In the light of recent changes to government guidance on social distancing, all businesses should by now have reviewed and, if necessary, updated their practices in order to remain ‘COVID Secure’.
Like some sort of grown up version of the hokey cokey, it’s been hard to know whether we are meant to be ‘in’ or ‘out’ of the office of late. However, for now, the government has once again settled on the view that people should work from home if they can, but go to their place of work if they must. If, like us, your staff had been creeping back into the workplace a little more as things appeared to be opening up, you may need to reverse this trend.
If your business runs retails outlet, restaurants, bars, hotel or similar, you now need to ask your staff to wear face coverings when they are working, unless they have one of the permitted excuses no to do so (e.g. disability or because wearing a mask would cause severe distress).
Interestingly, the financial penalty for failing to comply with this requirement (a £200 fine) is payable by the employee, not the employer.
If you need our assistance with any issues relating to COVID-19 and the workplace, please contact us at employment@stevensdrake.com
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