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Covid-19 update
The Northern Ireland Engagement Forum was established by the Department for the Economy. It is chaired by the Labour Relations Agency and comprises the Confederation of British Industry, Chambers of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses NI, Institute of Directors, Manufacturing NI, NI Retail Consortium, the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, SOLACE, the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) and the Public Health Agency. The Forum advises the NI Executive on how best to manage the challenges Covid-19 places on NI businesses and workers.
The Forum has produced A Practical Guide to Making Workplaces Safer to support organisations and workers across Northern Ireland. We have also produced a Working from Home guide.
Key resources
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COVID-19 - Advice for Employers and Employees
As Coronavirus in Northern Ireland continues, It is important that businesses and workers know what their rights and responsibilities are when it comes to protecting staff and themselves from the spread of the virus.
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Webinar - Advice on Handling Redundancy
This webinar provides useful information and advice on the topic of redundancy. It illustrates how to ensure the process is managed fairly and in line with employment legislation.
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A Practical Guide to Working from Home: Covid-19 and beyond
This document provides guidance on how to manage regular or long-term working from home, which has been a requirement for many during the Covid pandemic, and may continue for some workers for the foreseeable future.
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Employer-Led Conciliation Service Non-Employment Tribunal (Non-ET) Interim Delivery Arrangements
In line with existing public health advice and the Agency’s consequent decision to halt all face-to-face contact between staff and service users it has been necessary to rethink the practical arrangements governing delivery of a number of the Agency’s services including the Employer-Led (Non-ET) Conciliation Service.
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Covid-19 Practical Guidance: The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)
This document provides some key facts about the CJRS, information about how to access the scheme, and some sample templates. Updated Dec '20.
Priority services
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Workplace Information Service
The Workplace Information Service, which provides information to employers and employees about employment matters – this service is available by telephoning 03300 555 300, or visit the information pages on this site.
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Early conciliation and employer-led conciliation
Further information on these services, and how to access them, is available here. These services will not, however, be delivered face to face.
Latest News
- GB's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has published the report from a review into workplace support for victims of domestic abuse and an open letter to employers.
- Furlough to remain open til 30 April 2021
- New law to ensure furloughed employees receive full redundancy payments
- Parents returning to work after maternity and paternity leave eligible for furlough
Our approach
Given the ongoing threat to public health posed by Covid-19, we have regrettably had to make a number of changes to the services provided by the Labour Relations Agency.
These changes are to protect the health and wellbeing of our staff and their families, and our customers. We also want to ensure that we continue to deliver those services that are of most importance to our customers at this critical time.
The Agency is not conducting face to face meetings with customers. We endeavour to hold meetings by alternative means such as video conferencing or teleconference. Our staff will, in general, be working remotely and our offices are closed to visitors.
The pandemic has caused a very significant increase in demand for Conciliation and our Workplace Information Service (03300 555 300). In order to cope with demand we have had to pause Mediations and Independent Appeals (apart from those relating to dismissal and redundancy). These will be reinstated when demand returns to normal levels or additional resources can be found.
Our programme of public and in-company seminars and workshops has also been postponed for the time being, but we are continuing to develop and publish webinars on key topics such as Redundancy, Mental Health and Discipline and Dismissal.
At this time we believe our approach to the threat is proportionate, but it may change depending on public health advice and the impact of the virus on our staff.
All Agency staff can continue to be contacted via email or via our main telephone number 03300 552 220. To make an Early Conciliation Notification go to https://ec-lra.org.uk or telephone 03300 552 224.