Yesterday the Prime Minister announced a change to the Government’s message to employers in England on which employees should attend work. The Prime Minister said that employees should still work at home if possible, but that “anyone who cannot work from home, for instance those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work”. He also said that employees should “avoid using public transport if at all possible”.
The Governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have not currently adopted the same message of encouraging employees to go to work if they cannot work from home.
The guidance across the UK remains that employers should allow employees to work from home if possible, to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) .
Employers have a duty to do everything reasonably practicable to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees at work. Therefore, employers should not ask employees to return to the workplace until they have put in place effective measures to prevent coronavirus infection.
Further government guidance for employers on making workplaces “COVID-secure” is expected to be published this afternoon in the meantime in an attempt to simplify the revised guidance here are the six steps.
* Whilst observing social distancing
Many businesses will be unable to reopen due to continuing restrictions, for example in the hospitality and entertainment sectors.
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