But companies can limit their exposure to the public sector labour dispute, says expert
Public sector strikes on Thursday (June 30) could see up to 750,000 teachers and civil servants absent from work.
The strikes, which are over reforms to pensions and retirement age and wages, are likely to have a hugely disruptive effect on businesses across the UK.
Employees with children, for example, will need to decide what to do with their kids if they can’t go to school. And they may have to miss work themselves.
The National Union of Teachers predicts that 85% of schools in England and Wales will be at least partly closed.
In the London boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, though, 70% of schools will remain open. But in many more areas the percentage of schools able to stay open will be between 20% and 5%.
Prison and immigration officers are also expected to join the strikes.
Discussing the impact that the strike is likely to have on business Peter McHugh, CEO and founder of Covalent Software said that “low staff turnout will cause organisational chaos and limit [companies’] ability to operate.”
“Public sector bodies must trigger risk mitigation action plans as a matter of urgency”, he said.
The negative effects, he added, could be “felt for several days as departments struggle to compensate for the services left undelivered.”
In the current tough economic climate, industrial action could also have a significant impact on investor confidence and inward investment.
Given that June 30 could herald wider strikes in the autumn it’s worth organisations considering how they can limit their exposure to the strikes.
