The Welsh Government has made it clear that people within Wales must work from home if they can, because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households.
People will only be allowed to leave their home for limited purposes. This includes travelling to and from work – but only where work cannot be done from home.
If you absolutely cannot work from home then you can still travel to work, provided you are well and neither you nor any of your household are self-isolating. This is consistent with advice from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
Employers who have people in their offices or onsite should ensure that employees are able to follow Public Health England guidelines.
Questions & Answers
Can you tell me clearly who is allowed to go to work?
Everyone must work from home if it is possible to do so, however, all those who are in professions where you are unable to work from home are allowed to go into work.
Employers should take every possible step to facilitate their employees working from home, including providing suitable IT and equipment to enable remote working.
Sometimes this will not be possible – we understand that certain jobs require people to travel to their work, for instance if they operate machinery or are delivering front line services, such as train and bus drivers, those in the financial services sector, construction workers, restaurant workers handling deliveries or health and social care workers.
If you are unable to work from home, then you are still allowed to leave this area and go to work if necessary - provided you are well and neither you nor any of your household are self-isolating.
Employers who have people in their offices or onsite should ensure that employees are able to follow Public Health England guidelines including, where possible, maintaining a 2 metre distance from others and washing their hands.
Are you allowed to leave home to look for work?
While you are allowed to leave home to look for work, it has been made clear that you can only leave your home for specific reasons such as medical/caring needs and travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.
However, we would encourage people to use other ways to look for work, such as online, and for any interviews to be conducted over video call.
EMPLOYER ACTIONS
What guidance is there for people in the workplace?
Employers should ensure that as far as possible employees are able to follow Public Health England guidelines, including maintaining a 2 metre distance in the workplace where possible and washing their hands with soap and water often for at least 20 seconds (using hand sanitiser gel if soap and water is not available).
My employer is asking me to come to work but I'm scared.
Employers and staff should discuss working arrangements and any concerns they have.
Employers must make all efforts to help people to work from home where possible, as this will help limit the spread of the virus by reducing the amount of contact between people.
In some circumstances this may be impossible – this would apply to those working for a business or organisation that we have not asked to close and requires them to travel and be at work, such as tube drivers, construction workers, restaurant workers handling deliveries or those on the frontline like NHS workers.
For these workers who need to be at work and are not vulnerable members of society, we have outlined clear guidance to help protect workers and create safe places to work [as above].
What if they try to fire me because I won’t go to work but cannot work at home?
In this unprecedented time, we would urge employers to take socially responsible decisions and listen to the concerns of their workforce. Employers and employees should come to a pragmatic agreement about these arrangements. If individuals need advice they should approach ACAS where they can get impartial advice about in work dispute.
What about if I cannot stay 2m away from others or my employer isn’t following the guidelines? How do I raise concerns about an employer who is not letting staff observe social distancing rules?
We encourage you to speak to your employer about any concerns you have and work with them to adhere to the guidance.
If individuals need advice they should approach ACAS where they can get impartial advice about in work disputes.
What are my rights if I don't want to go to work because I’ve been told to stay at home, but can't work from home?
Employers and their employees should discuss their working arrangements. Employers must make all efforts to allow people to work from home.
Employers should be taking all efforts to allow people to work from home, but where this is impossible, employees are able to travel and be at work. – our clear message to stay at home where they can, will help lessen the risk for those who must go to work.
We encourage you to speak to your employer about any concerns you have and work with them to adhere to the guidance.
If individuals need advice they should approach ACAS where they can get impartial advice about in work disputes.
Background: This could mean that an employer can take the necessary action against the employee if they have followed the appropriate guidelines but their employee refuses to work. This will be on a case by case basis.
What are my rights if I can work from home, but my employer is telling me to come to work?
Our guidance is clear – employers must make all efforts to allow people to work from home. If employees can work from home, we urge employers to enable them to do so. We must all play our part to reduce the spread of the virus.
In this unprecedented time, we would urge employers to take socially responsible decisions and listen to the concerns of their workforce. Employers and employees should come to a pragmatic agreement about these arrangements. If individuals need advice they should approach ACAS where they can get impartial advice about in work disputes.
What about companies that are offering staff accommodation in skyscrapers? Should employees accept/should employers offer?
We’ve been clear that employers should carefully consider the guidance. It sets out that they should help their staff find alternative arrangements to support them working from their homes.
CONSTRUCTION
Employers should take every possible step to facilitate their employees working from home.
Sometimes this will not be possible – for instance if they operate machinery, work in construction or manufacturing, or are delivering front line services.
So, if you cannot work from home then you can still travel to work, provided you are well and neither you nor any of your household are self-isolating.
Construction should continue where it can happen in a way that follows PHE and industry guidance.
The industry has also issued guidance on Site Operating Procedures through the Construction Leadership Council. Employers and employees in the construction industry should refer to PHE or CLC if they require further information.
Is it all builders or just those working on key sites?
Construction should continue where it can happen in a way that follows PHE and industry guidance.
However, we urge employers and individual employees to follow the government guidance and use their common sense. For example, if there are families or residents inside a building that’s being maintained or repaired then workers and residents should follow safe distancing practice.
Will you stop work on major Government construction sites?
Work on major construction projects can continue, so long as employers comply with PHE guidance.
It’s important we closely monitor major construction projects and keep the situation under constant review, ensuring that building sites are in line with the government advice on managing Covid-19.
TRADESMAN/PLUMBERS
Will plumbers/electricians etc still be able to go to work?
Yes, the official advice released by the Welsh Government regarding continuing work throughout the firebreak is that work carried out in people’s homes, for example by tradespeople, can continue.
However, it is recommended that people consider whether the work can be safely deferred until after this short lockdown.
Both the tradesperson and household members should be well and have no symptoms of coronavirus. No work should ever be carried out by a tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild. Please see the self-isolation guidance for more information.
Like other businesses, tradespeople must take all reasonable measures to ensure that 2m distancing is maintained at all times when working in other people’s households and should follow the advice in our social distancing guidance. Please see the guidance on reasonable measures for more information.
Why - doesn’t this undermine the advice?
We’ve said that you are able to go to work if you absolutely have to, unless you are a vulnerable member of society, in which case we urge you to stay at home.
This is consistent with advice from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
Will a heating engineer be able to go into someone’s home to fix a broken boiler?
Yes, the public should take a sensible and measured approach to limit unnecessary visits for heating engineers, electricians plumbers and other such trades.
How close should they get to the person in the house?
We recommend that they keep 2 metres apart at all times.
What about households of vulnerable people? Can people visit those?
We recommend no work should be carried out in any household which is isolating or where a person who is classed as extremely vulnerable unless it is to repair a fault which poses a direct risk to people’s safety – for example, emergency plumbing. In these cases, Public Health Wales can provide advice to tradespeople and households. But no work should be carried out by a tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild.
I need to have a phone line/satellite TV/broadband repaired or installed. Can an engineer do a call out?
We have been very clear that people should stay at home and work from home where possible.
It’s therefore important that people who rely on WiFi to do their job can access a functioning broadband connection.
If they require an engineer call out to install or repair their broadband – then they should be able to do so. Likewise, where people lose TV or phone line access then they should be able to fix this.
However we urge engineers and residents to follow safe distancing practice inside the home at all times in the exceptional circumstance that their broadband, TV or phone line needs fixing.
What about moving house? Are removal companies still allowed to function?
Yes, if the house move is necessary and cannot be deferred until after the lockdown period
It’s vital that you disinfect your house and belongings before removal companies can start packing in line with PHE guidance.
The number of people inside the house at any one time should be kept to a minimum, and workers and residents should follow safe distancing practice during the move.
However, property viewings must not take place during the firebreak lockdown and high street estate agencies are required to close. Virtual viewings can continue.
What about vets?
Yes, vets can still travel to work but should observe social distancing in the work place as per the guidance.
You should only seek treatment for your animals if it is urgent and cannot be deferred until after 9 November.