Track & Trace

Although there's the inevitable teething problems with the launch of Track & Trace, employers need to be at the ready to react to what this means to their business.

The NHS test and trace service forms a central part of the government’s coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery strategy, which seeks to help the nation return to normal as soon as possible for as many people as possible, in a way that is safe and protects the NHS and social care sector.

The NHS test and trace service:

• Provides testing for anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus to find out if they have the virus
• Gets in touch with anyone who has had a positive test result to help them share information about any close recent contacts they have had
• Alerts those contacts, where necessary, and notifies them they need to self-isolate to help stop the spread of the virus

By following instructions to self-isolate, people who have had close recent contact with someone with coronavirus will be protecting their family, friends, colleagues and other people around them, and will play a direct role in stopping the spread of the virus.

What Employers should do to manage and support workers who need to self-isolate

If an employee has been asked to self-isolate, the NHS is requesting Employers to support these workers and must not ask them to attend the workplace.

They should allow people to work from home if they remain well and if it is practicable to do so. This might include finding alternative work that can be completed at home during the period of self-isolation

If people can’t work from home, employers must ensure any self-isolating employee is receiving sick pay and give them the option to use their paid leave days if they prefer. 

We know that some employers are paying more than SPP for COVID-19 self-isolation, if affordable to the business, we believe that you should continue for those who have been identified by Track & Trace to self-isolate.

• Employees in self-isolation are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay for every day they are in isolation
• Employees in self-isolation need to follow their workplace's usual sickness reporting process.
• You may wish to see proof of when an employee has been identified. It is not really clear how this may happen – but screenshots of text or forwarding emails would be acceptable proof.
• Employees can 'self-certify' for the first 7 days off work. This means following their workplace process but not having to get a note from a doctor or NHS 111.
• It would be useful to discuss with the employee on where they were identified, it maybe in the workplace (how different set of issues there) or commuting to work. With commuting it may be useful to review alternative arrangements for travel, working from home or staggering work start times to avoid peak travel times
• An interesting issue may be if the employee actually put themselves at risk, this may have implications on whether employer’s need to pay company sick pay or even implement disciplinary proceedings as the employee has contributed to them not being able to attend work.

As usual this will be a “moving feast” so we will endeavour to advise when we know more.

Those self-isolating due to coronavirus for more than 7 days can get an online self-isolation note from the:

·        NHS website

·        NHS mobile phone app – for those registered with a GP in England