Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said people should work from home where possible as part of a range of stringent new measures to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, which include prohibiting the opening of Cafes, Pubs and Nightclubs.
Daily Briefing –financial support for employers to keep people in work
At yesterday’s daily briefing (20th March), Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled an “unprecedented” set of financial measures to support the UK economy and employers through the coronavirus pandemic.
The government will pay the wages of employees unable to work due to the coronavirus pandemic, in a radical move aimed at protecting people's jobs.
It will pay 80% of salary for staff who are kept on by their employer, covering wages of up to £2,500 a month.
The "unprecedented" measures will stop workers being laid off due to the crisis, chancellor Rishi Sunak said.
Firms have warned the virus could see them collapse, wiping out thousands of jobs, as life in the UK is put on hold.
Mr Sunak said closing pubs and restaurants would have a "significant impact" on businesses.
It is understood that the wage subsidy will apply to firms where bosses have already had to lay off workers due to the coronavirus, as long as they are brought back into the workforce and instead granted a leave of absence.
The chancellor said the move would mean workers should be able to keep their jobs, even if their employer could not afford to pay them.
He said they were "unprecedented measures for unprecedented times."
"I know that people are worried about losing their jobs, about not being able to pay the rent or mortgage, about not having enough set by for food and bills... to all those at home right now, anxious about the days ahead, I say this: you will not face this alone," Mr Sunak added
The wages cover, which relates to gross pay, will be backdated to the start of March and last for three months, but Mr Sunak said he would extend the scheme for longer "if necessary".
The scheme, which will be run by HMRC, is expected to make the first grants to businesses "within weeks", a Treasury spokeswoman said.
Recent developments
Britons urged to avoid non-essential travel abroad
British nationals should avoid all non-essential foreign travel to tackle the spread of coronavirus, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised. The travel restrictions will be in place for 30 days initially but could be extended, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the House of Commonson 17 March.
Mr Raab said the decision came after stringent social measures to tackle the virus were announced.New government structures to coordinate response to coronavirusThe Prime Minister has set up new ministerial structures to coordinate, prioritise and respond to the coronavirus pandemic across government. Four new implementation committees focusing on health, public sector preparedness, economy and International response, will feed into a new daily C-19 meeting, which will be chaired by the Prime Minister.Recognising coronavirus presents unique challenges economically, internationally and across a wide range of sectors, the four implementation committees are:The implementation committees will regularly meet with key representatives from relevant sectors to inform their decision making.Healthcare: chaired by the Health Secretary to focus on the preparedness of the NHS, notably ensuring capacity in the critical care system for those worst affected, the medical and social package of support for those to whom we will be providing the new shielding regime;General Public Sector: chaired by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to look at preparedness across the rest of the public and critical national infrastructure, excluding the NHS;Economic and Business: chaired by the Chancellor, with the Business Secretary as deputy chair, to consider economic and business impact and response, including supply chain resilience. It will also coordinate roundtables with key sectors to be chaired by relevant Secretaries of State;International: chaired by the Foreign Secretary, to consider our international response to the crisis through the G7, G20 and other mechanisms, including like-minded groups, and the UK five-point plan.
Emergency bill to strengthen coronavirus (COVID-19) response plans
Emergency measures to give ministers powers to take the right action at the right time to respond effectively to the progress of the coronavirus outbreak will be introduced to Parliament this week, the Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has said.
The measures in the coronavirus bill are temporary, proportionate to the threat, will only be used when strictly necessary and will be in place for as long as required to respond to the situation.See below for more details.
Other developments:
People over the age of 70Other adults who would normally be advised to have the flu vaccine (such as those with chronic diseases);Pregnant women.
British engineering firms have been called on to switch to making medical ventilators to help efforts to cope with the virus, which causes the disease Covid-19;The government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said that, despite the upcoming Mother’s Day celebration, the over-70s should avoid having Sunday lunch with their families;He also advised people taking painkillers to use paracetamol instead of ibuprofen, after French health officials indicated anti-inflammatory drugs could worsen the virus – a suggestion Sir Patrick said “may or may not be right”;The government is to grant permission for pubs and restaurants to operate as takeaways as part of coronavirus response. Click herefor more information;The Euro 2020 football tournament has been postponed.Chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty advises that the group of people who should take “particular care to minimise their social contact” are:
Many businesses have begun to embrace the idea of flexible working and working from home and, in the current climate, more and more of us may find ourselves plunged into doing so for longer than the one to two days a week, which employers and employees adapt to fairly easily, potentially leading to increased work-related stress and mental health conditions for employers.
It is predicted that by 2020, half of UK’s workforce will work from home, according to the Office for National Statistics. SHP, Barbour EHS and The Healthy Work Company have compiled a home working hub to provide research, case studies, videos and resources to enable you to lead this transition in a way which safeguards the health and wellbeing of your teams and maximises the opportunity to embrace new ways of working for the future and how to maintain a positive mental health and limit stress, as well as helpting to create a healthy workplace for individuals.
COVID-19: stay at home guidance
People with symptoms that may be caused by coronavirus, and do not require hospital treatment, who must remain at home until they are well;Those living in households with someone who shows symptoms that may be caused by coronavirus.
How do I know if I have coronavirus?
Travel plans
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated its guidance for British people travelling and living overseas following the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), updating the section ‘Travel Checklist’under the sub-heading“Before you go”.
Latest figures
According to the World Health Organization’s latest Situation Report [17 March 2020], there are:
Global cases
179,112 confirmed;7,426 deaths.
European Region
64,189 confirmed;3 108 deaths.
Figures from Worldometer show:
UK
1,950 confirmed;71 deaths.
Ireland
292 confirmed;2 deaths.
Other related content from SHP and IFSEC Global
Can employers be prosecuted if employees are exposed to COVID-19?
Amidst all the coronavirus headlines, some commentators have speculated that employers may be about to face prosecution if they don’t take all precautions possible to protect staff and third parties from infection. Is this really the case, find out here?
Supermarkets ask customers to stop stockpiling
UK retailers including Tesco and Sainsbury’s urge customers to resist stockpiling due to coronavirus, which is disrupting supply chains, SHD Logistics Editor Kirsty Adams spoke to the Chief Executive officer of cold chain operator Fowler Welch and two renowned supply chain academics about the risk, resilience and preparation behind grocery warehousing and supply.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled a £30bn package to help the economy get through the coronavirus outbreak in his Budget on 11 March. He added that the NHS would get “whatever resources it needs”.
The measures put in place to mitigate the effect of the coronavirus outbreak include:
£5bn emergency response fund to support the NHS and other public services;Statutory sick pay will be paid to all those who choose to self-isolate, even if they don’t have symptoms;Those on employee benefits who get ill will be able to “claim from day one instead of day eight”;A £500m “hardship fund” to be given to local authorities to help vulnerable people in their areas;Firms with fewer than 250 staff will be refunded for sick pay payments for two weeks;Small and medium-sized businesses will be able to access “business interruption” loans of up to £1.2m;Business rates will be abolished for firms in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors with a rateable value below £51,000. The measure will apply to firms including shops, cinemas, restaurants and hotels;“Fiscal loosening” of £18bn to support the economy this year, taking the total fiscal stimulus to £30bn.
Coronavirus pandemic
On 11 March, the outbreak was labelled a coronavirus pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the number of cases outside China had increased 13-fold over the past two weeks. He said he was “deeply concerned” by “alarming levels of inaction” over the virus.
A pandemic is a disease that is spreading in multiple countries around the world at the same time.
Local elections postponed
The government has announced that May’s local and mayoral elections in England will be postponed for a year due to the coronavirus outbreak. It comes after the Electoral Commission said the polls should be delayed until the autumn to “mitigate” the impact of the virus.
Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19
The World Health Organization has set out guidance on how businesses and employers can help to stop the spread of the new coronavirus disease.How does coronavirus spread? When someone who has COVID-19 coughs or exhales they release droplets of infected fluid. Most of these droplets fall on nearby surfaces and objects – such as desks, tables or telephones.People could catch COVID-19 by touching contaminated surfaces or objects – and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. If they are standing within one meter of a person with COVID-19 they can catch it by breathing in droplets coughed out or exhaled bythem. In other words, COVID-19 spreads in a similar way to flu.Preventing coronavirus in the workplace
The guidance stresses that employers should start taking these the following measures now, even if COVID-19 has not arrived in the communities where they operate:
Make sure your workplaces are clean and hygienic.
Surfaces (eg desks and tables) and objects (eg telephones, keyboards) need to be wiped with disinfectant regularly.Promote regular and thorough hand-washing by employees, contractors and customers.
Put sanitizing hand rub dispensers in prominent places around the workplace. Make sure these dispensers are regularly refilled;Display posters promoting hand-washing;Offer guidance from occupational health and safety officers;Make sure that staff, contractors and customers have access to places where they can wash their hands with soap and water.Promote good respiratory hygiene in the workplace.
Display posters promoting respiratory hygiene. Combine this with other communication measures;Ensure tissues are available at your workplaces, for those who develop a runny nose or cough at work, along with closed bins for hygienically disposing of them;Advise employees and contractors to consult national travel plans before going on business trips.Brief your employees, contractors and customers that if COVID-19 starts spreading in your community anyone with even a mild cough or low-grade fever (37.3 C or more) needs to stay at home.
Make clear to employees that they will be able to count this time off as sick leave.
The guidance goes on to advise on procedures for employees who travel (before travelling, during and after), and sets out advice for getting a business ready should COVID-19 arrive in the workplace. It is stressed that simple a precautionary measure and planning can make a big difference. Action now will help protect your employees and your business.
Your organisation is now making preparations for the coming coronavirus pandemic and you are deluged with specific concerns, information and action plans that need to be developed. Amongst the many questions being asked by the Board, should be a cut through question: ‘What are our health and safety criminal law obligations in dealing with the Coronavirus, what do we have to do and how can we protect ourselves from blame if we get it wrong?’
Coronavirus action plan. A guide to what you can expect across the UK
In February, the government declared coronavirus a “serious and imminent threat” to public health, as it announced new powers to fight its spread. Under the measures, people can now be forcibly quarantined and will not be free to leave.On 3 March, the government revealed its coronavirus action plan. It believes that in a “stretching scenario”, up to a fifth of the workforce may be off sick during the peak of an epidemic.Some points from the government’s briefing include the following:A possible delay strategy could be used to move the peak of the outbreak to warmer months so that it does not overlap with normal flu and allows more time for research;There are plans ready for a range of outcomes, from mild pandemic with low impact on services (like Swine Flu in 2009) through to severe and prolonged pandemic;There are plans for the Ministry of Defence to provide support to Civilian Authorities if requested;If the disease becomes established in the UK, further measures to be considered include closing schools, home working and reducing large-scale gatherings;Police would concentrate on serious crimes and maintaining public order if a lot of officers are on sick leave, in the case of the disease being fully established;There could well be an increase in deaths, particularly amongst the vulnerable and elderly;Concessions may be made by tax officials if businesses struggle to pay tax bills;Some non-urgent care in the NHS may be delayed to focus on treating coronavirus patients;Recently retired doctors and nurses may be called back to work.While the vast majority of patients will have a mild to moderate illness, similar to seasonal flu, a minority will require hospital care and a small proportion could die, the plans warn.
The policy paper, issued by the Department of Health and Social Care, details what the health and social care system across the UK has done to tackle the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, and what it plans to do next.
It is based on the government’s experience dealing with other infectious diseases and its influenza pandemic preparedness work. It is stressed that the exact response to coronavirus (COVID-19) will be tailored to the nature, scale and location of the threat in the UK, as understanding of this develops.
This document sets out:
What is known about the virus and the disease it causes;How government have planned for an infectious disease outbreak such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak;The actions taken so far in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak;What government are planning to do next, depending on the course the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak takes;The role the public can play in supporting this response, now and in the future.
The current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which began in December 2019, presents a significant challenge for the entire world, says the Department. The UK government and devolved administrations, including the health and social care system, have planned extensively over the years for an event like this, it says. Therefore, it is stressed that the UK is well prepared to respond in a way that offers substantial protection to the public.
The initial response to the outbreak had the fundamental objectives to deploy phased actions to Contain, Delay, and Mitigate any outbreak, using Research to inform policy development. The different phases, types and scale of actions depends upon how the course of the outbreak unfolds over time, said the plan. The overall phases of the plan to respond to COVID-19 are as follows:
Contain: detect early cases, follow up close contacts, and prevent the disease taking hold in this country for as long as is reasonably possible;
Delay: slow the spread in this country, if it does take hold, lowering the peak impact and pushing it away from the winter season;
Research: better understand the virus and the actions that will lessen its effect on the UK population; innovate responses including diagnostics, drugs and vaccines; use the evidence to inform the development of the most effective models of care;
Mitigate: provide the best care possible for people who become ill, support hospitals to maintain essential services and ensure ongoing support for people ill in the community to minimise the overall impact of the disease on society, public services and on the economy.
Ultimately, the response to COVID-19 is guided by the international situation, the advice of organisations such as the WHO, surveillance, data modelling based on the best available evidence and the recommendations of expert bodies.
System wide response plans for pandemic influenza, focused on the continuity of public and critical services and the stability of the economy, have been adapted for COVID-19, based on the best available scientific evidence and advice. Click here for the latest information on the current situation.
It is stressed that the nature and scale of the response depends on the course of the disease, which cannot be predicted accurately at this point. As understanding of the disease increases and its impact becomes clearer, the government will issue further detailed advice about what to expect if/when further measures become necessary.
Coronavirus delay phase
In addition to actions taken as part of the Contain phase, the plan emphasises the actions that people can be taking themselves to help delay the peak of the infection; especially washing hands more; and the catch it, bin it, kill it strategy for those with coughs and sneezes.
Delaying the spread of the disease requires everyone to follow the advice set out in this document. The benefits of doing so are that if the peak of the outbreak can be delayed until the warmer months, the risk of overlapping with seasonal flu and other challenges (societal or medical) that the colder months bring can be significantly reduced.
The role the public can play
The plan stresses that everyone can help support the UK’s response by:
Following public health authorities’ advice, for example on hand washing;Reducing the impact and spread of misinformation by relying on information from trusted sources;Checking and following the latest FCO travel advice when travelling and adhering to travel plans;Ensuring you and your family’s vaccinations are up to date as this will help reduce the pressure on the NHS/HSCNI through reducing vaccine-preventable diseases;Checking on elderly or vulnerable family, friends and neighbours using NHS 111 (or NHS 24 in Scotland or NHS Direct Wales) (including online, where possible), pharmacies and GPs responsibly, and go to the hospital only when you really need to;Being understanding of the pressures the health and social care systems may be under, and receptive to changes that may be needed to the provision of care to you and your family;Accepting that the advice for managing COVID-19 for most people will be selfisolation at home and simple over the counter medicines;Checking for new advice as the situation changes.
Coronavirus: Advice for businesses
Emergency support
The TUC is calling on the government to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak by providing emergency support for the millions of UK workers who are currently missing out on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
In a letter to Matt Hancock and Thérèse Coffey, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady warns that inadequate provision of sick pay could stop people taking up public health advice, since many workers will struggle to meet basic living costs if they can’t attend work for a prolonged period.
As a result, some may feel they have no choice but to go to work while ill, or against government advice.
Currently, nearly 2 million of the lowest-paid workers don’t earn enough to qualify for statutory sick pay. According to TUC analysis this includes:
34% of workers on zero-hours contracts;1 in 10 women in work;More than a fifth (22%) of workers aged 16-24;More than a quarter (26%) of workers aged 65 and over, identified by government as one of the groups most vulnerable to the virus.
Unlimited sick days offered by Amazon
Amazon has told workers that they are entitled to unlimited sick days during March but will only pay sick pay to those employees who test positive for COVID-19.
WHO warns that supplies of PPE is “rapidly depleting”
In his daily briefing in Geneva on March 4 WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that supplies of PPE, such as the gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, gowns, and aprons used by health workers fighting coronavirus are “rapidly depleting” and warned against “hoarding and misuse”.
“We are concerned that countries’ abilities to respond are being compromised by the severe and increasing disruption to the global supply of personal protective equipment … caused by rising demand, hoarding and misuse,” he said.
Healthcare workers rely on personal protective equipment to protect themselves and their patients from being infected and infecting others. But, says WHO, shortages are leaving doctors, nurses and other frontline workers dangerously ill-equipped. “Without secure supply chains, the risk to healthcare workers around the world is real. Industry and governments must act quickly to boost supply, ease export restrictions and put measures in place to stop speculation and hoarding. We can’t stop COVID-19 without protecting health workers first,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, prices have surged. Surgical masks have seen a sixfold increase, N95 respirators have trebled and gowns have doubled.
Supplies can take months to deliver and market manipulation is widespread, with stocks frequently sold to the highest bidder.
WHO has so far shipped nearly half a million sets of personal protective equipment to 47 countries,* but supplies are rapidly depleting.
Based on WHO modelling, an estimated 89 million medical masks are required for the COVID-19 response each month. For examination gloves, that figure goes up to 76 million, while international demand for goggles stands at 1.6 million per month.
Recent WHO guidance calls for the rational and appropriate use of PPE in healthcare settings, and the effective management of supply chains.
WHO is working with governments, industry and the Pandemic Supply Chain Network to boost production and secure allocations for critically affected and at-risk countries.
To meet rising global demand, WHO estimates that industry must increase manufacturing by 40%.
Governments should develop incentives for industry to ramp up production, says WHO. This includes easing restrictions on the export and distribution of personal protective equipment and other medical supplies.
Every day, WHO is providing guidance, supporting secure supply chains, and delivering critical equipment to countries in need.
Coronavirus: Why employers should be tackling presenteeism
As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread rapidly, employers should be discouraging ‘presenteeism’ now more than ever, according to Personnel Today.
As the numbers of people being diagnosed with the virus on the rise every day, businesses have to guard against ‘presenteeism’ – when employees continue to work despite being unwell. As an employer, how can ensure you that undue risks are not being taken?
With sick, or potentially sick, employees still attempting to make it into work, it is now more important than ever to protect employee health and wellbeing and safeguard business productivity as far as possible.
‘Presenteeism’ is not a new phenomenon, however it has certainly become more noticeable in recent years and at times like this, it is more dangerous. Whether it is employees continuing to come to work when they are sick or staying at work longer than their specified working hours, the root of the problem is often caused by an outdated office culture.
Coronavirus aside, employers are being advised to regularly review workplace policies to check they support employees when they are unwell and discourage presenteeism. A good place to start, is by encouraging open communication between employees, line managers and decision-makers.
With the government announcing that statutory sick pay will be paid to all those who choose to self-isolate, even if they don’t have symptoms, company’s should be reinforcing the message that there will be no punishments for taking days off and emphasising that reducing fellow co-workers’ exposure to risk, is a preferable approach. Ensuring that all employees know the exact procedure to follow should they fall ill should also be a top priority. Line managers must also be alive to the signs of presenteeism and encourage a culture of trust and openness.
Considering alternative ways of working, such as working from home, is a good option, although it may not be applicable to all job roles. For many businesses, working remotely is an effective way of controlling the potential spread of COVID-19 quite easily.
By encouraging an open-door policy and communicating with employees in an empathetic manner, employers have the opportunity to improve both internal morale and the external reputation of the business.
Coronavirus: no evidence that food is a source or transmission route
EFSA is closely monitoring the situation regarding the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that is affecting a large number of countries across the globe. There is currently no evidence that food is a likely source or route of transmission of the virus.
EFSA’s Chief Scientist, Marta Hugas, said: “Experiences from previous outbreaks of related coronaviruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), show that transmission through food consumption did not occur. At the moment, there is no evidence to suggest that coronavirus is any different in this respect.”
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has said that while animals in China were the likely source of the initial infection, the virus is spreading from person to person.
The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has warned the public to be aware of scams and fraudulent emails relating to the coronavirus outbreak. Similar scams have reportedly already tricked the UK public out of £800,000, according to the police.
What is Coronavirus?
Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a new respiratory illness that has not previously been seen in humans.
Where do coronaviruses come from?
Coronaviruses are viruses that circulate among animals but some of them are also known to affect humans. After they have infected humans, they can eventually be transmitted to humans.
What is the mode of transmission? How (easily) does it spread?
Because it’s a new illness, it is not known exactly how coronavirus spreads from person to person, but similar viruses spread by respiratory droplets that people sneeze, cough, or exhale. While animals are the source of the virus, this virus is now spreading from one person to another (human-to-human transmission). At time of writing, there is currently not enough epidemiological information to determine how easily and sustainably this virus is spreading between people.
What are the symptoms?
With many similarities of a common cold, the main signs of infection are fever (high temperature) and a cough as well as shortness of breath and breathing difficulties and sore throat.
How to protect yourself
The NHS advise the following measures to help stop germs like coronavirus spreading:
Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel;Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available;Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands;Avoid close contact with people who are unwell;If you have arrived back from China or specified areas, follow the NHS advice for returning travellers.
Supporting Workers
IOSH stress that employers have a role to play in preventing the spread of the disease by taking sensible action to prevent the spread of COVID-19 such as ensuring that workers have access to appropriate hygiene facilities such hot water, soap and bins to get rid of used tissues.
Workers are advised to maintain good hygiene standards around the workplace by following the latest advice from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website which includes the following basic protective measures:
Wash your hands frequently with alcohol-based hand wash or wash with soap and water;Maintain social distancing- maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet distance) between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing;Avoid touching eyes, mouth and nose;Practice respiratory hygiene;Atay informed and follow the advice given by health care providers.
Government guidance for employees, employers and businesses
[Updated 17 March 2020]This guidance will assist employers, businesses and their staff in addressing coronavirus (COVID-19). Key messages:businesses and workplaces should encourage their employees to work at home, wherever possible;if someone becomes unwell in the workplace with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, they should be sent home and advised to follow the advice to stay at home;employees should be reminded to wash their hands for 20 seconds more frequently and catch coughs and sneezes in tissues;frequently clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, using your standard cleaning products;employees will need your support to adhere to the recommendation to stay at home to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) to others;those who follow advice to stay at home will be eligible for statutory sick pay (SSP) from the first day of their absence from work;employers should use their discretion concerning the need for medical evidence for certification for employees who are unwell. This will allow GPs to focus on their patients;employeesfrom defined vulnerable groups should be strongly advised and supported to stay at home and work from there if possible.The guidance sets out that it is good practice for employers to:keep everyone updated on actions being taken to reduce risks of exposure in the workplace;ensure employees who are in a vulnerable group are strongly advised to follow social distancing guidance;make sure everyone’s contact numbers and emergency contact details are up to date;make sure managers know how to spot symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) and are clear on any relevant processes, for example sickness reporting and sick pay, and procedures in case someone in the workplace is potentially infected and needs to take the appropriate action;make sure there are places to wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and water, and encourage everyone to do so regularly;provide hand sanitiser and tissues for staff, and encourage them to use them.The content of the guidance covers the following:Symptoms;What to do if someone develops symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) on site;Travel arrangements;Sick pay;Certifying absence from work;What to do if an employee needs time off work to look after someone;Limiting spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in business and workplaces;Cleaning and waste;Handling post or packages.
COVID-19: support for businesses The Chancellor has set out a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. This includes a package of measures to support businesses including: a statutory sick payrelief package for SMEs;a 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England;small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief;grant funding of£25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000;the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme to support long-term viable businesses who may need to respond to cash-flow pressures by seeking additional finance;the HMRC Time To Pay Scheme.It sets out detailed guidance on the following:Support for businesses who are paying sick pay to employees;Support for businesses who pay business rates;Support for businesses who pay little or no business rates;Support for businesses through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme;Support for businesses paying tax;Insurance.
CIPD Advice
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) suggest the following advice for organisations:
Follow public health agency advice on efficient ways to contain the virus;Keep up to date with government advice and adapt business plans to reflect changes;Actively communicate these plans to staff, customers and suppliers;Look at options for people to work remotely to prevent the spread of infection;For customer facing organisations consider using customer self-serve options such as telephone and online services to minimise face to face interaction;Review policies and procedures on health reporting, office and personal hygiene protective equipment, social distancing and working hours;Consider providing additional training to those working in critical areas, so others have the skills to fill in for absent colleges.
It is also noted that organisations should bear in mind that people will be worried about the situation; employers not only have a duty of care to take reasonable steps to ensure health and safety, but also the well-being of employees. Offering enhanced support to people more vulnerable to illness due to age and/or any underlying health conditions is suggested. It should also be acknowledged, says the CIPD, that some employees may be worried about family or friends stranded in, or returning from, an affected area. It’s important to strike the balance between your organisation and its people being prepared for the spread of the virus whilst reassuring people that there is no need to panic. Employers are advised to ensure that line managers are regularly informed about the organisation’s contingency plan and how to discuss the situation with any concerned employees, and where to signpost people to for further advice or support, including employee assistance programmes and/or counselling if they are anxious.
Acas Advice for Employers
Workplace experts Acas have also issued advice for employers on dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. It includes guidance on how to handle employees who have the virus and those who do not want to come into work because they are worried about catching it.
Government coronavirus Travel Advice
The UK government is advising British people against all non-essential travel worldwide. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) says in an exceptional travel advisory notice that:
“The Covid-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented international border closures and other restrictions. All countries may restrict travel without notice.”
The FCO was already advising against all but essential travel or all travel to some areas or countries due to risks that do not relate to COVID-19. This advice remains in place. Readers are advised to check FCO travel advice pages for the latest information.
If you now need to change or cancel your travel plans, follow these steps:
contact your airline, travel company, cruise line or other transport andaccommodation providers;get in touch with your insurance provider;continue to follow the NHS coronavirus guidance.
If you’re abroadThe travel advice has changed. The FCO advises British people against all but essential travel worldwide due to unprecedented international border closures and other restrictions.The FCO will continue to update their Travel Advice pages with relevant information if you are currently abroad.
ABTA advice for customers who are planning to travel to destinations with reported cases of coronavirus.
Self-isolating: What this means in practice
This means staying at home for 14 days and not going to work, schools or public areas.
Avoid having visitors to your home; however, it is OK for friends, family or delivery drivers to drop off food.
These steps are recommended to limit the potential spread of infection.
Find out what to do using the NHS 111 online coronavirus service.
The NHS advice is do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Call 111 if you need to speak to someone.
Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland:
Scotland: call your GP surgery or call 111 if your surgery is not open;Wales: call 111;Northern Ireland: call 111.
Legislation
Emergency bill to strengthen coronavirus (COVID-19) response plans. Emergency measures to give ministers powers to take the right action at the right time to respond effectively to the progress of the coronavirus outbreak will be introduced to Parliament this week, the Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has said.The measures in the coronavirus bill are temporary, proportionate to the threat, will only be used when strictly necessary and will be in place for as long as required to respond to the situation.They fall into five key categories:
containing and slowing the virus;easing legislative and regulatory requirements;enhancing capacity and the flexible deployment of staff across essential services;managing the deceased in a dignified way;supporting and protecting the public to do the right thing and follow public health advice.To ensure the NHS and adult social care have the additional staff capacity they need to respond to increasing demands on services during the outbreak, the powers enabled by the bill will allow recently retired NHS staff and social workers to return to work without any negative repercussions to their pensions.NHS staff will also be covered by a state-backed insurance scheme to ensure they can care for patients if, for example, they are moving outside their day-to-dayduties while making use of their skills and training. Changes to councils’ duties under the Care Act will enable them to prioritise people with the greatest care needs and make the best use of the adult social care workforce.Other measures in the legislation include:allowing police and immigration officers to support and enforce public health measures, including powers to detain people and put them in appropriate isolation facilities if necessary to protect public health;making arrangements for statutory sick pay for those self-isolating without symptoms from day one;allowing small businesses to reclaim statutory sick pay payments from HMRC;allowing more phone or video hearings for court cases to stop the spread of the virus in courts;enabling Border Force to temporarily suspend operations at airports or transport hubs if there are insufficient resources to maintain border security.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus) RegulationsThese Regulations have been put in place to reduce the risk of further human-to-human transmission in this country by keeping individuals in isolation where public health professionals believe there is a reasonable risk an individual may havethe virus.
Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 2) RegulationsThese Regulations came into force on 17 March 2020. These are emergency regulations in relation to the Government’s response to coronavirus. The regulations have been prepared as soon as it became clear that there was a need for the measures they contain. The measures are required as a matter of urgency as part of the Government response to a developing outbreak, in order to reduce the risk that employees will continue to work despite advice that they should self-isolate.
Business insurance cover
It has also been reported that registering COVID-19 as a notifiable disease will help businesses in making insurance claims. A spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers (ABI) stated: “Commercial insurance policies provide cover against a wide range of risks, that can be tailored to the needs of individual businesses, including extensions to cover. Businesses who are concerned about this should check the scope of their cover, and speak to their insurance providers or broker.“It may be possible to buy consequential business interruption cover for notifiable diseases as an extensionto a business insurance policy, subject to any policy terms and conditions. Standard business insurance policies are designed and priced to cover standard risks, not those that are very unlikely, such as the effects of COVID-19.”The ABI added that, under Solvency II, all UK insurers are capitalised to withstand severe events like a coronavirus pandemic, which the current outbreak still technically isn’t.
Further information
Check the Barbour Service for latest documentsPlans to contain Coronavirus are set out by the UK GovernmentForeign and Commonwealth Office travel advice.Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England: Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice.Government to grant permission for pubs and restaurants to operate as takeaways as part of coronavirus response: government press releaseCOVID-19: specified countries and areas with implications for returning travellers or visitors arriving in the UK.Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England: Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice.Coronavirus (COVID-19): Common questions, NHS.CIPD AdviceUpdated CIPD FAQs.IOSH Coronavirus pages.World Health Organization has published updated recommendations (29 February) for international traffic in relation to COVID-19 outbreak.World Health Organization Situation Reports for the latest details on the outbreak.World Health Organization: Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19.UK Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) guidance for health professionals.IOSH Report Managing the safety, health and security of mobile workers.Latest global figures: Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by Johns Hopkins CSSE.
The World Health Organization also has a wealth of information available; in particular ‘coronavirus myth busters’ which is a useful page of information, addressing common concerns about the virus outbreak.
Originally published on: https://www.shponline.co.uk/asia/coronavirus-advice-for-employers/
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