We have started a new segment allowing managers to ask questions that will be answered directly by our CEO, Darcy Swift. This month’s question is:
QUESTION: In recent months I was forced to furlough a number of employees with the intention of eventually bringing them back once we are financially able. I am now in a position to call back my team but many of them are refusing to come back to work. They say they are making more money with Unemployment and are trying to leverage that for raises. What should I do? Should I negotiate or just find new employees? I really like the team I have. They work well together, know the systems and are highly skilled. I feel stuck, I don’t really want to train new people but don’t have the budget to offer raises.
ANSWER: Unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic affected the entire world in many different ways. One way this impacted businesses was financially. Most businesses had to furlough most of their staff with the intention of bringing them back. And while I know we all want to keep our good employees, we can’t force people to come back to work. A good piece of information to share with those furloughed employees, is that if they are offered an opportunity to come back to work and decline, they run the risk of losing their unemployment.
The unemployment benefits surrounding the corona virus were designed to help people get through the rough parts of this pandemic. It was not designed for people to stay home once their job was available again. If they no longer have a job, they run the risk of no longer having unemployment benefits.
Still, if you share this information with your employees, they may choose to remain home. Negotiation at this point during the rebuild from the pandemic in most cases is not an option. I would be more inclined to rehire. Start with offering the positions back to your employees, letting them know that it is their decision but you are prepared to move forward without them. You have to protect yourself and your business.
If you have a question you want answered, please contact us here. We will feature one frequently asked question a month.
We have started a new segment allowing managers to ask questions that will be answered directly by our CEO, Darcy Swift. This month’s question is:
QUESTION: In recent months I was forced to furlough a number of employees with the intention of eventually bringing them back once we are financially able. I am now in a position to call back my team but many of them are refusing to come back to work. They say they are making more money with Unemployment and are trying to leverage that for raises. What should I do? Should I negotiate or just find new employees? I really like the team I have. They work well together, know the systems and are highly skilled. I feel stuck, I don’t really want to train new people but don’t have the budget to offer raises.
ANSWER: Unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic affected the entire world in many different ways. One way this impacted businesses was financially. Most businesses had to furlough most of their staff with the intention of bringing them back. And while I know we all want to keep our good employees, we can’t force people to come back to work. A good piece of information to share with those furloughed employees, is that if they are offered an opportunity to come back to work and decline, they run the risk of losing their unemployment.
The unemployment benefits surrounding the corona virus were designed to help people get through the rough parts of this pandemic. It was not designed for people to stay home once their job was available again. If they no longer have a job, they run the risk of no longer having unemployment benefits.
Still, if you share this information with your employees, they may choose to remain home. Negotiation at this point during the rebuild from the pandemic in most cases is not an option. I would be more inclined to rehire. Start with offering the positions back to your employees, letting them know that it is their decision but you are prepared to move forward without them. You have to protect yourself and your business.
If you have a question you want answered, please contact us here. We will feature one frequently asked question a month.