Cutting Workforce Costs | redundancies, settlements and changing T&Cs

With statutory pay increases coming into effect in April, mounting inflation expected to reach 7% this year, slow post-pandemic recovery and rising energy bills, many employers are taking necessary steps to reduce operational costs.

For some, recruitment freezes and letting go of contingent staff may be enough to keep things on track. However, further measures may still be needed in a bid to increase profitability, offset funding losses and right-size teams.

In this webinar, you’ll learn the various options and processes employers need to consider when carrying out cost-cutting exercises, plus the potential pitfalls that could lead to discrimination and unfair dismissal claims.

31 March at 14:00

According to a recent survey, 33% of owner-managed businesses in the UK are planning to make redundancies now the safety net of furlough has been removed, with most planning to shed on average 45% of their workforce.

For many companies, their employees are their greatest asset but also their largest expense, so it’s hardly surprising that this is where many employers start when contemplating cutbacks. It’s worth noting that there are many creative ways employers can approach cost-cutting exercises, from restructuring teams by making some roles redundant to agreeing adjustments to pay, bonuses and hours. As a result of remote working, some employers are even questioning whether they can legally pay employees less on the grounds that they no longer have to commute to a location of work.

Cost-cutting exercises where workforces are concerned are never an easy decision, so it’s vital that you consider all available options available and understand how to navigate each of these correctly to avoid disputes and legal action.

In this free 45-minute webinar, Employment Law Adviser and Solicitor Tina Byrne will help you get to grips with the legal dos and don’ts and guide you through:

How to conduct a fair redundancy process – including collective consultation requirements
When to consider a settlement agreement, what this should include, and what to do if an employee refuses an offer
Changing terms and conditions of employment, including pay, hours, bonuses or other benefits and job titles or duties
Common mistakes employers make when seeking to cut costs and how to avoid them

At the end of the session, Tina will be taking your questions in a live Q&A. In recognition of the limited time available, we recommend submitting these in advance so we can answer as many as possible during the session.

Register below

About our host

Tina is a qualified employment solicitor who works with a diverse range of clients in sectors including manufacturing, care, vets and hotels and has a keen interest in building strong and lasting relationships with her clients, whilst providing advice that is clear and practical in approach.

Tina can advise on all areas of employment law and has a particular interest in restrictive covenants.

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