Human Resources Issues for Senior Management
Issue link: https://digital.hrreporter.com/i/747024
CANADIAN HR STRATEGY/15 "If you do have EU nationals working for you, think about establishing whether they can acquire either British citizen- ship or permanent residence because under current law, once you've been here for ve years, you have the right to acquire permanent residence and you can usually become naturalized as British citizens." Such proactivity could help employers keep EU workers in the U.K., with less hassle. "If there was any attempt by Brexit in the next couple years to remove those employees, they'd have the right to stay," says Bronstein. FOCUS ON CULTURE Until the dust settles, employee stress amidst all the uncertain- ty is a genuine concern. "Leadership should minimize ambiguity as much as possible through internal and external communications to limit reten- tion issues and ensure maximum productivity during this chal- lenging period," says Verweij. There's also a need for clear and frequent communication about the company's plans. "Volatility will cause people to seek safety and security, and thus organizations should be checking in with employees fre- quently on their engagement levels," he says. "Con dence in the organization is consistently a strong driver of engagement; leadership needs to give employees reason to believe smoother waters are ahead." Hiring managers might want to prioritize certain attributes when considering onboarding new talent. "This event underscores the importance of being able to manage ambiguity in an agile manner," says Verweij. "Firms must assess for those capabilities when hiring." With many questions yet to be answered on the exit agree- ment, it's recommended employers monitor the developments closely, says Verweij, who points out the importance of con- sidering the legal, talent, operational and nancial implications and "developing scenarios for your organization, while keeping a tight watch on engagement and addressing employee con- cerns over Brexit as they arise." If you do have a workforce that comprises EU nationals in the U.K., you may well need to think quite hard about what you're going to do, says Bronstein, "and have your nger on the pulse to be aware of when potential rule changes are go- ing to transpire." Melissa Campeau is a Toronto-based freelance writer. LeNoury Law 199 Bay Street, Ste 4410, P.O. Box 372 Toronto Ontario. 416-926-1107 • Toll Free 1-877-926-1107 • lenourylaw.com Federally Regulated Employment Law Canada Labour Code Human Resources Advice Wrongful Dismissal Collective Bargaining Negotiations Collective Bargaining Arbitration Employment Standards Human Rights Complaints Occupational Health and Safety Workers' Compensation As Lead Counsel in the 2016 landmark Supreme Court decision affecting 10,000 federally regulated employers, James LeNoury is the acknowledged expert on this interpretation and its implications. Contact James to see if your firm needs to get up to date on the new law. LeNoury Law Employment and Labour Law JAMES LENOURY – EMPLOYMENT LAWYER OF THE YEAR feature/LABOUR MARKET