However, despite mounting, BLOG It’s the announcement many employers had been waiting on for weeks, but the Prime Minister’s post-lockdown plans, unveiled yesterday, have instead brought further uncertainty, BLOG In what some are calling Sturgeon’s attempt to save Christmas, 11 council areas in Scotland, including Glasgow, will enter Level 4 lockdown from Friday, WoodhouseChurch Lane, AldfordChesterCH3 6JD, The Beacon176 St Vincent StreetGlasgowG2 5SG. Scotland | How will a Level 4 lockdown impact employers. If working from home is not possible, options might include: Year in review | 12 employment law updates you might have missed in 2020. (2) The management of vulnerable workers for businesses pressing for return to work in … Coming out of the lockdown-style restrictions that were necessary to tackle the coronavirus pandemic was never going to be easy. 3. Horrible and confusing terminology, but as all diabetics are clinically vulnerable but only those with complication or certain co-morbidites will have been shielding it is an important distinction to make. To coincide with this change, the government has published updated shielding, BLOG For employers and HR professionals, 2020 has been a year like no other. solutions for schools? Shielding was paused on 1 August 2020 (except in local lockdown areas) which means that these employees can now return to work, provided their School has implemented the system of controls outlined in the Government guidance document, in line with the School’s own workplace risk assessment. You should discuss this further with your employer, and if this results in adequate protection, you can continue to work.”. Are you currently looking for your next role? Can I refuse to return to work if my commute forces me to take public transport? Clinically vulnerable people who cannot work from home can currently return to work but must take extra care with social distancing. BLOG From policies and training to risk assessment, safe systems of work and safety culture, there are many interrelated components to effective health and safety management. For, BLOG England has now emerged from lockdown and re-entered a system of tiered restrictions. This letter can be used in the few cases where it is not possible to make your workplace safe. No one could deny that messages have at times been confused and confusing, which tends to focus our minds on the core pieces of information that we need. For a teacher or other member of a school’s staff with a pre-existing condition that does not ordinarily hamper their ability to do their job, but which, when combined with this coronavirus, could prove challenging, there are bound to be concerns. If you're at high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable) from coronavirus (COVID-19), there are things you can do to help keep yourself safe. CEV individuals should work from home if they can, but if they can’t, they can attend the workplace provided it is COVID-secure. If you have reached an impasse with a vulnerable employee, our combination of Employment Law and Health & Safety support can help you to understand your legal options, ensure you undertaken appropriate risk assessments and implemented all reasonable precautions, and facilitate a safe return to work. New rules for business, BLOG Employers’ greatest concern when making redundancies is the legal risk. Teachers classed as "clinically extremely vulnerable" have been told they can return to work under the government's reformed triple-tier coronavirus restrictions. Unfortunately, you do not have a right to be furloughed – your employer can refuse to furlough you. We combine the service quality of a law firm with the certainty of fixed-fee services to provide expert, solutions-focused Employment Law, HR and Health & Safety support tailored to employers. If a staff member who is clinically vulnerable chooses to return to the work place, they should only be asked to work in roles where strict social distancing can be applied. If you are looking at the possibility of a return to face to face work in a school after isolating as a person who is particularly vulnerable to covid-19, you may well have concerns about whether it is actually safe for you to do so. A “detriment” is likely to include withholding pay, and if an employee is dismissed or resigns in this scenario, you could face a claim for automatic unfair dismissal. See all vacancies here. Similarly, staff who are at significantly greater risk, for example because of age, ethnicity or sex, or a combination of these factors, should be allowed to make their contribution from home.". Anyone who's been shielding should talk to their employer as soon as possible about plans to help them return. No cost, BLOG The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced it is proactively checking whether transport and logistics businesses are COVID-19 secure. Anyone in Tier 3 who has received a shielding notification can be furloughed. Search school names, job titles and categories only, 1 Arlington Square, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1WA, SCHOOL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE STAFF, Schools business management and finance staff, advice for schools regarding the safety of staff at higher risk. Will health and safety change after Brexit? Relatively little is known about this virus and its mutations, and although the evidence around whether children pass the virus to adults is growing, schools must still consider adult to adult infection. England has now emerged from lockdown and re-entered a system of tiered restrictions. and only pay on success. "The NEU is clear that staff who are in clinically vulnerable groups, or who live with or care for household members in clinically vulnerable groups, should not be required to return to the workplace and should instead be allowed to continue to work from home. Furlough only appears to be an option if signed off on long-term sick. Pay per candidate placed So where does this leave your clinically extremely vulnerable staff? Of those, 9.4 million employees were … For clinically vulnerable employees who cannot work from home, they can be required to return to work. “The employer must do everything that is reasonably practicable to keep CEV workers safe and healthy. Your employer can ask you to return to work. The Government published on 4 November updated guidance for protecting people who have been categorised as clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) to Covid-19.. Clinically vulnerable people were never asked to shield, and so returned to work where safe alongside everyone else. Hi, If you are clinically vulnerable then if you cannot work from home, you should return. Just know that if you are worried, your GP, school and union can help. Until then, the charity said it wanted clinically vulnerable people to have the right to work from home. See Eteach's blogs on helping your anxiety surrounding COVID-19. Widespread unemployment would be worse for population health than covid -19 The covid-19 pandemic has seen record numbers of people off work. Of course, as with the rest of the country, those who are able to work from home should. Our dedicated team can support you in finding permanent, long-term or day-to-day supply work for teaching, SEN and support roles both in the UK and international schools. Teachers classed as 'clinically extremely vulnerable' have been told they can return to work under the government's reformed triple-tier coronavirus restrictions. Clinically vulnerable people in ... concerns that employers will not be held to account if they fail to comply with the Government’s request to support vulnerable employees to return to work. For anyone who is particularly vulnerable when it comes to working face to face with others during the Covid-19 pandemic, that core message must be to seek the advice of your primary healthcare provider (usually your GP). From the end of July, clinically vulnerable people in England will no longer be asked to stay in their homes and will be able to return to their workplace if they cannot do their job from home, provided social distancing measures are in place. During England’s second national lockdown, CEV school staff were advised to work from home. 1, ARLINGTON SQUARE, BRACKNELL, BERKSHIRE RG12 1WA. Only if the CEV employee produces a fit note, or the risk assessment does not recommend a return, should furlough be utilised (unless, of course, there are other reasons why they cannot work because your operations are affected by coronavirus). While life can be shut down overnight, any return to anything resembling normality must necessarily be gradual and methodical – this much we know from the scientists. This can be achieved through risk assessment, talking to employees and offering changes to working that redeploys CEV staff to tasks where there is less risk, such as clerical work.