Challenges faced by company secretaries during lockdown and

Challenges faced by company secretaries during lockdown and COVID-19 Syeda Farha Hashmi 221010081/11/2010

Crisis on employment and business poses unprecedented challenges for company secretaries. When in lockdown, the most important thing that in company secretaries should be doing is continuing to work with operations to ensure that all employment actions are compliant MAIN CHALLENGES FACED BY COMPANIES SECRETRIES? For example, as the stay-at-home orders continue to be implemented and extended, decisions regarding temporary and permanent layoffs, which could implicate the federal or state, need to be monitored. The continued impact of the coronavirus crisis on employment and business poses unprecedented challenges for company secretaries and law professionals as well.

As the lockdown restrictions are beginning to ease, many of the company secretaries are considering when and how (and maybe even "if") they should return to their offices and "normal" working practices. We examine the likely short-term and long-term challenges faced by law firms in the "post lockdown" world. Short term challanges Long term challanges • Company Secretaries firms had quickly to transfer their fee earners • and staff to remote working, and (despite some inevitable IT challenges) most firms managed this transition successfully. • How might working practices change in the future? • For some firms and staff, the experience of remote working on a long-term basis has been a pleasant surprise. • Some have enjoyed skipping the commute, and have increased their productivity. • Others though have found working from home to be a lonely experience, • and they have missed the opportunity to meet with their colleagues and clients in person.

Company Secretaries professionals will need to prepare for a potential second wave of lockdown if there is a resurgence of coronavirus before a vaccine is ready. What to do to prepare for when the workforce comes out of lockdown? Company Secretaries have to clarify the post emergency plan as soon as possible, including various different measures to be taken at the ‘come out’ date. It will be necessary to keep in mind that the emergency will last for months and activities must be monitored for the whole period.

Østress issues, Øpotential layoff Or Ø working time reductions Ø and increase illness rates Ø to create a plan to manage them. ØIt is important to prepare people to work from remote for an extended time. Ø This includes evaluating people working remotely and organising teams Øaccordingly, supplying devices and VPNs, etc. ØFor non-remote work, consideration should be given to the layout of the workplace Øhow to ensure it complies with social distancing Ø and the use of protective equipment.

ØIn INDIA, the virus is affecting the business in different sectors in various ways and to varying extents. ØAlthough there is currently no lockdown, Øthe recommendation is for employees to work from home to the extent possible and limit social contacts both professionally and privately as much as possible. Personal responsibility (‘common sense’) is especially emphasised. ØWith regards to lay-offs etc. , there is a possibility to apply for short time allowance from the state, where employees will have reduced salary and working time and the company receives a state contribution for salary costs. ØThese measures must be assessed in conjunction with considerations around any terminations that are necessary due to redundancy. ØEmployers in Company Secretaries firm still need to plan for the usual vacation period. are entitled to, and should take, at least four weeks of vacation from 1 June-31 August. The aim is for employer and employees to agree on how to allocate vacation but if an agreement cannot be reached, the decision is the employer’s. ØWhen it comes to cyber-security and data protection, this must be addressed, especially when employees are working from home. If HR departments do not have any policy regarding data security, it could be a good idea to prepare one.