I hope you’re managing to keep safe and well at this time. I appreciate that the longer we remain in lockdown the more uncertain and anxious many of you will be feeling, so please try to stay connected and access all the support that is available to you.
In my last email, I outlined the steps we were taking to best balance service delivery, continued employment and ensuring our financial sustainability. This unfortunately included some of you being put on ‘furlough’ through the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
I know this will have been unsettling and will have real financial impacts for those of you on furlough, but it was a necessary step to retain employment and help prevent possible redundancies or other negative consequences. I know that have lots of questions regarding furlough and there will be a new section the staff hub which will be regularly updated and accessible to all staff. As mentioned elsewhere, I have also decided to supplement these weekly emails with regular webinars, the first of which will be take place on Tuesday (7 April). You can register here.
The webinars will include updates from me and will be an opportunity for you to ask questions. If you’re unable to watch live you are welcome to submit questions before or after the event via this dedicated email address. The webinar will be fully accessible to all staff, including those of you on furlough or on leave, either live or via the Coronavirus Staff Hub after the event.
With regard to our clients, whilst the Government’s initiatives are to be welcomed there are still groups that are ineligible for support and there is a lack of clarity as to how they will operate. Our support for individuals and businesses is therefore more important than ever and to this end I’m pleased to relay two initiatives that went live this week:
- EmployGM which will support businesses and help people into essential work during Covid-19; and
- #HereforBusiness which will see us reach out to businesses on an unprecedented scale to let them know than we’re here to help.
Finally, I would encourage you all to join Tuesday’s Webinar and in the meantime, a reminder that the Staff Hub is live and includes daily news updates, all the latest GC communications, FAQs, guidance on remote working and helpful health and wellbeing support.
As always now, keep safe and whilst the weather this weekend is meant to be great, please do enjoy it but keep to social distancing.