As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an unprecedented impact upon our daily lives, the economy and the job market – you may have found yourself without a job.
After all, with thousands of companies being forced into premature closure, many businesses are looking for ways in which they can reduce costs – and that often results in letting people go. Alternatively, you may find yourself a difficult situation as your boss is encouraging you to transition from working from home to re-entering the office before you feel safe to do so.
Regardless of the situation you may be facing, it is important that you know and understands your rights as an employee – as, without this understanding, you may not know when rules and regulations are being unfairly breached. In order to achieve this goal, you may need to reach out to a solicitor – such as Ellisons Solicitors – who can provide you with the support and guidance you need during this difficult and often stressful time.
Here are just some of the situations that they will be able to provide you with support on.
Termination or Redundancy.
As mentioned previously, thousands of employees in the UK and beyond have lost their jobs as a result of the COIVD-19 pandemic. However, it is important that your termination is handled in a specific way. For example, recent government guidance indicates that any termination should be handled sensitively. They must provide you with a valid reason as to why your termination has been processed, as opposed to simply letting you go without explanation. They also have to ensure that this reasoning is consistent across the board (for example, if they say they are letting you go because you made a certain mistake, other employees who have made the mistake should also be given the same treatment).
Similarly, if you have been made redundant – it is important that they provide you with a reasoning as to why you were chosen for redundancy (unless you volunteered). If you suspect that their reasoning may be unfair or biased, a solicitor could help you get the answers you deserve – alongside helping you gain fair and appropriate compensation.
Returning to the office post-pandemic.
Though working from home comes with many benefits, it is understandable that many businesses owners are keen for employees to return to the workplace as soon as possible. After all, this is a step forward in returning to normalcy, meaning they can improve the financial situation of the company. However, it is also important that they are taking all of the necessary measures to keep you safe during this time. For example, if you have been contacted by track and trace and are required to self-isolate – your employer can not dispute this. Failure to comply could result in heavy fines on their behalf. If you feel as though your employer is not taking such situations seriously, don’t be afraid to reach out to them to ask any questions you may have and put your worries to bed. Alternatively, you could ask a solicitor to fight your corner should a breach of the regulations occur.
