COVID-19: Guidelines for Employers and MNCs during this Challenging Time

With the death toll rising exponentially in Ireland and with the figure touching 365 as of 13^th April 2020 (source: worldometer), the Irish GDP is projected to contract and job losses to go up. In short, the scale of economic shock is visible in the wake of the pandemic created by the novel coronavirus. Employees are no doubt suffering from job insecurity but employers too are faced with a dilemma of whether to remain open or closed and whether to pay remuneration to them. But, no matter what, employers and multinational corporations should abide by certain guidelines in this hour of crisis. If you are operating a business and have employees working under you, this blog post is for you. Go through it to understand the roles and responsibilities of company owners towards their staff members during this unsettling time.

Advice to Corporate Clients in the Wake of the Global Pandemic – Coronavirus

Breen Walsh Solicitors, the best solicitors in Cork, advises all business owners to abide by certain rules for the welfare of employees. Enclosed below are some of them.

ü  Maintain Workplace Hygiene

All employers must follow the coronavirus guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Department of Health for workplace safety. If needed, flexibility in leave policies should be initiated to encourage sick employees to stay back at home. Besides, workplaces should stock up necessary sanitising products like hand wash and sanitizer to motivate workers to maintain hygiene in the workplace.

ü  Restrict Employees from Travelling Abroad for Work

Employers should also curb subordinates from travelling abroad, especially to China, Asia and Europe, to meet work-related goals. This step is crucial to curtail employee exposure to the deadly virus.

ü  Postpone Public Events and Activities for the Safety of Workers

There’s a Health and Safety Act at work, whereby every employer owes responsibility and a duty of care towards their employees. It’s time to enforce the necessary protective measures to cultivate a safe workplace in the face of an identified risk. Revocation of public events and activities taken in the interest of business should also be mandated for the welfare of employees.

ü  Refer Contract of Employment for taking Decisions regarding Wages

Every employer-employee relation starts from a contract of employment, where the former has to abide by certain obligations. While civil servants should be entitled discounting of sick leaves for assessing the eligibility of promotion, company sick pay policy should be relaxed during such an unsettling time.

ü  Employers should Assist Employees with Care Arrangements

The Government mandates all employers to initiate care arrangements for the welfare of employees. Some of the measures you may follow on grounds of humanity are the following:

•        Provide paid compassionate leave
•        Allow altering of shifts so that the employee can coordinate caring between him/her and spouse.
•        Allow paid time off, which the worker can compensate at a later time.
•        Permit work from home.
•        Give consent to rearranging of holidays.

In short, employers should stay a little aware of the flexibility in policies brought about by the Government in response to the global pandemic. A deviation from them might encourage the employee to take actions. So, be a little gentle while enforcing rules and regulations in this hour of disruption.

Postscript:

COVID-19 puts several restrictions on employment rights but an employer can’t keep a tab on them, as there are other responsibilities to meet. Therefore, we suggest you seek the advisory services of employment law solicitors in Cork for the smooth functioning of a business. Breen Walsh Solicitors in Cork City might have closed down their office for the safety of all its staff members, but is working remotely. You can consult them to deal with matters correctly and take decisions in the best interest of your employees.