COVID-19: Latest news from policy and research

Happy Mental Health Awareness week everyone! To mark this, we have launched a Mental Health & Wellbeing permanent hub on our website, filled with podcasts and guidance - including a seven step video guide to wellbeing at home. Other big themes over the last two weeks have been developments on the government’s support scheme and next steps on the gradual re-opening of the economy. Our latest webinar polls show that most REC members are relatively upbeat about the mid to longer term outlook and we will be using our new Jobs Recovery Tracker (first edition tomorrow) to chart the comeback trail.

Updates on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)

After weeks of campaigning by the REC, Government has now published the long-awaited guidance on holiday pay accrual for temps and the CJRS. It will hopefully remove the huge cost barrier to higher rates of furlough that many agencies faced before now.

It is now clear that holiday pay does not accrue for those temps who are on a contract for services.For those on contracts of employment, holiday will accrue as per their contracts, treating furlough as the same as a period not on assignment.

The UK Government has also announced that the CJRS will continue as it currently operates until the end of July. Then from August to the end of October, the scheme will continue but with more flexibility introduced.

Re-opening the country

We can learn a lot by the experiences of those who have come through the peak of the crisis. We have been in contact with our international counterparts in ECSSA (which represents search & selection associations in Europe) and the WEC (World Employment Confederation) to understand what works best for our industry in different settings. The REC has also been working in partnership with the BEIS, DWP and Home Office to ensure a smooth transition.

Here is what the four UK nations have put in place so far:

• England - as the country plans its return to normality, the UK Government has published Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy, as well as guidance for employers to help them reopen and operate their workplaces safely.
• Scotland - the lockdown has been extended to 28 May; the Scottish Government has published a framework for the next steps of their response.
• Northern Ireland – The lockdown will also be reviewed on 28 May. The Northern Irish Executive has published a five-stage plan for easing the lockdown, without a timetable.
• Wales – the Welsh Government has published their strategy for getting out of lockdown.

Immigration

Meanwhile, this week saw the second reading of the Immigration Bill, as well as the publication of the latest ONS migration stats. We participated in several government and think tank meetings on the future of immigration as we finalise our response to the Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) consultation on the Shortage Occupation list.

If you are concerned with meeting labour/skills needs, you can respond directly to the MAC online here or email policy@rec.uk.com to feed into REC’s response.

Diversity & Inclusion

We have not forgotten the key issues we were driving pre-COVID-19, including the diversity agenda. We participated in the latest Women and Work APPG meeting – discussing the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on women in the workplace. We are also still involved in discussions with DWP on the role of recruiters in the reinsertion of ex-offenders. Despite the COVID-19-related disruption to our jobs market, we will continue to drive the inclusive recruitment agenda and to showcase our industry’s role in making change happen.

Jobs Recovery Tracker

Tomorrow, Friday 22 May, we launch a new publication in partnership with Emsi, the labour market analysts. 

The Jobs Recovery Tracker will be published approximately every three weeks offering an up-to-date picture of how the jobs market is performing as we emerge from lockdown. This will help businesses, recruiters and policymakers to map how the labour market is evolving and growing as the economy starts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Upcoming events

To make sure you receive all the latest insight, join us at one of our upcoming online events:

02 June: High-Skilled and Office Professional Recruitment Webinar

17 June: Education Sector Webinar

18 June: Talking Recruitment Webinar