NEWS & EVENTS

In these tough economic conditions, many employers are looking at alternatives to redundancies such as putting staff on to shorter hours. But a local lawyer has warned that if they act without taking advice they could find themselves with problems.

Phil Cookson of City based Roythorne Christmas said:

"Whilst there are some obvious advantages in looking to cut costs by imposing a shorter working week (redundancy costs can be avoided, staff retained in readiness for an upturn in the economy, future retraining and recruitment costs can be avoided) it is a solution fraught with danger if not done in the right way. In extreme cases employees could claim a redundancy payment, even though still employed."

Phil explained there were a number of considerations employers should bear in mind. In particular, the fact that short time working can only be imposed if an employees contract permits it to be. In all other cases a negotiated settlement will need to