The July update from the Office of National Statistics states that the UK unemployment rate was estimated at 3.9%, 0.1 percentage points higher than the same period in 2019, however the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) changes at the end of August and employers are faced with making contributions to furlough pay.
This will keep the question of whether staff can return to work a top priority for employers and decisions will need to be made whether redundancies will be necessary before the Coronavirus Job Retention 
Scheme ends at the end of October.
Whilst it is important to comply with the legislative requirements of a redundancy process, it is equally important to remember to treat everyone with dignity, respect and kindness. In my experience, both parties find redundancy a difficult process and being compassionate can make a significant difference to how everyone involved copes.
The ‘survivors’ are another key group to remember, because those remaining in the business are likely to find it an unsettling experience to see their colleagues being laid off and they may also feel their own job security is at risk.
If you would like to talk through how changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme may impact your business, please contact us to see how you can develop a compassionate process and retain your valuable reputation.