New Coronavirus Regulations for Employers

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Written by: Alcumus
28th September

On 28 September, new Coronavirus regulations came into force in England. The regulations are complex and feature new implications for employers who have employees who test positive for COVID-19 or live with someone who has tested positive.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) Regulations 2020 set out mandatory periods for self-isolation and a duty to notify the Secretary of State of the names of people in the same household as anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

The regulations include an update which employers need to note. Regulation 7 makes it an offence for an employer to knowingly permit a worker (including agency workers) who has tested positive for COVID-19, or who lives with someone who has tested positive, to attend any place other than where they’re self-isolating.

If an employer knows they have a worker who has tested positive (or lives with someone who has) they are now responsible for stopping the worker from working, unless they can work from home. An employer who fails to do so will face a fine starting at £1,000.

This regulation comes alongside another (reg 8) which means a worker is obliged to tell their employer they are self-isolating. This means that all employers will be able to make informed decisions when managing their workforce. Any individual who breaches self-isolation will, normally, commit a separate criminal offence.

If you want to make sure you’re up to date with regulations, or need further clarity, please do not hesitate to contact the Alcumus PSM HR team for assistance via email [email protected] or call us on 01484 439930.

Alcumus PSM (People & Safety Management) specialises in human resources (HR) and health and safety (H&S) consulting for small and medium-sized enterprises.