Getting your business ready for the challenges of 2022
While we all hoped that 2022 would see COVID-19 settling down, it is now apparent that the pandemic is going to continue to challenge businesses, for at least the first half of this year.
Here are some suggestions to ensure your business is ready for further people management challenges as we head into 2022.
Challenge No. 1 - Keep staff safe
Continue to be vigilant around your Covid safety plan to minimise staff illness at work, and to reduce the potential for staff litigation!
Ensure government mandates are fully supported by management, and visibly enforced.
If you are taking additional safety precautions with staff, above government minimums (such as requiring vaccination), make sure you have undertaken rigorous risk assessment and change management consultation processes before implementing these measures.
Encourage staff to work from home if possible and put policies and checks in place to ensure work from home can be undertaken safely.
Ensure you have clear health and safety policies that staff have signed off outlining your requirements (including mental health and wellbeing policies and support).
Challenge No. 2 – Managing labour uncertainty
If you need to change the working hours and shifts of employees, ensure you are compliant with current laws including:
Change management requirements under awards and the Fair Work Act, i.e. requiring staff consultation prior to making any changes.
Award requirements (where applicable) i.e. outlining rosters, minimum hours and penalty rates.
Challenge No. 3 – Managing staff absence
2022 will likely be a year of higher than usual staff absence due to Covid-related illness and quarantining requirements. To prepare for this:
Put in place contingency plans to cover absence, particularly in critical roles.
Ensure you have clear staff absence policies that are known to staff, managers and payroll.
Understand your paid and unpaid leave obligations under Awards and the Fair Work Act i.e. Personal Leave (including carers leave), Compassionate Leave, Unpaid Pandemic Leave under Schedule X in most Awards and Paid Pandemic Leave under Schedule Y in specific Awards (i.e aged care, health care).
Encourage staff to apply for Federal and State government financial assistance where eligible.