Iceland Volcano: Forum Advises Businesses How to Manage Stranded Staff

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The key thing is to keep in touch so you have the fullest information possible about your employees and their travel situation.

(PRWeb UK) April 21, 2010

The Forum of Private Business is advising smaller employers affected by the volcano in Iceland erupting to be flexible with stranded staff – but know when to draw the line on unpaid leave.

Many small businesses are continuing to struggle in the wake of the worst recession in a generation and employers should be aware of the impact on cash flow of a drop in productivity because of employee absence, particularly with signs that demand is improving.

The Forum, which guides its members through their employment law obligations and responsibilities, is urging firms to keep in regular communication with staff stuck abroad and unable to make it back to work.

Unless remote working is an option, businesses could offer staff discretionary paid leave for a fixed period. However, there is no compulsion to do so and this should be followed by an offer of unpaid leave or suggesting that absent workers take additional holidays covering the period they are away.

“The key thing is to keep in touch so you have the fullest information possible about your employees and their travel situation,” said the Forum’s Employment Adviser Ross Meadows, of Mace and Jones Solicitors. “Obviously it’s not their fault that they are unable to make it to work so it’s down to an employer’s discretion whether or not to offer paid leave, at least up to a point.

“But, after a certain in time, it is advisable that this becomes unpaid leave unless the staff member want to take extra holidays.

“Hopefully more airports will open shortly and, despite the inevitable backlog, the situation should improve soon and employers will get their people back.”

There are other options available for businesses in order to address the problem. Forum member Chris Sinclair, a Director of the computer software firm 3Si Ltd, which is based in Newcastle Under Lyme in Staffordshire, has an employee stuck in the US. Mr Sinclair contacted the Forum for advice.

“She is stuck out there with her family. We’ve now spoken to her - it’s going to be a fortnight before she gets back and she’s already been on holiday for two weeks,” he said later. “But she has the ability to connect to the internet, log into the office and work from home – only for half a day because of the time difference. What she does for the rest of the day is entirely up to her.

“It’s really important to be flexible. Our employee doesn’t want to lose more holidays or pay and we’ve been able to lessen any impact by using the technology at our disposal to set up a transient office – it’s a win-win situation.”

As part of its HR Director business support solution the Forum publishes an annually-updated Employment Guide, which is also available online.

The guide is written by employment law specialists Employment Law Advisory Services, and takes businesses step by step through the every aspect of employing a person and complying with the law.

The organisation also provides a 24-hour legal advice line offering information and guidance on employment law.

For more information call the Forum on 0845 612 6266 or visit http://www.fpb.org.

Notes to editors

Formed in 1977, the Forum of Private Business is evolving following a year of intensive research about the real needs of small businesses.

As an invaluable extension to its members’ teams the not-for-profit organisation has developed a range of tailored business solutions to support, protect and reassure small firms throughout the lifecycle of their businesses.

These are: ‘Finance Director’, ‘Legal Director’, ‘HR Director’, ‘Health and Safety Director’, ‘Development Director’, ‘Purchasing Director’, ‘Communications Director’ and ‘Managing Director’.

For full list of services under each solution and/or membership package, visit http://www.fpb.org/membership or call 0845 612 6266.

Broadcast media – the Forum has ISDN capability and can provide comment, in quality audio, at short notice.

The FPB can also provide journalists with localised and sector-specific case studies.

About the Forum of Private Business

A not-for-profit organisation, the Forum of Private Business provides a personal, friendly and highly tailored service to its members – with the primary purpose of helping them run their businesses more profitably.

Representing thousands of small businesses across the UK – including retail, service providers and manufacturing companies – the Forum is recognised by the Government as one of the six main business support and lobby groups. It uses this position to influence decision-makers in the UK and Brussels on the issues that matter to small businesses. Visit http://www.fpb.org.

The Forum helps owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses to comply with regulations via its dedicated member helpline, 24-hour legal advice line, and Health and Safety Guide, Employment Guide and Credit Control Guide.

In addition, the Forum’s http://www.smallbusinesschannel.co.uk was launched in June 2009, providing a wealth of free video advice and information on a range of topics to business owners and managers.

The Forum is a proud supporter of the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG): http://www.fpb.org/charity
Media contacts

Phil McCabe
Media and PR Manager
Tel:    01565 626019
ISDN:     01565 654673
Mobile:    07775 756312
Email:    phil(dot)mccabe(at)fpb(dot)org

Chris Gorman
Media and PR Assistant
Tel:    01565 626016
ISDN:    01565 654673
Mobile/out of hours:    07775 756300
Email:    chris(dot)gorman(at)fpb(dot)org

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