New Covid-19 legislation for employers

Please note: this article was published on 24th February 2021, the information below may now be out of date. For the latest information, visit our Recovery & Support Hub here.

There is a new offence under the self-isolation regulations for an employer to knowingly allow an employee who should be self-isolating to attend work with a fine of up to £10k per individual breach.

Local authorities have the power to investigate these breaches, and the Covid-19 taskforce is working with NHS and Test & Trace to ensure the exchange of necessary data to support a prosecution following a pro-active investigation.

There is guidance available on gov.uk for each type of business and these easy guides helps business leaders ensure their staff, customers and visitors stay safe.

Current government coronavirus (COVID-19) advice is that anyone who can work effectively from home should do so.

For workplaces that are open, everyone should:

– follow government guidance on making the workplace safe

– avoid busy commuting times on public transport where travel is essential, and wear a face covering unless they’re exempt

– wash their hands regularly

You must not go to work if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.

Everyone should stay 2 metres apart where possible. If it’s not possible, people should be at least 1 metre apart and the employer should make extra changes to keep people safe. This might include things like wearing face coverings, working side by side instead of face to face, or using screens or barriers to separate people.

Read the specific employer requirement under paragraph 7, and enforcement under paragraph 11: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1045/made