Local HR expert helps businesses in lockdown and beyond

Business and Economy

In the current landscape of lockdowns, furlough schemes, mass redundancies and businesses  closing their doors, it has never been more important for employers and employees to have  processes in place, open communication and be informed. Peter McDonald of the HR  Department is working to deliver cost-effective employment law advice and HR solutions that  leave you free to concentrate on growing your business in a tough economic climate.

Peter McDonald, father of 2 with over 30 years experience says “Over the last few months we  have noticed a definite shift in the HR advice we are providing and now 60-70% of the work we  deal with currently is grievances and complaints. With the average employment tribunal  costing an employer 7-8K in legal fees alone, we are trying to help as many businesses as  possible ensure they have the correct processes and procedures in place to avoid it ever  getting to that point. In the coming year we still expect to see at least 150,000 new ACAS applications, which is an average of 650 every working day therefore the earlier we begin to  work with businesses, the more problems we can help them avoid.

“Our advice to employers is that the only way to keep the cost of tribunal disputes from hitting  their balance sheet is with effective advice and employment protection insurance – aka Advice  Line!

“Between March, when lockdown one began, and August, the number of people claiming  unemployment benefits rose 120% to 2.7 million. Even with the furlough scheme being  extended until March 2021, employers and employees face a minefield of conflicting  information, trying to get their heads around all the changes and what they can and can’t apply  for under the government schemes.”

He continued, “Employers are having to make tough decisions, release staff and or close down  whole operations/businesses. They need to know who they can turn to and what are the right  steps in these difficult situations. From an employee standpoint many feel employers are seemingly unable to support them in this process and they feel very much in limbo which has  effects on their family and mental wellbeing.”

Peter said, “Almost a million fewer people are employed than in Feb 2020 according to official  data. The unemployment claimant count has jumped by 1.5 million to 2.7 million (unemployed  and on benefits). This next round of redundancies will hit the older and middle-class  employees the most. Its viewed that the recovery will be tech savvy intensive so it’s this group  of employees that could face redundancies and therefore need to be working with their  employers, now, to understand their options.”

The HR Department team is passionate about assisting SME’s to navigate through the welter of  employment legislation, rules and regulations and find solutions to enable them to achieve  their business goals whilst also enabling their staff to be happier and better motivated. They  believe that by providing employers with support, information and guidance on people issues  they can contribute to a company’s continued success and prevent time and resources being  wasted wrestling with complex employment issues.

Their services cover everything to do with employing people and will help you prevent people  problems or resolve problems when they do occur. Advice and support is provided locally so  you are not talking to a stranger in a call centre. Peter is a local expert helping businesses  across Aylesbury , Wendover, Princes Risborough, Watlington, Chinnor and Thame.

If you are a small or medium sized business or perhaps you are employed by one that is  struggling right now then please contact Peter ​here ​ who will be on hand to help you with  friendly local professional HR advice.