Howden Employee Benefits & Wellbeing has launched a new redundancy support services for employers.
This service offers practical advice and information, delivered by independent experts to help employers support employees who are being made redundant.
This new offering comes in the wake of the Covid crisis which has seen a sharp increase in unemployment, with rates rising to their highest levels since 2009.
With ongoing economic uncertainty this is trend is expected to worsen, with research from Acas, the independent public body that offers employment advice, showing more than a third of UK employers plan to make staff redundant over the next three months.
Howden’s service enables employers to demonstrate a duty of care to employees being made redundant and send an unequivocal message to those remaining in the business that they are committed to looking after them.
For employees, the service includes a 90 minute virtual presentation focusing on the core areas of redundancy and offering practical tips. This covers financial as well as health and wellbeing issues, and advice on the redundancy process and securing future employment.
Employees also get access to a mental health app for a further 12 months, as well as a comprehensive information pack, containing information covered in the presentation.
Howden Employee Benefits & Wellbeing head of workplace savings and education Rob Atkins says, “With the UK facing a winter of lockdowns and tight restrictions once again, many employers will be forced to make changes to their organisations and reduce their overheads. Unfortunately for many businesses making some staff redundant will be an inevitable consequence of the disruption and uncertainty.
‘’Our new redundancy service addresses the emotional and practical side of redundancy giving employees vital support and guidance to help them plan for the future.
“Providing employees with a live and interactive session ensures they have the ability to ask questions and discuss their concerns with independent and impartial experts as well as giving them useful support materials and resources to refer to afterwards”
The service gives employees access to the Havensrock Thrive app to help them proactively look after their mental health. This includes a wide range of wellbeing tools, support from online coaches and for employees who need long-term support, access to a RedArc mental health nurses.
Atkins adds: “Redundancies are challenging for any business and its employees. A successful redundancy programme is one that is not simply legally compliant but also manages the human aspects of the process. Looking after the health and mental wellbeing of those employees who are leaving the business ensures they have the vital support they need and the confidence to move on with their lives.”