This has been an incredibly challenging time for business leaders. We’re all faced with ever-changing staffing needs and very difficult workforce decisions. As business slows and employees continue to be quarantined, your business is undoubtedly trying to figure out what to do next.
You’ve been hearing about other companies laying people off, cutting hours, and furloughing employees. But, what’s the right move for you? How do you know you’re making the best decision for your employees and your business? We’re in the midst of an unprecedented, almost surreal situation, and we’re all learning together.
Why furlough?
We all know that the world is in crisis, and as business leaders, we don’t want to kick people when they’re down. A full-fledged lay-off during this health crisis may feel harsh, especially since your employees would lose their health benefits. Plus, you might want to retain the option to rehire your employees when this all settles down and business starts to return to normal. A furlough allows you as a business to be thoughtful in your decisions and do what’s best for your business, your employees, and their families. A furloughed employee is able to apply for unemployment benefits while maintaining their employer-funded health coverage.
How does HR fit into your workforce decisions?
We know that your organization, like many others, is probably in “crisis mode.” It can seem overwhelming and daunting to try and decide who to furlough, lay-off, and keep on during this critical time. We know that you want to do right by your business and your employees. Most organizations don’t have the HR infrastructure to manage a crisis like this on their own and need a fractional HR strategic thinker to help navigate these tricky waters, and we are here to help guide you.
Act with CARE as the CARES Act takes effect.
Due to the widespread uncertainty Coronavirus has caused, the U.S. Government has come together to provide a funding plan to aid economically injured individuals and businesses. With hundreds of billions of dollars available, there are many opportunities and questions surrounding this funding. It’s important to understand your options and how this legislation can impact your staffing decisions. We’re here to help you understand how this affects your business and find the best path forward.
Take care of your business by taking care of yourself!
You can’t take care of your business and your team unless you first take care of yourself. It may seem hard to find the time right now, but even a few minutes per day can make a difference. Here are some of the ways we like to practice self-care.
- Meditate (even if it’s just for a few minutes)
- Take a walk
- Sit and read
- Listen to music
- Get enough sleep (we know, it’s hard!)
- Eat healthy
We know you’re probably feeling overwhelmed and a bit stressed out as you try and figure all of this out, so please ask us your HR question! We are here to help. No question is too small. If we don’t know the answer, we’ll point you towards someone who can help. Most importantly, remember, we’re all in this together.
Hoping to see you all in person soon,
Kerry
