The HR Suite in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland
This document is intended to provide best practice guidelines rather than specific client advice.
The guide provides direction to Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Office and Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies on how they should manage the Covid-19 situation from an employer/employee perspective. It may also be relevant to other SME and large companies operating in Ireland.
What does this guide aim to do?
- Give good practice advice and support to SMEs to help them manage through the Covid-19 crisis
- Include up-to date legislative amendments
- Detail the pay arrangements that companies can put in place for ill or self-isolating employees
- Provide guidance on how to manage layoffs or short time work
- Outline alternative leave arrangements
- Provide templates for new policies and guidelines
'We recognize the Covid-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented and evolving time for businesses in Ireland and across the world. Companies, both large and small, are reporting serious challenges in relation to sustainability and growth.
Enterprise Ireland, along with our colleagues across Government, are making every effort to support companies in weathering the storm. All of our existing financial, operational and advisory supports remain in place to support you to address the challenges you are currently facing along with a suite of new funding supports to help companies adjust to immediate and future challenges.
During this period of uncertainty, it is important that all companies consider their role and obligations as an employer and, where possible, maintain levels of communication and engagement with employees.
This Employer Guide is intended to help you understand the HR needs of your business and your employees, as you face into this crisis, and put in place the necessary people policies and practices to support you transition through this difficult situation.
The guide provides direction on the diverse and urgent HR issues you may now face and provides templates for new policies and guidelines. It also includes information on financial supports and guidance on where more information is available. These financial supports include enterprise supports, wage subsidies, short time work support, unemployment and illness payments, and Revenue cashflow supports, all announced by the Government.
As further guidance, we have developed a Covid-19 resource hub on our eiLearn website. You can access relevant and daily updated articles, webinars and news at www.eilearn.ie/covid-19 If you have further queries, please contact your Development Advisor or our Business Response Team at businessresponse@enterprise-ireland.com or visit our Covid-19 information hub www.enterprise-ireland.com/businessresponse.
We wish you, your business and your employees well during this difficult period.'
Karen Hernández Senior Executive - People & Management, Enterprise Ireland