Dear Business Manager,
We are delighted that our lobbying to speed up the reopening of business has paid off, and the Government has listened to us. However, it is most important as you reopen your business that you don’t put yourself, your employees or your customers at risk. Check out the necessary information and procedures on our Coronavirus page and our dedicated Back To Business Portal.
Our HR provider has also put together a list of FAQs concerning COVID-19. Topics covered include health and safety obligations, annual leave and discretionary travel, absence from work and payment obligations, cost-saving measures, entitlements and supports, statutory redundancy, long term absence and protected leave, employee relations during COVID-19, returning to work – safety protocols. You can view the FAQs here.
If you have difficulty logging into the ISME website to access any of this information, please email [email protected] to reset your information or to assist you in setting up a new account.
In a recent survey, we found that 88% of members said that they would be willing to participate in ‘captive’ insurers, which are owned and operated by themselves via an independent broker. We have asked ISME member, Sluamor Ltd, to coordinate the process of sourcing provider(s) for these services. Parties interested in responding to the EOI can find it here.
We are now in a critical phase of Brexit. Japan has given the UK a six-week window to conclude a take-it-or-leave-it trade deal. So far, there is no sign that the UK is engaging on a realistic basis with the EU or other potential trading partners. You MUST work based on a hard, WTO-style Brexit, and plan accordingly. Our Brexit Page will point you in the right direction. Remember- tariffs are a known problem but you also must prepare for non-tariff barriers like standards and declarations. If you have not done so, please avail of the Start to Plan Voucher provided by InterTrade Ireland.
ISME Skillnet continues to provide free online training to help you navigate these uncertain times. Next week they will run three courses:
- Workplace Wellbeing In Post-COVID World
- Understanding Your COVID-19 Compliance Responsibilities
- Standing Out From The Crowd – Creating and Understanding Your USPs
To register for these free webinars and to view the upcoming sessions in July please click here.
As part of our Back to Business campaign ISME recently ran an oversubscribed ‘Pitch my Business’ session. These events are free and open to all where you can network and promote your company. The next event will take place on 16th July 11.30 am. Registration will open here on Monday 6th of July and spaces are limited. You can also watch the last session back at the same link.
Lastly, ISME gets nowhere without the lobbying power of YOU the members. Whether the 33rd Dáil lasts or not, we need you to get on top of your TDs and let them know we need ACTION from them. I have drawn up a sample email for you [HERE] which you can cut-and-paste into an email to your TD. Do it as soon as you finish reading this mail!
Thank you,
Neil McDonnell
ISME CEO
