Managing and protecting your staff
This section covers resources that will help you to manage your staff during the pandemic and ensure that they are protected.
HM Revenue and Customs
- Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
- Check if you can claim for your employees' wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
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Job Retention Scheme Calculator
Job Retention Scheme Calculator
Work out 80% of your employees’ wages to claim through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme calculator: click here - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
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Job Retention Scheme – more information on Furlough –
Job Retention Scheme – more information on Furlough –
This video called Introduction to Furlough by The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development CIPD, who are the professional association for human resource management professionals, gives a chance to understand the details a bit more Click here to watch the video - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and The National Lottery Community Fund’s grant holders
- The Coronavirus Self Employment Income Support Scheme
- Universal Credit: Coronavirus and claiming benefits
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COVID-19 Redundancy and Recruitment Service For Leicester and Leicestershire:
COVID-19 Redundancy and Recruitment Service For Leicester and Leicestershire:
The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership’s (LLEP) remit is to drive forward regeneration and growth of the local economy. The service will help match people who are facing redundancy or lost their job due to the impact of coronavirus with opportunities in sectors that have seen a surge in employment demand. -
HM Treasury: Chancellor extends furlough scheme until October
HM Treasury: Chancellor extends furlough scheme until October
On 12 May the Chancellor announced that the current Furlough Scheme has been extended by a further month until end of July.
From August furloughed staff will stay on 80% of income but be able to come back to work part-time, though then employers will have to contribute to the furlough cost. -
Renaisi: Free career support for people on furlough:
Renaisi is a social enterprise that helps people to learn, work, and progress in their careers. As a VCSE organisation that may have furloughed some of your staff, Renaisi are offering a free service for furloughed employees to provide additional support for employee’s development and wellbeing during lockdown. Each employee will receive a minimum of two, 90-minute 121 sessions with an Employment and Skills Advisor to discuss needs and priorities related to wellbeing, benefits and entitlements, and their career development.
For more details and how employees can book a slot click here -
HM Treasury: Job Support Scheme
HM Treasury: Job Support Scheme
On 24 September the government issued a policy paper explaining what is covered by the grant, which employers and employees are eligible, and how to claim. The scheme will open on 1 November 2020 and run for 6 months. The Job Support Scheme is designed to protect viable jobs in businesses who are facing lower demand over the winter months due to Covid-19, to help keep their employees attached to the workforce. Read more -
HM Treasury: Government extends Furlough to March and increases self-employed support
On 5 November the government published a news story explaining that workers across the United Kingdom will benefit from increased support with a five-month extension of the furlough scheme into Spring 2021. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will now run until the end of March with employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked. Read more
Working Remotely
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Roots HR CIC
Roots HR CIC
The consultants at Roots HR CIC have put together some simple and free tools, funded by their trading surpluses, to support you at this time.
Roots HR CIC: Managing a fair small scale redundancy process webinar
This free webinar might be of interest to the local VCSE sector who are having to consider making redundancies as the furlough scheme comes to the end in October. The webinar that was delivered can be accessed for free here. -
Mental Health At Work portal
Mental Health At Work portal
A website curated by Mind, the mental health charity, and funded by The Royal Foundation as part of their Heads Together campaign has a useful resource “working well from home under self-quarantine for coronavirus. -
Technical or communication challenges
Technical or communication challenges
Digital agency Copy and Code are offering a free hour-long sessions to social impact organisations experiencing technical or communication challenges during the outbreak. - Association of British Insurers (ABI) Coronavirus Information Hub
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Association of chairs: Beyond the basics: how chairs can make online meetings work for their board teams
Association of chairs: Beyond the basics: how chairs can make online meetings work for their board teams
The association of chairs is a membership organisation supporting chairs and vice chairs of charities and social enterprises in England and Wales.
Previously VAL published their blogs on virtual trustee meetings – why it is still important to communicate and communicating with your trustees at the press of a button.
This article by the association of chairs builds on this to give some further practical advice on how to conduct your virtual trustee meeting. From designing the agenda differently, to having a co-host. Find out more here.
Safeguarding and risk assessment
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Various resources from the National Food Service
Various resources from the National Food Service
Information on how to keep your staff, volunteers and the community safe, including risk assessment and safeguarding -
The Leicester Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) Safeguarding Children Partnership – Hoarding Tendencies and Safeguarding:
The Leicester Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) Safeguarding Children Partnership – Hoarding Tendencies and Safeguarding:
In September the partnership’s voluntary and community sector (VCS) sub group produced a briefing. It explains. What hoarding disorder is, Safeguarding reporting for children and adults, Risk management and Advising when to alert the fire and rescue service. The briefing can be found here.
Other ways to support staff
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Support those who use their cars to help their communities
Support those who use their cars to help their communities
If you are using your own car for voluntary purposes to transport medicines or groceries to support others who are impacted by Covid-19, your cover will not be affected. You do not need to contact your insurer to update your documents or extend your cover. This applies to all categories of NHS Volunteer Responders, including transporting patients, equipment, or other essential supplies. -
Risk at Work – Personal protective equipment (PPE):
Risk at Work – Personal protective equipment (PPE): Employers have duties concerning the provision and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) at work. It can include items such as safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses. It also includes respiratory protective equipment (RPE). Making the workplace safe includes providing instructions, procedures, training and supervision to encourage people to work safely and responsibly.
- First aid cover and qualifications during coronavirus (COVID-19)
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Free Learning & Development Support for Furloughed Employees
Free Learning & Development Support for Furloughed Employees
Learnerbly describe themselves as an organisation to create a progressive learning culture that empowers their people to own their development, guides them towards the best learning opportunities, and supports them in applying their learnings. As part of a response to covid-19, they recognise the impact is not just on health of millions but also businesses and employment prospects.
If your organisation are furloughing 20 or more employees, they will give you free access to their curated marketplace of learning resources and enable them to up-skill. -
Alcumus: Covid-19 Health and Safety
Alcumus: Covid-19 Health and Safety
Alcumus describe themselves as the UK’s market-leading provider of technology led compliance and risk management solutions. Their purpose is to help organisations be safer, healthier, and stronger.
They have free COVID-19 Health and Safety documents that can be downloaded. These include: COVID-19 Return to Work Guidance Pack, COVID-19 Workplace Health & Safety Inspection Checklist, COVID-19 Risk Assessment Template, Checklist and Risk Assessment for Individual Worker – Click here for download links for all documentsWe recommend that you read this in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive guidance - Public Relations & Communications Association Council: Public Relations & Communications Social Impact Supplier Directory