Important Notice to Clients, Colleagues and Community Members
In light of the rapidly evolving COVID-19 Pandemic, Havilah Legal has been monitoring the latest information to update all of the community who connect with us regarding the decisions that all businesses and the individuals who run them and work for them should be making at this difficult time.
What to Believe
We cannot emphasise enough that the information you should consider regarding the restrictions that the government is placing upon movement both interstate and internationally, social gatherings and medical information should be sourced from reputable official websites.
Links to appropriate websites are provided below this brief message.
Business at Havilah Legal
Our staff will largely be working from home over the next four weeks commencing 30 March 2020.
We have now upgraded our IT capacity to operate effectively in any workspace and will continue to service your inquiries and your needs.
We have transitioned our appointments to telephone or videoconferences depending on our client’s IT capacity. We can join any platform including MS teams, Zoom, Skype and Messenger.
We remain here for any ‘essential’ legal services including family, criminal and estate (wills), as well as processes for the verification of identity (for property, wills, court documents and new clients).
For the inevitable requirement to execute a document in person such as a will or power of attorney, we are taking some bold new steps to provide a safe environment for you, your loved ones and in particular, the elderly.
We will update you further as our arrangements are completed.
Your Business Continuity
There are lots of unknowns in business for ongoing employment, safety and the people who are impacted both by looming uncertainty in their employment or by the hard decisions that take away their income.
You will be eligible for help under the Commonwealth Government packages that you will find at the links below.
In addition to accessing your entitlements, everyone should also review their business continuity policies to ensure these are fit for the purpose of this pandemic allowing for the flexibility to call a complete shutdown of the workplace, as well as the likelihood that some of your team may need be absent at short notice.
Some key risks you might face include:
- employees being off work quite suddenly because they are in quarantine after travelling or they are caring for others, including children when schools shut down.
- unwell employees needing to be sent home, possibly with other colleagues they were working with.
- Your supply chain being disrupted business operations and impacting operations.
- Areas of the business needing to be shut down for a period so they aren’t burning cash.
Business Survival
The Government has released a range of packages that you can access right away. The most important may well be the tax concessions where employers and NFP’s will receive a payment equal to 100 per cent of their salary and wages withheld (up from 50 per cent), with the maximum payment being increased from $25,000 to $50,000.
Your Important Business and Health Information Sites
Commonwealth Government Support for Businesses
Fact Sheet for Emergency Relief for Business
World Health Organisation
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
Commonwealth Government Department of Health
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-resources
Smart Traveller (Australian Government)
https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/news-and-updates/coronavirus-covid-19
Everyone please follow the health advice and stay safe, and don’t hesitate to contact us through the website or on 08 9221 2339 for any legal assistance we can offer you.
Bruce
Bruce Havilah (Principal)
30 March 2020
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