Furlough is ending… so what now?

The Furlough scheme has undoubtedly been a lifeline for companies and employees during the Covid pandemic and has helped protect millions of jobs when companies were forced to shut, and companies took a financial hit.

With Furlough now in its final week and the scheme coming to an end on 30^th of September and surprisingly still over a million employees still on furlough, most companies would have made a decision as to if they are bringing employees back into work or making redundancies.

I do hope most of these employees will be bought back into work, but it is fair to say there will be a lot of redundancies taking place, so where does that leave you if you are left facing redundancy.

I am facing redundancy, what should my next steps be?

If you are facing redundancy, it is important that you look at what you can apply for that will help financially during these times, we know it may not be as much as you were earning being employed but every little helps during this difficult time.

After losing your job, the main benefit, you would be entitled to job seekers allowance and it is important you apply for this straight away as it can often take a couple of weeks to process your application.

Job seekers allowance also know as JSA entitles that person to a sum that currently stands at £59.20 per week and £74.70 per week for anyone aged over 25.

This is normally paid on a fortnightly basis, and you may need to attend jobcentre appointments as part of the process.

You may also be entitled to additional benefits such as help with housing costs so it is worth checking out what you may be entitled to, we have included some sites below which may help.

Benefit Calculator –  www.turn2us.org.uk

Citizen’s advice can also assist with money related matters and can offer free advice and guides.

There is some positive news on the horizon…

The job market is booming right now, and companies are crying out for staff so even though you may feel you are facing a difficult time following redundancy, it is a great time to be job hunting with so many companies hiring.

Choosing the right agency

Most employers do not have the time or resources to find the right employee for a certain jobs within their company, they resort to a recruitment agency.

Go online and check out your local agencies. Look at their reviews and once you decided who to register with make an appointment.

Give as much information as possible upfront about the kind of role you are looking for. Expect to be asked about the type of organisation you want to work for. How far you are willing to travel and your salary expectations.

Make sure your CV is accurate and up to date. This will save you a lot of time in the end. Your recruitment consultant can give you advise on how to improve your CV, based on what they know their clients are looking for.

Be proactive! Keep in regular contact with your agency to stay at the top of their mind.

LOOKING AFTER MENTAL HEALTH AT WORK

In the UK each year 1 to 4 people are affected with Mental health. With the country slowly easing its way back to some sort of normality, taking time to prioritise your mental health is as important as ever.

Work can make us feel good about ourselves and give us a sense of purpose, but for some it can also have a negative effect on mental health. To cope with the stresses of work and overcome what life can throw at us, it is important we stay on top of our mental health.

Five ways to boost your mental health at work:

TALK.

It is important to remember that you can talk about your feelings at work. This can help you maintain your mental health and deal with times when you feel stressed or troubled.

KEEP ACTIVE.

Taking regular exercise can really help boost your self-esteem, not to mention help you concentrate, sleep and feel better. Experts say that we should aim to do 30 minutes of exercise, 5 days a week.

EAT AND DRINK WELL.

What we eat and drink can affect how we feel both immediately and in the longer term. It is important to bear in mind that a good diet that benefits your physical health is also good for your mental health.

TAKE UP A HOBBY.

Enjoying yourself is an excellent way to combat stress. At work, you may have a hobby that you would like to share or join in with colleagues. For example, a work running club or crafting group can be a great way to share a skill with others and enjoy yourself.

MAINTAIN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS.

Maintaining relationships and collaborating in a supportive team is important for mental health at work. If working relationships break down it can lead to tension. Seeking out a friend or trusted work colleague with whom you can share your feelings can help you work through any challenges you experience in your workplace.

What are Agency Regulations  How Can They Help You?

All recruitment agencies must abide to two key regulations, these being the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and  Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003. The agency regulations were put in place to ensure the rights of agency workers and to prevent agencies from exploiting their workers in the jobs they carry out

 Important Agency Regulation – Candidates Cannot be Charged  

The following points are included in the Employment Agencies act but here is a summary of some of what these agency regulations are and how they help. As an agency it is illegal to charge job seekers for being a candidate.

 Important Agency Regulation – Written Contract 

When it comes to an agency hiring a worker, the worker must be provided with a Key Information Document. This document includes important details such as pay, holiday leave, legally required deductions (such as Statutory deductions (Tax and National insurance) and also whether they are under contract for services or a contract of employment. This is just a verification for the Agency and worker to make the engagement official and have all the important details noted on a Key Information Document which helps both parties.

Important Agency Regulation- Worker’s Suitability

Agencies are legally obligated to assess the suitability of a candidate for a particular job role. This benefits job seekers as agencies should never expect you to do a job that you are not suitable for.

Important Agency Regulation – Workers Must Be Paid 

The Agency shall pay the Agency worker for all hours worked regardless of whether the Agency has received payment from the client for those hours.

Direct Response Employment Services, have zero tolerance towards modern-day slavery. This is why educate are workers and staff in prohibiting human trafficking and slavery in any of the sectors we supply. 

Forced Labour

To assess if someone is undergoing forced labour there are some really obvious signs, someone who looks extremely tired or overworked has most likely worked more hours than the allowed amount. A person may be getting underpaid compared to the hours and amount of work they have done, they may be facing threats from their employer and so carry on working in fear. Even something as simple as getting your staff to work late consistently without extra pay would classify as forced labour.

Child Abuse

This is again quite easy to spot as a child undergoing extreme abuse will be showing some concerning signs, these include dark bruising on their face and limbs, going off with unfamiliar people, they may even be intoxicated in some cases as they may have been coerced into drinking. We understand how morally wrong the act of child abuse is and strongly encourage people to come forward if they have experienced or witnessed it in the workplace.

Sexual Exploitation

This range of modern-day slavery tends to happen in the residential housing sector, this is because it is out of the way of the public and private, notify the police and your employer if you notice any of the following: Someone sleeping on work premises, being subjected to sexual abuse or harassment. The persons pay getting given to someone else if they are abusing substances. When noticing these signs, you can help in the global effort to call out workplaces that engage in sexual assault and ensure people can safely go about their working day.

Criminal Activities

In some jobs people may not be getting their desired pay, this may be due to their role and position or employer. This could lead others to try and make money a different way and undergoing illegal activity. Some signs to look out for when looking for criminal activity are; damaged windows being covered up on the inside, people using machinery to produce and grow illegal drugs, someone who is acting unordinary and suspicious.

Direct Response Employment Services are registered members of the GLAA. Our membership enables us to legally supply temporary workers into the aforementioned sectors. In line with GLAA stipulation towards agency workers, we ensure that all workers are paid and receive all benefits that they are entitled to.