Susan's Legal Bits
In November 2008 Susan was interested in.....
....talking about the role of contracting
in an economic slump.
Hi Everyone!
I've answered most of the questions I've received by email this week, and yet Hugo still stands over me and commands me to divulge my legal bits!!
The media loves bad news and these difficult times for the economy, the airwaves, TV screens and printed page have been full of doom and gloom. As a result I thought I would perhaps comment on the scare-mongering that is going on about redundancies at the moment. Of course, with difficult economic times here and ahead, companies suffer less profit therefore need (or can only afford) fewer staff. Many companies reduce the number of staff they have as a way of saving money. This can affect both temporary and permanent staff.
Employers have to follow very strict rules when letting their permanent staff go. For you guys, you work for your clients as a temporary worker so in reality may be the first to be let go with a policy of short notice or no notice period at all. Whilst completely normal I know it can be just as difficult for you as it would be for a permanent employee. However, don't forget that by law you are employed by a Gabem umbrella company and that employer is certainly not making you redundant - you have the same choice as you always had to go out and source your own work with whichever client or recruitment agency that you choose.
Of course, the up-side of this is that, with so many companies making permanent staff redundant, there won't be any budget for hiring new permanent staff for new projects, or seasonal increases in business. That's where the UK's unique professional temporary work force comes into it's own - not only filling gaps and generally helping businesses pick themselves up and dust themselves down but also bringing with them their experience of working with a variety of organisations helping them to improve and innovate.
Of course, as a more stable climate emerges, companies will look to employ permanent staff again but, in the meantime, I predict an upsurge in the market for temporary workers and I really do hope you all have success in finding interesting and challenging work.
Have a great month and keep the questions coming in. Stay safe this fireworks night.
Susan Hickman, HR Manager at Gabem.
PS To the gentleman who requested a full breakdown on how to request Holiday Pay, we are putting a full page together for our information section so everyone will benefit.
To give Susan your suggestions and comments you can get in touch with her here.
All comments provided on my blog are for informational purposes only. My thoughts and opinions are my own with agreement from my employer as being suitable for sharing with the wider world. Any advice, or writing that might be taken as advice, should not be deemed in any way as professional Legal advice and are only the musings of a HR practioner whose sole aim is to help where she can.
