Many employees, from the UK and EU, are worried about how the workplace will be affected by Brexit. Foreseeably, Brexit is likely to push a lot of EU workers to return to their native countries; creating fragmentation within the dynamics of a once strong-knit and steady workforce.
With all of the changes, HR may be required more than ever to provide the support that every workplace will need in this turbulent post-Brexit timeframe.
Recent reports show that there are approximately 2.28 million EU Citizens currently working within the UK which represents 7% of the UK’s overall workforce. Therefore following from Brexit, it is likely that businesses nationwide will be impacted, in which the turn to HR for assistance will be more prevalent now than ever.
What Can HR Do For Businesses During the Post-Brexit Period?
There are many factors that may need to be considered by HR professionals when handling the working environment of any businesses, such as;
- EU Employees leaving businesses at a rapid rate.
- Current employees feeling demotivated in their working environment due to changes.
- Business operations being minimalized so to adjust to the changing working environment.
As a transition period will last until 31st December 2020 following from the UK’s exit from the EU in March 2019, it is fundamental that every business invests in strong HR policies and adjoining framework, so that all are prepared for the foreseeable times to come.
Generally, in the lead up to Brexit, most EU nationals currently living within the UK shall be applying for settled or pre-settled status, in which shall also give most businesses an approximate overview of how drastically their workplace environment may change.
Following from this, some employers may also desire to assist with their current EU employees settled status application, so that the working environment remains consistent from the UKs exit from the EU next year.
About the Author
Portia Vincent-Kirby is the Legal PA and Public Relations Co-Ordinator at Hudson McKenzie. Portia specializes in handling the firm’s articles and newsletter, as well as managing the general PR of the firm overall.