Managing Coronavirus issues at work, new developments w.r.t UK 2020 Budget, SSP & more...

The coronavirus is a disease that causes flu-like symptoms and, potentially, leads to serious illness and death. It first appeared in December 2019 in Wuhan, which is within the Hubei province, China. Since then, it has spread to countries across the globe, including the UK.

This situation is quickly evolving. There are a number of risks posed by the virus that employers will need to be aware of and it is important to remember that employers have a duty of care towards their employees. To this end, they must take reasonable steps to protect the health and safety of their workforce. 

All individuals with flu-like symptoms should self-isolate

From 13 March 2020, anyone with mild symptoms of the flu need to self-isolate at home for a period of seven days after their symptoms started to show.

Individuals should do this even if they have not been in contact with anyone with the coronavirus or have travelled back from an affected area.

The symptoms as outlined on the NHS 111 website are as follows:

• A new continuous cough and/or
• A high temperature 

Anyone off as a result of the above is entitled to statutory sick pay (SSP), subject to the usual qualifying conditions.

Advice on self-isolation has changed from 14 days to seven as it is commonly believed people will not be contagious seven days after the onset of symptoms.

People do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation, unless their symptoms worsen after seven days.

Government has released coronavirus action plan

On 3 March 2020, the UK government released its action plan for tackling the outbreak of Covid-19 and the spread of the coronavirus.

Essentially, it outlines four stages:

• Contain: detect early cases, follow up close contacts, and prevent the disease taking hold in this country for as long as is reasonably possible
• Delay: slow the spread in this country, if it does take hold, lowering the peak impact and pushing it away from the winter season
• Research: better understand the virus and the actions that will lessen its effect on the UK population; innovate responses including diagnostics, drugs and vaccines; use the evidence to inform the development of the most effective models of care
• Mitigate: provide the best care possible for people who become ill, support hospitals to maintain essential services and ensure ongoing support for people ill in the community to minimise the overall impact of the disease on society, public services and on the economy.

As part of the announcement, Boris Johnson reassured that the UK is ‘well prepared’ for a potential outbreak and is still in the early stages of containment.

However, he did agree it was ‘likely’ that the virus will spread in the coming weeks and that 'everyone is susceptible' of catching it.

In a ‘stretching scenario’, it is possible that up to one fifth of employees may be absent from work during peak weeks.

It is also possible that an outbreak or pandemic of Covid-19 could also come in multiple waves.

Areas for organisations to be aware of in the event of an outbreak are the following:

• An increased number of schools could potentially be closed to minimise spread, which will likely result in a large number of requests for Time Off for Dependants
• Organisations may be encouraged to allow a greater number of staff to work from home
• Reduction of large-scale gatherings could be implemented
• Hospital worker shifts could be altered and leavers or retirees could be called ‘back to duty’

Going forward, it is possible that more serious steps will be taken and emergency legislation passed. For now, the government is continuing to issue the advice it was providing before. People should wash hands with soap regularly and check Foreign Office advice before travelling abroad. If they return from affected countries, they should follow existing advice on self-isolation.

Statutory sick pay to be payable from day one for coronavirus

The government announced on 4 March 2020 that emergency legislation would be introduced for the payment of statutory sick pay (SSP) to employees with the coronavirus. They will be entitled to receive SSP from day one, not day four, of their illness.

It is yet to be confirmed when this will come into force.

2020 Budget and the coronavirus 

On 11 March 2020, Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlined plans to tackle the coronavirus as part of the 2020 budget. These were as follows:

• Statutory sick pay will be available to anyone advised to self-isolate. They will be able to get a sick note through 111.
• The cost of a business having to have someone off work for up to 14 days will be refunded.
• ￡2bn will be allocated to cover firms that lose out because staff are off sick. This will apply to firms that employ fewer than 250 staff.