In the fast-paced world of business, mastering short time working is a crucial skill for employers. It’s about making the most of the time you have, ensuring that your business runs efficiently and effectively, even when you’re short on time. Whether it’s due to a sudden increase in demand, a need to cut costs, or a response to unforeseen circumstances such as a global pandemic, short time working can be a valuable tool in an employer’s arsenal. However, it’s not without its challenges. This guide will provide you with the knowledge and strategies you need to navigate these challenges and make short time working work for you.
Understanding Short Time Working
Short time working refers to a situation where employees work less than their normal working hours for a short time. This could be due to a decrease in available work, or as a cost-saving measure. It’s a flexible approach that allows businesses to adapt to changing circumstances without resorting to layoffs or redundancies. However, it’s important to note that short time working should not be used as a long-term solution. It’s a temporary measure, designed to help businesses weather short-term difficulties.
Legal Considerations
Before implementing short time working, it’s crucial to understand the legal implications. For instance, how long does an employer have to pay you during a period of short time working? In the UK, if an employee works less than half their normal hours in a week, they may be entitled to statutory guarantee pay for any days they don’t work. This is capped at a maximum of £30 a day for five days in any three-month period.
It’s also important to consider the terms of your employees’ contracts. If there’s no lay-off clause example in the contract, you may not be able to impose short time working without the employee’s agreement. If you do so without their agreement, you could be at risk of a claim for constructive dismissal.
Communicating with Employees
Communication is key when implementing short time working. It’s important to explain the reasons for the change, how long it’s expected to last, and how it will affect employees’ pay and conditions. This can help to alleviate any concerns and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Managing Holiday Entitlement
Another consideration is how short time working will affect employees’ holiday entitlement. For example, if you’re a Sainsbury’s employer, you’ll need to consider the Sainsbury’s holiday entitlement policy. In general, employees continue to accrue holiday entitlement while on short time working, but how this is calculated can depend on the specific circumstances.
Visa Considerations
If you employ foreign workers, you’ll also need to consider how short time working might affect their visa status. For instance, if you’re a Sainsburys visa sponsor, you’ll need to ensure that any changes to working hours or conditions don’t breach the terms of the visa.
Maximising Efficiency
When you’re working short hours, it’s more important than ever to maximise efficiency. This means ensuring that every minute counts, and that your employees are focused on the most important tasks. It can be helpful to set clear priorities and goals, and to provide the necessary support and resources to help employees meet these goals in shorter time.
Supporting Employee Wellbeing
Finally, it’s important to remember that short time working can be a stressful time for employees. They may be worried about their job security, their finances, and how they’re going to manage with less income. As an employer, it’s important to provide support and reassurance during this time. This could include offering financial advice, providing access to counselling services, or simply being available to listen to any concerns.
Conclusion
Mastering short time working is about more than just cutting hours. It’s about understanding the legal and practical implications, communicating effectively with your employees, and doing everything you can to support them during a challenging time. By doing so, you can help to ensure that your business remains resilient and adaptable, no matter what the future holds.
