On 16 August 2021, the Coronavirus: how to stay safe and help prevent the spread was updated to reflect the changes to the self-isolation rules. The updated guidance provides that individuals informed by NHS Test and Trace that they are a contact of someone who has tested positive will not need to self-isolate where they … Read more
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/1073) have been made, and came into force at 11.55 pm on 27 September 2021. The Regulations impose the legal requirement to self-isolate where an individual tests positive for COVID-19 or is an unvaccinated close contact of an individual who has tested … Read more
For some people, coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause symptoms that last weeks or months after the infection. This is called Long COVID and its symptoms could affect someone’s ability to work or cause them to take sickness absence. The usual rules for sickness absence and sick pay apply when someone is off work because of Long … Read more
An employment tribunal has determined that an employee who caught COVID-19 two and a half weeks before her dismissal did not have long COVID and was not disabled under section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 (EqA 2010) at the relevant time. Mrs Quinn was employed as Head of People from 9 December 2019 until … Read more
Overview An individual risk assessment is the key for all pregnant employees. The general Gov guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for pregnant employees has not been updated since 20 July. The DfE guidance Schools coronavirus (COVID-19) operational guidance was updated on 17 August 2021 and removed any reference to pregnant employees. Instead, schools are referred to … Read more
Overview On 6 July 2021 the DfE published new guidance Schools COVID-19 operational guidance which applies from Step 4, 19th July 2021. Risk assessment remains key – ‘You must comply with health and safety law and put in place proportionate control measures. You must regularly review and update your risk assessments – treating them as … Read more
Overview The guidance has been updated but there is no substantive change, just a change of emphasis. Pregnant women with no underlying health conditions remain in the clinically vulnerable category. Pregnant women with significant heart disease are CEV. Greater risk for pregnant women from 28 weeks’ gestation, or with underlying health conditions at any point … Read more
Summary Public Health England (PHE) releases weekly updates on the number of confirmed new cases of variants of concern and variants under investigation identified in the UK. Numbers of the Delta (VOC-21APR-02) variant in the UK have risen by 33,630 since last week to a total of 75,953. The most recent data show 99% of sequenced and … Read more
Summary PM indicates that the current working from home guidance will end on 21 June 2021. Step 3 ease of restrictions – full details below.. Working from home guidance to end on 21 June Speaking to MPs on 12 May 2021, the Prime Minister has indicated that the government’s current work from home guidance will … Read more
In Rodgers v Leeds Laser Cutting Ltd ET1803829/2020, an employee lost his claim when the employment tribunal found that his dismissal was not automatically unfair. The employee told his manager that he would not return to work until after lockdown because he feared he would infect his children with COVID-19. Section 100 of the ERA … Read more
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