NEWS & ANALYSIS FMJ.CO.UK
LEGAL VIEW - WORKPLACE
6 JULY 2020
MITIE TO ACQUIRE INTERSERVE’S
SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
Mitie is set to
purchase
Interserve’s Support
Services division
for a combined
consideration of £271
million, comprising
£120 million in cash
and a 23.4 per cent
shareholding in Mitie
to be held by or on
behalf of Interserve’s
shareholders.
Completion of the transaction is subject to certain conditions, including
approval from Mitie’s shareholders. Should these conditions be satisfied within
the expected timeframe, the merger of Interserve Support Services is expected to
complete by the end of this year.
Interserve and Mitie are both leaders of the UK FM outsourcing industry.
The combined organisation will be evenly balanced between the public and
private sectors and will be the largest facilities management company in the UK,
employing over 77,500 people.
The Board of Interserve Group Limited believes that the proposed transaction
creates a larger and stronger UK FM business and is highly attractive to its
stakeholders, including its employees, customers, partners and shareholders.
Following completion of the transaction, Interserve Group Limited will continue
to focus on delivering its business plans for its three remaining divisions,
Construction, Interserve Construction Limited and Equipment Services (RMD
Kwikform) and Citizen Services. Alan Lovell will continue to lead Interserve Group
Limited as Chairman, supported by Mark Morris, Executive Director and Chief
Financial O icer.
VIRTUAL GOALS – 2020 RICS
STRATEGIC FM CONFERENCE
By now, many of us are used to ‘attending’ one to two-hour online webinars;
but the idea of a day-long online conference as hosted by IFMA-RICS on
16 June 2020 seemed an ambitious concept. However, as chaired by the
articulate and capable Rory Murphy, Commercial Director at VINCI Facilities,
with the theme for the day being Resilience at the frontline; the future of
FM, it delivered some interesting views on the current crisis, as well as
discussions on how the sector could fare in the months and years to come.
Along with many discussions on the role FM has played in helping to deal
with the current crisis, and how to prepare buildings and people for some
kind of return to the o ice, the conference programme included sessions
on wider FM issues, including the growing importance of wellbeing on
engagement and performance.
The closing keynote looked to the future, with a panel of the next
generation of FM leaders on the major shi s they think will transform the
profession. A perennial problem in FM is in encouraging people promoted
for their operational excellence to take on a more strategic, leadership
role, which is why people should be recruited with the necessary back end
management skills and given front end experience by working for a time in
an operational function.
Delivering a conference online wasn’t an easy task, there were a few
connection problems with some of the speakers, and the networking
aspect is null and void. But RICS delivered a thoughtful and inspiring virtual
conference which radiated a positive message on the direction of travel for
both the Institute and the FM sector as a whole. www.fmj.co.uk/virtualgoals
2020-rics-strategic-fm-conference/
HOW TO IMPLEMENT
STAGGERED SHIFTS
By Alan Price, employment law expert
and CEO of BrightHR
As lockdown measures lift, employees may begin to return to the
workplace, at least those who can’t continue in their role remotely.
However, Coronavirus presents a signifi cant operational problem,
especially for employees in an enclosed working space.
To help address this issue, you may want to consider a staggered
shift approach which will help meet workplace health & safety
considerations, while making it easier for your staff to return.
WHAT IS A STAGGERED SHIFT PATTERN?
It’s where a business plan for employees to start, and fi nish, work
at diff erent times, typically, it’ll take the same hours, but with a
change in their structure. During the coronavirus pandemic, it’s an
essential approach as it can help you control social distancing and
infection risk.
The staggered shifts consideration after Coronavirus lockdown is
something the government actively wants businesses to consider.
It’s particularly important if you’re in the retail industry, have a
bar or restaurant, or run an offi ce.
If you have a lot of employees, or they work in an enclosed
working area, then you can take this approach to make sure you
stick to the government’s rules.
Here are some of the advantages of this system:
It’ll help you and your staff fi x times when they (or you) want
to start and fi nish.
The approach will help avoid traffi c in your workplace,
particularly during peak hours, so, there will be no crowding
onto lifts or queues in the canteen.
In a quieter workplace, you can monitor your health & safety
procedures more eff ectively, as there are fewer people at any
given time.
It’ll ease pressure on employees, many of whom will feel
nervous about their return to work.
In short, you’ll have more control over how your business
functions. It may seem odd, but in eff ect, the fewer employees
you have at work, the better you can manage the situation. And
that can help your productivity. As well as minimise the risk of
infection.
A SAMPLE STAGGERED SHIFT SCHEDULE
How should you approach this system? Well, it’s a bit easier than
it looks. You can follow a certain structure. For example, you can
use the 5/4/9 plan. That’s a “compressed” work schedule. Your
employees will work nine-hour shifts—and one eight-hour day.
Making a total of 80 hours over a fortnight. There’s also the 4/10
schedule. Basically, it means staff work a 10-hour day over four
days. That’s during the course of a working week. That could lead
to a three-day weekend for employees as a result. But it depends
on when, during the working week, they take their extra day off
for the working hours they accumulate.
There’s also a four-week cycle, where your team works two
consecutive shifts. What follows that is two days off —then three
days back on. Before two more days off . That then heads around in
a rotating fashion, making for an unusual structure—but one that
provides you with room to control the coronavirus outbreak.
Ultimately, it’s down to your business—you can plan out what
you think works best as nothing is set in stone. But remember that
these aren’t just standard shifts—they can help you to limit the
threat of coronavirus.
You must also take all the other steps you can to support your
employees. The UK government advice may also change in time -
so, stay alert for updates.
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