as a result. As of October, more than 200,000 people have lost their job as a result of the pandemic, and many employers continue to face further reductions in the coming months. 

For employers, it can never be pleasant making staff members redundant, but, now more than ever, it is often unavoidable. In this article, we are going to look at some of the ways that employers can ensure redundancies are handled correctly. Read on to find out more.

Seeking Legal Advice

The best way to ensure redundancies are handled in the right way is to seek legal advice as soon as possible. Solicitors are trained to understand the entire redundancy process and ensure employers are not making any mistakes that could land them in trouble. 

Firms such as www.springhouselaw.com specialise in this sort of matter and can help guide employers in the right direction. If an employer does not seek legal advice, they render themselves incredibly vulnerable to significant issues further down the line.

Warning Employees in Advance

Redundancies shouldn’t be considered your first port of call – they should be a last resort that employers come to when they have exhausted all of their other options. In this case, an employer should know in advance if they are likely to have to make a team member redundant. 

For this reason, any employees who could be made redundant should be notified as quickly as possible, so as to avoid any unwanted surprises at an unfortunate time. With this kind of information, employees can begin the process of searching for an alternative role.

Understanding Redundancies

As many people know, there are two main types of redundancies: voluntary and involuntary, but employers need to understand the difference in order to put the right measures in place. 

Often, there is a specific amount of time that employers are required to be in conversation with their team regarding redundancies and if the law is not strictly followed, there could be a case for a claim. If an employer understands what is expected of them, they can ensure the case is handled correctly.

Creating the Package

Finally, employers must ensure they are offering the right kind of redundancy package if they want to handle this kind of case correctly. The government has certain guidelines in place for employees who have been around for at least two years continuously. 

A lawyer can be useful in this case to help the employer understand what the severance package should include in order to protect the business and ensure the employee is compensated.

Staying on The Right Side of the Law

Redundancies are not easy to manage, and they can take a severe toll on the business, and our personal lives. Unfortunately, they are sometimes the only option that remains – especially in the current financial climate that we are living in. If an employer is required to make these kinds of changes, they should stay in close contact with an expert who can help to manage the case.