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Following the First Minister’s announcement yesterday, and the tightening of the restrictions and new rules, it is important to highlight and encourage practices that help stop the spread the virus.  For us this means:

Working from home

If you are currently working from home you will continue to do so for some time to come.  You should not return to an office unless you need to perform a vital piece of work that you cannot do at home, and only after you’ve gained permission from your line manager to do so.

For those who have returned to the office, who could be working from home, you should return to working from home.   Managers have a role in ensuring the safety of our workforce but more importantly should lead by example.  Whilst some managers want to be visible to support front line staff, this should be very limited. 

All employers must comply with this advice otherwise legislation will be implemented to allow home working, where possible. We all have a role to play to ensure that this is not required.

The First Minister has been clear that  if staff can work from home, they must work from home.

Car Sharing

The First Minister has advised against car sharing highlighting that you should only travel with members of your own, or extended, household.  Further information on car sharing can be found here.

At this point the existing work-related travel guidance is still the same so arrangements for work travel remain unchanged and in line with current Risk Assessments. 

Symptoms

If you have any symptoms, then you should not attend your workplace and should self isolate and arrange a test. Self-isolation of people with symptoms awaiting a test, people who test positive and household and other close contacts of such people is  absolutely essential to helping break the chains of transmission

Finally, a few reminders:

Download the Test and Protect app
Follow the FACTS advice
Check out our Wellbeing section