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What should an employer do when an employee has been told to self-isolate under the coronavirus Test and Trace scheme?

  • Do not require them to work
  • Continue to communicate with and support them
  • Allow them to work from home, is there alternative work for them to do if they can’t do their work from home
  • Offer SSP or allow them to take holiday if they want to.

Related FAQs

When does IR35 generally apply?

It would apply if the contractor uses an intermediary to provide their services or labour and they would be deemed to be an employee or office holder for tax purposes if they were hired directly by the end user client rather than via the intermediary PSC. This would of course require an assessment of employment status for tax purposes.

Contractors who are not taxed in the UK and supply their services exclusively from outside of the UK are unaffected.

If IR35 applies, tax and NIC’s should be deducted under PAYE by the PSC. In reality this has not been happening so a major reform of the regime was due to be implemented in April 2020. The changes were postponed by one year and are due to take effect from 6 April 2021.

“Within IR35” means a contractor arrangement is caught by IR35 and the individual should be taxed as an employee.

“Outside IR35” means a contractor arrangement is not caught by IR35 and the contractor status is fine.

What are the new rules about wearing face masks in the workplace?

The new rules for wearing face masks/face coverings in the workplace introduced on 23 September 2020 are as follows:

  • Staff in retail, including shops, supermarkets and shopping centres, will now have to wear a face covering
  • Staff in hospitality will now have to wear a face covering
  • Guidance stating that face coverings and visors should be worn in close contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, will now become law
  • Staff working on public transport and taxi drivers will continue to be advised to wear face coverings

You can take off your mask if:

  • You who need to eat, drink, or take medication
  • A police officer or other official asks you to
What about someone who refuses because they are against the vaccine (the anti-vaxers)?

It is a theoretical possibility that “anti-vax” beliefs could be a philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010 and therefore anti-vaxers have the right not to be discriminated against for their beliefs. Much will depend on why the individual is against the vaccine. Conspiracy theorists (the vaccine is being used as an opportunity to monitor you or it’s all because of 5G) are highly unlikely to be treated as having a philosophical belief!

The Government

Government’s Covid-19 landing page

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Covid-19 recovery strategy

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/our-plan-to-rebuild-the-uk-governments-covid-19-recovery-strategy

Working safely during Covid-19

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Working safely during Covid-19: construction and other outdoor work

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/construction-and-other-outdoor-work

Working safely during Covid-19: factories, plants and warehouses

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/factories-plants-and-warehouses

Working safely during Covid-19: labs and research facilities

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/labs-and-research-facilities

Working safely during Covid-19: offices and contact centres

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/offices-and-contact-centres

Working safely during Covid-19: other people’s homes

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/homes

Working safely during Covid-19: restaurants offering takeaway or delivery

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/restaurants-offering-takeaway-or-delivery

Working safely during Covid-19: shops and branches

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/shops-and-branches

Working safely during Covid-19: vehicles

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/vehicles

Business support: loans, tax relief and grants for businesses, employees and self-employed people

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support

Education and childcare

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare

Housing and accommodation: renting: guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities

Housing and accommodation: moving home

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

Housing and accommodation: planning inspections

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-planning-inspectorate-guidance

Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: NHS guidance for people working in healthcare

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/

Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: PPE hub

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-personal-protective-equipment-ppe

Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: adult social care guidance

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-social-care-guidance

Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: adult social care guidance

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-social-care-guidance#guidance-for-unpaid-carers

Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: health, care and volunteer workers parking pass and concessions

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-health-care-and-volunteer-workers-parking-pass-and-concessions

International travel and immigration: travel advice for British citizens travelling abroad

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus

International travel and immigration: foreign travel advice for each country

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

International travel and immigration: waiting to return to the UK

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-staying-where-you-are-if-you-cannot-return-to-the-uk

International travel and immigration: essential international travel guidance

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-essential-international-travel-guidance

International travel and immigration: advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents

Government’s financial support for businesses

This page help businesses find out how to access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply.
https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/

Rishi Sunak

The Twitter feed of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, where he has published various responses to some FAQs from the public.
https://twitter.com/RishiSunak

What are the alternatives to an injunction?

A quicker and more cost-effective option may be the involvement of the police given their recent allocation of emergency powers to disperse, fine or even arrest persons who flout these rules. Nevertheless, it appears that the Court is willing to support housing providers in their efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour during this time.