As is expected I have started to get enquiries relating to Covid-19 and employees. The Government website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public is being updated regularly, at least once per day, and you and your employees should be checking this regularly as well.
The best advice with regard to safety is PERSONAL HYGIENE. Wash hands regularly with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds (sign happy birthday twice!) using a nail brush to scrub hands and under nails. Please ensure that all your toilets have soap, hot water and nail brushes. If you sneeze or cough cover your mouth/nose with a tissue and dispose of the tissue immediately. Make sure there is a supply of tissues around the working areas so that they are easy to reach and use. You can also supply antibacterial get (if you can get it) but as this is a virus it isn’t affective against Covid-19 although it may help with bacterial infections. Wash surfaces with hot water and detergent (bleach is effect apparently) where appropriate and so this regularly. You may want to request employees to clean their work area at the beginning of the day. Keyboard, mouse and ‘phones are all “touch points” so try not to use other people’s equipment, clean it regularly using appropriate cleaning materials (please ensure that these are available around the branch) and if possible don’t use other people’s equipment. If using shared equipment, clean it regularly. Do not allow customers to use Company equipment or toilets.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 contain a declaration by the Secretary of State that the incidence or transmission of novel Coronavirus constitutes a serious and imminent threat to public health, and the measures outlined in these regulations are considered as an effective means of delaying or preventing further transmission of the virus.
So assuming that someone who self isolates does so because they are given a written notice (see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-self-isolation-for-patients-undergoing-testing/advice-sheet-home-isolation?mc_cid=0269909608&mc_eid=faf5c25ccc), typically issued by a GP or by 111, then they are deemed in accordance with the Regulations to be incapable of work, and so are entitled to statutory sick pay. If your contracts of employment provide for contractual – not discretionary, which remains at your discretion – sick pay, then they will also be entitled to that enhanced payment.
But if somebody chooses to self-isolate, and/or is not given that written notice, then they are not entitled to statutory sick pay.
