Coronavirus: Engineering services recovery

Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (SSPRS) Temporarily Reintroduced

The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (SSPRS) has been temporarily reintroduced to help small and medium-sized employers – those with fewer than 250 employees – by reimbursing them for the cost of Statutory Sick Pay for Covid-related absences, for up to 2 weeks per employee. Firms will be eligible for the scheme from 21 December 2021 and they will be able to make claims retrospectively from mid-January 2022. More information can be accessed here: Factsheet SSPRS

Government Extends Time Period Employees Can Self-Certify Sick From Seven Days to 28 days.

This measure has been introduced to relieve pressure on GPs delivering the Covid-19 booster rollout.  It means that for any sickness absences which began on or after 10 December 2021, up to and including 26 January 2022, GPs will not need to provide employees with medical evidence of sickness, such as a fit note, for the first 28 days of absence.

Employees only need to attend a GP for a fit note if they have been ill for more than 28 days (including  non-working days over weekends and bank holidays) and have taken sick leave.

The regulations apply in England, Scotland and Wales.

Mandatory Vaccination in Care Homes Guidance

ECA Member-only guidance on the mandating of vaccinations in care home settings which comes into force on 11 November 2011.   How the legislation impacts on electrical and engineering service providers and how to prepare for the requirement that mandates anyone entering a care home in England (subject to exceptions) must provide evidence that they have been fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine, or deemed medically exempt.  

Managing Redundancy Guidance

Comprehensive ECA Member-only guidance and resources for conducting a redundancy exercise, whether large or small. Includes step-by-step procedural guidance and sample selection criteria, assessment form and letters. Also, click here to view ECA’s October 2020 webinar on managing redundancy.

Annual Leave Guidance

Practical guidance for ECA members on dealing with questions relating to the taking and carrying over of excess leave which has accumulated as a result of the COVID lockdown and its aftermath.

Alternatives to Furlough and Redundancy

This updated ECA guidance note explores the various options and procedural considerations for employers returning employees to the workplace post lockdowns. Issues explored include alternative duties, reduced hours, reduced pay, short-time working, seconding employees, annual and unpaid leave.

Returning Employees to Work

This ECA guidance note sets out various options available to an employer in returning employees to the workplace post lockdowns. Issues explored include risk assessment, bringing employees off furlough, managing vulnerable employees, responding to a refusal to return to work and workplace testing.

Vaccination and Self Isolation – Frequently Asked Questions

Practical FAQs for employers navigating many difficult issues, including whether an employer can make vaccination compulsory for its employees, alternatives to a mandatory requirement, time off for vaccine appointments and data privacy concerns.

HMRC guidance: Check if you can claim for your employees' wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Covers employer eligibility requirements; the form and content of furlough/ flexible furlough agreements, including minimum furlough periods; and, employment rights and income tax/ NI treatment of workers whilst on furlough.

Double vaccination and self-isolation requirements

It is anticipated that from 16 August, double vaccinated people will no longer be legally required to self-isolate if identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case.

Note: if someone has their second dose just before, or after, the 16th of August, they’ll need to wait until two weeks after their second jab to be exempt from self-isolation, because the vaccine needs time to develop protection. .

Details are available below:

Self isolation to be eased for the fully vaccinated adults in step 4

An update to Parliament on self-isolation rules

HMRC guidance on claiming back SSP paid to employees during COVID-19

Defines who is eligible and how to go about making a claim – including link to online claims portal

Managing Redundancy Guidance

Comprehensive ECA guidance and resources for conducting a redundancy exercise, whether large or small. Includes step-by-step procedural guidance and sample selection criteria, assessment form and letters. Also covers COVID-19 related considerations. Companion to ECA Collective Redundancy Consultation Guidance.

Self-Isolation cut to 5 full days

Self-isolation for people with coronavirus (COVID-19) changes from 17th January 2022. It is now possible to end self-isolation for those who tested positive for Coronavirus after 5 full days, following 2 negative Lateral Flow tests taken 24 hours apart.

The first test should not be taken before the fifth day. The new guidance applies to everyone, regardless of vaccination status. People who are not double-jabbed and come in close contact with a positive case must still isolate for a full 10 days. More information can be found here.

Vaccination employer toolkit

Current figures from ONS on vaccine rates by sector show that many construction workers have yet to get their booster vaccination, and that this in turn is affecting worker absence/self-isolation.

An employer toolkit is available for those who wish to inform employees about vaccination or encourage employees to get vaccinated.

CLC Site Operating Procedures (SOP) - Version 9

The Construction Leadership Council has issued an updated version of the Site Operating Procedures (SOP). Version 9 of the SOP is available here, and it incorporates the following changes: 

• A revised introduction to recognise that ‘working with COVID-19’ is now essentially ‘business as usual’ for the industry
• More relevant language to reflect the current situation onsite, for example ‘managing’ rather than ‘restricting’ numbers of workers
• Removing out of date references regarding when to go to work, shielding etc. 

Self-Isolation Advice Updated

The self-isolation advice for people with coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed effective from 22 December 2021. It is now possible to end self-isolation for those who tested positive for Coronavirus after 7 days, following 2 negative Lateral Flow tests taken 24 hours apart. The first test should not be taken before the sixth day. The new guidance applies to everyone, regardless of vaccination status. People who are not double-jabbed and come in close contact with a positive case must still isolate for a full 10 days. More information can be found here stay-at-home-guidanc

LFT replacing self-isolation where pinged

From 14 December 2021 daily LFT testing is being introduced for close contacts of someone who has tested positive for COVID‐19 ‐ including those of any Omicron cases ‐ in place of a requirement to self‐isolate.

This means that anyone who is identified as having had a close contact with a Covid-positive person and who is fully vaccinated (or aged under 18 years 6 months) does not need to self‐isolate but should take daily lateral flow tests for seven days. 

Anyone whose rapid test comes back positive or who develops COVID-19 symptoms should self-isolate and while self-isolating, take a confirmatory PCR test to verify the test result. 

Note: The CLC has updated its guidance, which can be viewed here.

New measures and restrictions

The government has announced that England will move to ‘Plan B’, which includes:

• From 10 December, face coverings will be required by law in most indoor settings.

• From 13 December, office workers who can work from home should do so.

Full information can be found here.

Please note the following extract from the latest government guidance, which is not yet introduced but may be significant in the near future.

“The Government has announced its intention to replace self-isolation with daily testing for some contacts of people who have tested positive for COVID-19. Further details will be set out shortly. Until then, current rules continue to apply and you must self-isolate if instructed to do so by NHS Test and Trace. This remains the law.”

Health Security Agency launches free, limited antibody surveillance

DHSC has announced free access (for up to 8000 people only) to coronavirus antibody tests through a national surveillance programme via the UK Health Security Agency. Those aged over 18 will be able to opt in to take part when booking a PCR test through NHS Test and Trace.

Selected recipients who have a positive PCR result will be sent two ‘finger antibody tests’ to carry out at home and send back for analysis. The programme aims to help improve the understanding of immunity against COVID-19 from vaccination and/or infection.

www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-uk-wide-antibody-surveillance-programme

The Government has announced the removal of various mandatory COVID-protection measures from July 19.

This will affect the status of the Site Operating Procedures, which cease to apply from this date, but which can be used as an ongoing reference.

Click here for more information.

Site working
In view of the May government announcement that the potential spread of the coronavirus ‘Indian variant’ might delay further relaxation of social distancing measures beyond 21 June, the latest version (version 7) of the Site Operating Procedures (SOP) remain vitally important for our sector and the wider industry.

Where employees and other workers need to attend or work on site, Members should continue to implement the current Site Operating Procedures until further notice.

The SOP will be reviewed by the industry following any further government announcement into social distancing or other protective measures.

FE Training 
Following the easing of coronavirus restrictions on 17 May, schools, colleges and other further education settings are now open for face‐to‐face teaching.

However, there has been no further guidance on resuming face‐to‐face training in the workplace, and Members should continue to determine if any necessary training can be undertaken remotely or is essential, as they may need to explain how they are complying with the current restrictions, which include working from home where possible.

ECA has produced guidance on how to carry out site training for apprentices, with suitable precautions, accessible below.

Rapid Flow Testing at work/home

The Government has set up several routes to free rapid COVID-19 testing. The main routes are:

• Worker testing programmes - either on‐site or at home

• Home Rapid Flow Testing    

• Build UK has produced a guide to running a workplace test site.

• A home ordering service, allowing people to order LF tests online to be delivered to their home

• Community testing, offered by local authorities

Protective screens in vehicles

Government guidance on the fitting of protective screens (in taxis) but which may also be of use to those considering or fitting such screens in work vans etc. 

CLC Site Operating Procedures (SOP) - Version 7

SOP v7 has been updated to reflect Government guidance in England.
The changes in v7 are minor, including updates on self-isolation and
shielding and the removal of the requirement to display a QR code in
site canteens

Summary of Tier 3 (very high alert) restrictions and continued domestic
and other activity (England & Wales) 

For work purposes the existing ECA
summary is still relevant: updated guidance for England is here. And for Wales
is here.

Using eRAMS to manage COVID risk?
COVID risk assessment example using ECA's eRAMS (risk assessment
method statement service) - free to ECA Members.

Find out more about eRAMS here.

Coronavirus: Guide to re-occupying buildings