Coronavirus

SSP self-certification period temporarily extended

Employees eligible to receive statutory sick pay are not normally required to provide their employer with medical evidence to support sickness absence for the first 7 days of absence. For longer periods of absence, they must obtain a fit note from their GP. In order to free up GP capacity to focus on the current …

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Government imposes ‘Plan B’ COVID restrictions in England

The Government has announced that it is introducing further COVID-19 restrictions for England broadly in line with the ‘Plan B’ announced in the Autumn/Winter Plan on 15 September. Under the new restrictions: From Monday 13 December office workers will be asked to work from home where possible; Face coverings will become mandatory in most indoor …

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COVID-19: Government implements Plan B-lite with new measures which impact on employers

In an unexpected turn of events, the government has announced that it will be bringing in new COVID-19 restrictions for England this week. The news follows significant concerns over the emergence of a new coronavirus variant.  The government has confirmed, however, that it will not yet be moving fully to its COVID-19 Plan B – …

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The COVID-19 Autumn and Winter Plan: Key points for employers

The UK government has outlined its COVID-19 response for autumn and winter for England and stated that the main line of defence to the coronavirus pandemic is now vaccination rather than lockdown.  The government’s response includes both a Plan A – the intended approach which will be taken through autumn and winter – and a …

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CJRS: Less than 1 month until close – Key redundancy considerations for employers

Over seventeen months since its first launch in March 2020 – and following a number of surprise extensions along the way – the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has now entered its final month. It will draw to a close on 30 September 2021.  Over 11.5 million jobs have been supported by the scheme, allowing …

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New rules on self-isolation: What employers need to know

Today marks a landmark moment in the self-isolation rules implemented to help manage the coronavirus pandemic in England. Now, close contacts of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus will not have to automatically self-isolate for 10 days, provided they are fully vaccinated* or are aged under 18 years 6 months. This development is hugely …

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Return to workplaces: key considerations for employers – survey results

On 16 July we launched our Return to workplaces survey seeking views on what employers are planning for their workforce as more people return to the workplace. Over 90 organisations responded, revealing an overall picture of a cautious return with a wide range of COVID safety measures remaining in place for some time to come. …

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Return to workplaces: key considerations for employers – a survey

For many businesses, a return to the workplace if finally on the horizon.  However, the road to return may not be straight-forward for all, with complex employment law and data privacy considerations at play. With this in mind, we are launching a 5 minute anonymous survey covering some of the key issues impacted by the …

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Guidance published on working safely from 19 July as employers prepare for return to workplaces

Ahead of the move to Step 4 of the Roadmap on 19 July, the Government has published guidance for businesses on working safely during COVID-19 and reducing the risk in workplaces. The following guidance has been published: Step 4 overview Construction and other outdoor work Events and attractions Hotels and guest accommodation Offices, factories and …

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Government confirms plans for Step 4 of its COVID-19 Roadmap

*UPDATE 12 JULY 2021* The Government has today confirmed that it will move to step 4 of the COVID-19 Roadmap on Monday 19 July 2021.   However,  the emphasis of today’s announcement has shifted slightly with the public being urged to continue to act carefully and to remain cautious while the number of coronavirus cases is …

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