Government issues guidance for returning to work

13 May 2020

Following consultation with employers, unions and business groups, the government has issued guidance notes for employers in eight key sectors. Employers should review the guidance relevant to their business and ensure it is incorporated into a return to work plan.

Construction and other outdoor work

Factories, plants and warehouses

Labs and research facilities

Offices and contact centres

Other people's homes

Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery

Shops and branches

Vehicles

Employers should also familiarise themselves with the government's new strategy document, as well as the updated ACAS guidance for employers on coronavirus, in particular the updated section on 'Planning to return to the workplace'.

There are concerns that much of the new government guidance will take weeks to implement for some employers, despite the fact that the government is encouraging employees who cannot work from home to return to work from Wednesday 13 May 2020. 

As feared by many workers and unions, the new guidance is also mostly comprised of recommendations rather than compulsory obligations. The principal exception to this is the mandatory requirement that employers with five workers or more produce a written risk assessment to address the workplace risks presented by COVID-19. 

For further information and advice please contact the Employment Team  or your usual Wilsons contact.

We will shortly announce the date of our next free webinar, where you will have the opportunity to ask members of our Employment Team questions about the government's post-lockdown arrangements.  




Back to news