Two years on from the UK entering lockdown for the first time, March proved to be a significant month as the Russian invasion of Ukraine the previous month caused untold chaos.
In HR controversy followed P&O Ferries' mass redundancies; the Parker Review highlighted diversity issues in FTSE 100 companies, and women's menstrual health got some time in the spotlight during Endometriosis Action Month.
Ukraine crisis: how HR can help refugees
The impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine was felt in March as United Nations (UN) data revealed 2.8 million people fled the country and became refugees.
Businesses in the UK started doing their part to help, as the likes of M&S, Asos and Lush made pledges to hire more refugees.
The government also launched the Homes for Ukraine scheme on 12 March, whereby people, charities, communities and businesses were given grants to host Ukrainian families and individuals.
P&O firings: ‘breath-taking’ redundancy decision may prove costly
On 17 March, ferry company P&O Ferries sacked 800 staff with immediate effect.
The company then decided to replace fired employees with agency workers, in an attempt to circumvent the established expectation of seeking to renegotiate terms with existing employees and their representatives.
The scandal put more pressure on the government to follow through on plans to introduce the long promised Employment Bill, which was eventually removed from the government agenda altogether in 2022.
FTSE 100 disappoints on Parker Review diversity goal
The annual Parker Review into diversity in businesses found eleven FTSE 100 companies had failed to meet the target of having at least one director from a minority ethnic background by December 2021.
FTSE 250 companies were given the same target of having least one director from a minority ethnic background, with a deadline of 2024.
Endometriosis action month: women don't open up about menstrual health
Endometriosis UK released research which found 47% of women were concerned about discussing their menstrual health issues with their employers, while 56% of women aged 25-34 felt uncomfortable discussing endometriosis with their employer if they were taking time off due to painful periods and chronic pelvic pain.
The condition affects one in 10 women, yet it takes an average of eight years for someone to be officially diagnosed in the UK.
The best bits of HR magazine from March 2022:
How HR can help dyslexic employees
Building decent work for ethnic minorities, part one
Building decent work for ethnic minorities, part two
Employment law changes in April: everything you need to know
