As we move out of Summer and into Autumn, it seems that our lockdown and collective response to Covid-19 is also moving into a new phase, with confirmed cases on the increase and local lockdowns gathering pace, the most recent evidence points towards the 17 to mid-twenties being the age group that Covid-19 has become endemic. The advice from Government on Monday of this week, the 7th, was stark, for us ALL, take social distancing and government guidance seriously, for the young, don’t risk spreading Covid-19 to your Grandparent. The language used was more graphic with the Health Minister saying “don’t Kill your gran”!
What does this mean to businesses as we are all encouraged to return to work in a Covid-19 secure and safe way? Well the message from our team is simple, follow the guidance, review and reinforce your controls and arrangements weekly, continue the dialogue with your staff and remind managers that they have a responsibility to ensure that everyone follows the guidance and acts responsibly. As we stated last week, the significant risk for all business leaders and managers is the potential for an outbreak or a case of Covid-19 at work, should you not follow the guidance on social distancing and mitigating controls in the workplace there is a real potential for any business to lose all its staff to track and trace and self-isolation requirements, we all want to avoid that!
Don’t be complacent. We have a link to our download our Outbreak Management Policy, including the link to the ACTION CARDS that you can use to follow Government guidance if you have a positive or suspected case of COVID-19 at work. These will help you take immediate actions so to limit the impact on your business.
Please if you have not actioned our previous advice, download the policy and locate your sectors action card from the link provided in the policy and use this to brief all your managers on what to do if this scenario occurs.
We have also included the latest raft of Business specific Government updates that include Furlough or job Retention scheme updates below, this will save you time.
Our teams are available for you to gain support and advice, please if you have any doubts call us.
Government updates:
Kickstart Scheme
Summary
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds.
Change made
Added employer contacts page to the collection.
Time updated
10:46am, 8 September 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19): travel corridors
Summary
List of countries and territories from where you can travel to England and may not have to self-isolate.
Change made
Crete, Lesvos, Mykonos, Santorini, Serifos, Tinos and Zakynthos to be removed from the travel corridor list at 4am Wednesday 9 September 2020.
Time updated
4:55pm, 7 September 2020
Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
Summary
What all schools will need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak from the start of the autumn term.
Change made
Added ‘What to do if a pupil is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)’.
Time updated
4:22pm, 7 September 2020
Download a template if you’re claiming for 100 or more employees through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Summary
Complete a template with the details of the employees you’re claiming for and upload this when you claim (for claims on or after 1 July 2020).
Change made
The templates used for submitting a claim for 100 or more employees have been updated. Employers must now include if an employee has returned from statutory leave before being put on furlough.
Time updated
10:57am, 7 September 2020
Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Summary
Claim for 80% of your employee’s wages plus any employer National Insurance and pension contributions, if you have put them on furlough or flexible furlough because of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Change made
If you’re using a template to tell us about putting more than 100 employees on furlough, you now have to tell us if your employee has come back from statutory leave and you then put them on furlough.
Time updated
10:56am, 7 September 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested
Summary
Guidance on coronavirus testing, including who is eligible for a test and how to get tested.
Change made
Added link to register a home test kit.
Time updated
10:20am, 7 September 2020
Park City will continue to provide the signposting service to the business-related Government guidance, whilst also providing alerts to specific actions business should take, as in the case of the Outbreak Management Policy and Action cards. We are already managing a number of business-related outbreaks and it’s an area of support that we anticipate will continue to grow as we move into the Autumn and Winter period. It’s time to review, revise and then reinforce the policies and procedures you are following to make your business Covid-19 secure and use our H&S team to help and support you.
Our HR team continues to manage redundancy and restructuring for clients and on a more positive note recruitment and new contracts for new staff. Our team is so experienced in managing COVID-19 related employment relations issues now after sixth months of activity, will continue to provide you with the personal, confidential and tailored service your need, that supports you through this next period and beyond, with cases increasing and Furlough staring to unwind and come to an end, this next period will prove to be as challenging as the lockdown was in March.
We are here to help and support you.
Tim and Juliet Price
