Our thinking

Good (un)employers

8 May, 2020

Since the beginning of the crisis, we’ve been clear that how companies respond will be remembered for years to come – for good and for bad. Perhaps no bigger test of this is that of businesses having to lose employees. Some firms are showing that it’s possible to be a ‘good un-employer’ (as we’re calling it) when they have no choice but to lay off staff.  

Eventbrite, for example, is supporting redundant staff with continued health benefits. It is also allowing redundant staff to keep their company laptops and is paying for all staff to have LinkedIn Premium accounts, with the internal recruitment team helping those who have been laid-off to find them new jobs during the crisis. 

Supporting staff stills holds true when it comes to changing job circumstances as well as unemployment. Premier Inn owner, Whitbread, is topping-up staff’s furlough payments by 20% to ensure their salaries aren’t affected, and Timpson has committed to keep fully paying its staff that have not been furloughed despite shop closures. Less than supportive firms include EasyJet, which asked staff to take three months’ unpaid leave as well as a pay freeze after paying out £174 million in dividends to shareholders.  

The wider business community also coming together to help those in need of a job. Recruitment firm, Assembl, for example, has created an open-source database of performance marketing jobs for people to peruse free of charge with no affiliation to most of the companies listed.  

One of the terribly hard truths of this crisis is that for many firms it has led, and will lead, to job losses in different forms. Supporting staff during these times is a sign of good business, and will continue to stay in people’s minds post-crisis. How are you supporting yours? 

By Cara McEvoy