ACAS publishes new advice on handling coronavirus at work
ACAS has issued guidance for employers in order to deal with sick pay, quarantined staff and staff who are reluctant to come into work due to fears of catching coronavirus.
Please note: the information contained in this legal update is correct as of the original date of publication
ACAS has issued guidance for employers in order to deal with sick pay, quarantined staff and staff who are reluctant to come into work due to fears of catching coronavirus. Within the guidance is further advice for employers to deal appropriately if the virus spreads widely in the UK or if a business needs to shut down temporarily. ACAS have confirmed that if an employee is absent due to coronavirus, a workplace’s normal sick pay applies.
If coronavirus spreads more widely in the UK, ACAS advise that employers should:
- Ensure staff contact numbers and emergency contact details are up to date;
- Ensure managers are aware of the symptoms of coronavirus and are confident in the processes which would need to be carried out such as sickness reporting and sick pay.
- Implement NHS advice on hygiene such as encouraging everyone to wash their hands regularly and ensuring there are clean places to wash hands with soap and water;
- Give out hand sanitisers and tissues to staff and encourage their use and quick disposal.
Acas Chief Executive, Susan Clews, said: “The increase in coronavirus cases is headline news around the world and there are genuine concerns around how to deal with its impact on UK workplaces. Employers and workers have started to get in touch with us to ask what their rights are at work when dealing with potential coronavirus cases.”
Employers should have a strategic plan in place, in case the workplace is forced to shut down on a temporary basis. This includes ensuring staff have a way to communicate with their employer and work colleagues. Staff who have work laptops or mobile phones could be asked to work from home, including using video conferencing in lieu of face to face meetings.
Related expertise
You may be interested in...
Legal Update
Charity law update: December 2024
Online Event
Handling parent complaints against staff: Panel discussion
Training
Mock inquest training course
Legal Update
Employment Healthcare Briefing: December 2024
Press Release
Comment on Older People's Housing Preferences report
Legal Update
Walking the fine line: The statutory duty of candour and insurance
Legal Update - Maternity services
Improving maternity safety: Insights from MNSI’s annual recommendation report
Online Event
Pupillage open evening
Press Release
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Comments from education lawyers
Legal Update
School exclusions case confirms ‘substance over form’ is key
Press Release
Browne Jacobson continues strategic expansion in Wales with new corporate partner
Legal Update
Stark increase in rates of school suspensions and exclusions
Online Event
Embracing AI to improve school governance
Legal Update
Employment Rights Bill: Will it cost more to outsource public services and back-office functions?
Legal Update
Navigating workplace sexual harassment laws during the festive season
Legal Update
Navigating the new 'Failure to Prevent Fraud' Offence: What organisations need to know
Press Release
Comments on the latest SEND tribunal statistics
Press Release
Comments on new MHRA clinical trial regulations
On-Demand
Managing safeguarding allegations against staff
Online Event - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Coroner's Question Time
Online Event - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Duty of Candour
Guide - PFI expiry
PFI expiry guidance for schools
Opinion
Revolutionising the Workforce: Impact of Get Britain Working White Paper
Online Event - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Rising to health and care challenges and opportunities of 2025
Legal Update
Supreme Court shines a light on collective agreements
Press Release
Browne Jacobson advises Celtic Freeport as it opens for business
Legal Update
The power of storytelling (and curiosity)
Legal Update - Maternity services
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust invest in telemetry to improve maternity care and patient experience in labour
Legal Update
The new Mental Health Bill 2025: A closer look at its key provisions
Opinion - Shared Insights
Browne Jacobson submits recommendations and proposals to the government for England’s 10 Year Health Plan
Online Event
Supporting universities to meet their financial duties
In Person Event
Ascensus and O Shaped workshop: Ethics in the spotlight
Podcast - #EdInfluence
#EdInfluence podcast (series 4): In conversation with inspiring leaders
Press Release - School leaders survey
Browne Jacobson’s latest School Leaders Survey illustrates need for better SEND guidance as exclusions rise
Legal Update - Maternity services
Informed consent and caesarean birth: RCOG launches new obstetrics animation
Opinion
Key findings from the call for evidence on the statutory duty of candour
Press Release
New hires at Browne Jacobson will support schools with data compliance amid enhanced ICO scrutiny
Press Release
Comment on Older People's Housing Taskforce report
Legal Update
What’s in a name: ESG principles and UK local authorities
