Employment Issues During Periods of Recession - Guidance for employers from the CIPD and Acas

Written by Ian Congreave - Filed under: Compliance and Enforcement on March 2nd, 2009

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Responding to a significant increase in calls to the CIPD and Acas helplines, the two organisations have produced joint guidance on managing the workforce in a recession.

Of the calls to the Acas helpline in January, 35% were related to redundancies, lay offs and business transfers. Figures just released by the CIPD’s HR helpline show that calls on redundancy in the same month doubled compared with a year ago and now make up 18% of the total.

The guidance Managing in Recession

emphasises the importance of organisations managing for the long-term and being innovative in their approach to avoid job cuts wherever possible.
focuses on the fundamental importance of managing people properly in order to maintain employee engagement, well-being and productivity as rising work intensity threatens to increase stress and conflict at work.
highlights the importance of organisations developing redundancy strategies so they manage this difficult issue sensitively and within the law.

Acas has also introduced a new page of guidance on its website that features links, Q&As, podcasts, advice and training courses.

Further information:
Acas and CIPD launch practical guidance for employers on managing in recession to help answer a rapid rise in helpline call queries
Managing in difficult times
How to manage your workforce in a recession

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Written by Ian Congreave -

Filed under: Compliance and Enforcement on March 2nd, 2009