Expert advice in high demand
WITH the safety of staff and customers the priority for all businesses expert advice is needed now more than ever – and the experts have been in demand.
Gavin Howarth, managing director at HR, employment law and health and safety consultancy, Howarths, based in Cleckheaton, has been busy.
He told KBN: “Since Monday, we have seen a significant increase in the volume of calls we have received from businesses concerned about the impact of the Coronavirus, and we predict this will continue.
“Many businesses have been asking what rules they should have in place to ensure remote working is effective. Our advice is to ensure they have a properly drafted homeworking policy in place which should cover areas such as use of equipment, data security, health and safety aspects and how to bring the arrangement to an end when needed.”
He continued: “We have also had lots of questions about sick pay and some businesses looking ahead considering actions such as lay-off, short time working and even redundancies. We’ve been giving many businesses preliminary advice on how to do this fairly and properly considering both the needs of the business and the staff team.”
When it comes to health and safety in the workplace to help prevent the spread of the virus, Mr Howarth explained following official advice is key.
He added: “Our advice has been to follow government guidance and that of Public Health England. Further, employers have a duty of care to all employees under Health and Safety laws.
“So, for example, if an employer is aware an individual has been advised to self-isolate but they allow them into the workplace to come into contact with others, this could constitute a breach of their duty of care.
“I’d also encourage businesses to review their policies and procedures in respect of remote working, sickness absence, health and safety, event planning and on and off-site visits at the current time.”
Mr Howarth concluded: “Staff are critically important to any business, particularly during difficult and uncertain times like those we’re currently experiencing.
“By taking professional HR, employment law and health and safety advice that is delivered in a calm and collected manner, businesses will be far more prepared to navigate the current situation and ensure they come out the other side with minimal disruption.”
HESE are worrying times for business owners, with a great deal of uncertainty and a regularly changing picture. While we wait for decisions to be made about how best to limit the spread of coronavirus, we are helping our clients to take steps to manage the risks of the spread of an infection in their workplace. What is practical depends on the size, location and type of business they’re in, but some steps taken include:
■■Staggering start/finish times and breaks so that staff don’t have to congregate at busy points (clocking in/ out machines, canteens, locker rooms) at the same time and can avoid using public transport in busy periods;
■■Creating a break between shifts so that staff numbers aren’t doubling during what would otherwise be a handover period;
■■Increasing cleaning activity, including in busy areas and frequent ‘touch points’ such as door handles and phones;
■■Supplying staff with anti-bacterial wipes and asking them to wipe down their telephones and keypads on a regular basis;
■■Stopping any kind of hot desking or desk sharing activity and encouraging staff to use their own equipment – e.g. telephones, computers, stationary;
■■Propping open non-fire doors to reduce the need for contact; ■■Making plans for home working including checking what numbers of staff can work from home without creating IT support issues through increased demand.