The Job Retention Support Scheme, better known as ‘furlough’, provided support to UK employers when the coronavirus pandemic was at its worst. Despite the financial relief in not having to think about staff wages, it has impacted other areas of business.
When a staff member is on furlough, they’re not allowed to partake in any activity that would generate income or contribute to generating income for their employer. That raises the question: how do you manage staff that aren’t ‘staff’ in the normal understanding of the word.
Well, we live in unprecedented times that are certainly not ‘normal’. So, businesses are having to adapt and think of new ways of working and keeping their furloughed staff busy…
Training and employee self-development
Staff can partake in training while on furlough, so you could get them to complete training modules or courses.
This could be a good way to upskill staff and also keep them engaged throughout their time on the scheme. This comes with many benefits which is why lots of businesses are developing tailor-made courses to suit and benefit staff.
Training can also work wonders for an employee’s self-development and in turn, make them more eager to get back to work to showcase their new skills.
Engagement and performance
There are many ways that engagement functions as a means of managing staff performance levels. For example, interactive team bonding sessions, sending gift ‘hampers’ to staff, or rolling out normal newsletters and bulletins are great ways to maintain relationships and keep staff engaged.
The benefits for businesses that embrace employee engagement are clearly evident. Employees who are committed to their work are more likely to behave in a positive manner that in turn benefits their employer. Furthermore, they’re less likely to take sickness absence and productivity/performance levels are likely to improve. In short, benefits of effective employee engagement include:
- Better bottom-line performance.
- Greater customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Fewer absences.
- Less employee turnover.
- More creativity and innovation.
Staff recognition
Recognising staff for their contribution is another great way to manage the performance of staff who will be coming back to work. Running prizes and sessions to award staff for meeting certain goals or targets will motivate them while also helping them reach pre-set goals.
Need expert guidance on managing furloughed staff?
Our advisors can provide help and support on managing furloughed staff and returning employees to the workplace. To speak with a HR expert now, call 0800 917 0771.
