Employers urged to consider plight of workers struggling to get in

EMPLOYERS in Derbyshire are being urged to support staff who are struggling to buy fuel for their commute to work.

Laura Kearsley, partner and solicitor specialising in employment law at Nelsons, said: “Despite emergency measures being put in place by the government and suppliers, it’s likely people will continue to be affected over the days ahead, meaning many of the country’s workers may be caught out and struggle to travel to work, particularly if they have a lengthy commute.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was said to be considering bringing in the Army’s support to help with fuel supplies, and many stations across the country have implemented a limit on how much petrol and diesel people can purchase.

Laura said: “As an employer, it’s crucial to maintain an open dialogue with your workers to be able to find the best possible outcome for those who are affected by the crisis. The simplest solution would be to encourage employees to revert to working from home if they are able to do so.

“However, this may not be feasible for all, therefore, as an employer you may want to consider alternative ways you can support your employees. For example, do any of your workers live within a close enough distance of each other to be able to car pool if one person has plenty of petrol? Or, is there a public transport alternative that you could assist your employee in navigating?

“Something else that’s worth bearing in mind is if your employees need to travel for work – whether that’s for meetings, pitches or deliveries. In this scenario, I would advise you look through these journeys and work out whether any can be reorganised or minimised – or completed using public transport or via video conferencing software instead.

“While there will be no ‘one size fits all’ approach, the need for good communication will inevitably be the key in ensuring your employees feel supported during this extraordinary time.”

For more information about managing your workforce, visit: www. nelsonslaw.co.uk/managing-yourworkforce/.