THE VIEW AND THE INTELLIGENCE
Prepare for recovery p2 BI G TALKI NG POI NT
How to support employee mental health p4
Recruitment Ma ers
LEGAL U PDATE
IR35 on hold: what are the next steps? p6 Issue 85 May 2020
ARTI FI CI AL I NTE LLI GE NCE
Ways to avoid unconscious bias p8
Global pandemic
REC welcomes Chancellorās Covid-19 package W
hen the economic impact of Covid-19 became clear in mid-March, the REC moved quickly along with other business organisa ons to secure largescale ac on from the Treasury to protect jobs. Within days, the Chancellor announced a Ā£350bn package of support for businesses. This includes a job reten on scheme to support staļ¬ salaries, the deferral of VAT and other taxes as well as the postponement of the IR35 tax changes, plus grants and interest-free loans to help businesses to overcome cashflow challenges. In his speech the Chancellor praised the collabora on and āconstruc ve discussionsā of business groups.
@RECPress RM_MAY 2020-v1.indd 1
The package was, according to Neil Carberry, CEO of the REC, āthe big ac on the REC and many other business organisa ons have been working hard to achieve⦠cashflow support, VAT deferment and wage payments are the exact radical measures that were needed. The REC has successfully lobbied government to introduce digital right-to-work checks so that members can place key workers in jobs where they are needed quickly. We con nue to ask for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to be expanded,ā he said. SSP support is currently oļ¬ered to employers with fewer than 250 employees. Many recruitment businesses have a small internal team, but o en look a er hundreds of agency staļ¬, leaving them out of its scope.
The Chancellorās Ā£350bn package for businesses included cashflow support, VAT deferment and wage payments
Making great work happen
āIām pleased to say that Government wants to con nue this collabora on with us and other sector bodies, so we will go on working together throughout this crisis,ā Carberry said. āRecruitment professionals have a pivotal role in helping people to get jobs where they are most needed at this me, such as in healthcare, logis cs and the food sector. We will get through this and, when we do, recruitment will be central to the recovery.ā All details are correct at me of prin ng, but events move fast, so check the RECās Covid-19 hub.
www.rec.uk.com 07/04/2020 12:25