Colliers to furlough UK staff

Colliers International has become the latest agency to announce plans to furlough staff as the coronavirus pandemic continues. The agency said it is “reviewing options” to furlough some employees under the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, describing the move as helping it to “protect the business in the long-term and support affected employees until a functioning business environment gains traction”. Colliers did not confirm how many staff or which teams will be affected. Tony Horrell, Colliers’ chief executive for the UK and Ireland, said: “We believe these necessary short-term actions will allow us to continue to be efficient, while providing us with the fortitude our business needs to continue to deliver high standards of client service across all our business lines. Our priority, as always, is the health and wellbeing of our people, clients and communities.” As the pandemic worsens, many property companies and agencies have either made redundancies or furloughed staff. “All of the larger firms will have to do something like this; either to make staff redundant, cut salaries or other [cash-preserving] measures,” one agent told EG.   To send feedback, e-mail tim.burke@egi.co.uk or tweet @_tim_burke or @estatesgazette