Keeping Workplaces Safe when Restrictions Ease on 19th July

Announcements this week, highlighting that the Government will no longer ask employees to work from home after 19th July, has left employers unsure of the best course of action.

The current Government guidance on going to work is that people should continue to work from home if possible. Specific information is also available for areas where a new variant is spreading.

However, post-July 19th, the government maintains that businesses should continue to follow the relevant guidance on working safely and continue with measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

In summary, the following workplace controls remain unchanged:

Adequate ventilation
Frequent cleaning
Good hand hygiene
Working safely
Maintaining a safe distance

After completing a COVID risk assessment, workplaces should continue with these measures.

Advice from Public Health and Other Departments

The UK government has introduced several measures to support with reducing transmission of COVID-19, including:

Vaccinations

The NHS is offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people in order of who's most at risk.

ACAS offer clear advice around vaccinations and the workplace, including:

Employers should support staff in getting the COVID-19 vaccine once it's offered to them.
There's currently no law that says people must have the vaccine, even if an employer would prefer someone to have it. There may be some people who are advised not to have the vaccine, for example for health reasons.

There's currently no law that says people must have the vaccine, even if an employer would prefer someone to have it. There may be some people who are advised not to have the vaccine, for example for health reasons.

The Government has recently confirmed that vaccinations will be mandatory in Care Quality Commission registered care homes from October, with a 16 week grace period.

Workplace Testing

It isn’t a legal requirement to test staff for COVID-19, but some employers might want to bring in testing as part of their workplace policy.

If you want to test staff, you must follow a process to cover yourself from a legal perspective and speak with your people, a recognised trade union, and/ or employee representatives.

Track and Trace

The NHS COVID-19 app is an important part of NHS Test and Trace. People can check symptoms, order a test, receive results and advice, and check in to venues. The app sends anonymous alerts if the user has been in close contact with another app user who has tested positive and will notify them that they should self-isolate. This is to help break chains of transmission.

If a worker has received a notification to self-isolate, they should not attend the workplace because they may be infectious and spread the virus.

It is your duty to ensure that your people self-isolate if you are aware that they:

tested positive for COVID-19
have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, and they have received a notification to self-isolate from NHS Test and Trace

Failure to do so could result in your firm facing a fine, starting from £1,000.

Face coverings

Although the government will not be mandating the use of face coverings from 19th July onwards, they are still strongly recommended as a public health protection measure intended to help protect others.

How Danton HR Can Help

Our team can offer advice around talking to your people about returning to the workplace and keeping it secure. We can provide examples of the type of questions to ask, to help them understand the risks and reduce the risk of transmission.

This could include talking about changes in your workplace, such as new rules, one-way systems, and arrival / leaving times.

Speak to Danton HR today about your situation and we will tailor policies and HR practices to suit the needs of your business in light of COVID-19.