A short poem about Employment law in 2020
Hmmm what rhymes with furlough......
Please indulge me a moment, I hope it won’t be a chore,
but I would like to share my poem about 2020 Employment law!
We can all agree 2020 has been naughty, not nice,
And has required us Employment lawyers to think more than twice.
It’s been a year like no other, quite unprecedented,
Home working policies, hastily reviewed, and implemented.
With home WiFi receipt expenses submitted to HR,
And the kitchen table transformed to an office, then to an after-work bar.
Interactions have continued without the need for a boardroom,
Thanks to technology, and world domination of Zoom.
WhatsApp has provided a useful form of staff communication,
But the tone must be professional, and avoid all flirtation!
Disciplinary procedures are still needed to resolve any trouble,
Including those wayward staff flouting rules about their bubble.
At first we thought Furlough was a just a term used in horse races,
But we quickly learnt all the rules for the many different cases.
And then Furlough was introduced on a fixed-term, and soon, extended,
So our HMRC correspondence has all been amended.
Employer Health and Safety policies now reference wearing masks,
With temperature check requirements a mandatory task.
And we haven’t forgotten to keep GDPR in mind,
Staff temperatures are “personal data” so collect responsibly to avoid a fine!
With the downturn in the economy in Employer’s contemplations,
Reorganisations are resulting in redundancy consultations.
But looking at alternatives to redundancy can sometimes reveal,
A continuation of employment in another form, which may have appeal.
Mental health has suffered this year, it’s another sad fact,
So we are training clients about the definition of “disability” in the Equality Act.
And as for Brexit and Employment law, whilst some may not have a clue,
We are busy in preparations and we’ll be ready for you!
2020 has been a long year but we have worked hard with pride,
Have a Happy New Year everyone, we’ll Zoom you on the other side!
