Colleagues are being reminded of the business’ COVID-19 safety protocols and the action being taken as the number of infections in the country rises again.
An increasing number of people are having to self-isolate, either because they have tested positive or they have been classified as a “close contact” of an infected individual.
Managing Director Dave Barber said: “We must not become complacent as we try to return to normal and we must continue to follow the guidelines.
“As a business we are not immune from this, so I wanted to remind you of the existing safety protocols we have in place to protect ourselves and advise you of additional actions we are now taking to guard against any infection transmission and, therefore, reduce the risk of having to self-isolate.”
First of all the definition of a “close contact” according to NHS Test and Trace is:
• Having face-to-face contact with someone less than one metre away (this will include times where you have worn a face covering or a face mask)
• Having been within two metres of someone for more than 15 minutes (either as a one-off contact, or added up together over one day)
• Travelling in a car or other small vehicle with someone (even on a short journey) or close to them on a plane
In line with the above:
• Do not shake hands with or hug colleagues as this breaches our social distancing guidelines. If you need to get close, for example, to hand over a document, try to avoid doing this face to face and try to keep at least two metres away.
• The primary guard we have in place is to continue to social distance. Our company guidance is to maintain a two-metre distance wherever possible and colleagues are encouraged to continue to follow this at all times. As the business looks at getting people back into the office, seating arrangements will be reviewed to ensure this distance is adhered to. If you need to be within two metres of a colleague please ensure this is for less than 15 minutes, that you wear a face mask and that you sanitise immediately after being close.
• If possible, avoid sharing a car with a colleague, unless in your household or bubble.
• Continue using the one-way systems that are in place.
• Continue wearing face masks when not at your desk – this is still good practice and mandatory within our current protocols.
• Continue the use of sanitiser.
In addition to the above:
• Please carefully consider if you need to travel to another site that is not your “home” site, and seek CLT approval first.
• Do not travel to more than one site in any week and allow five working days before you visit another site.
• If having internal meetings, consider if they can be effectively done over Microsoft Teams, if not limit both the number of people in the room to the minimum required (and at all times within the room maximum) and the duration of the meeting to the minimum.
• Limit face to face meetings to only those business critical topics which cannot be effectively done via Microsoft Teams.
• If not already doing so, we encourage all our workforce to take advantage of the free lateral flow home tests kits available on line from the GOV.UK website or from your local chemist and test yourself at least twice a week. This adds an additional layer of protection for you and your family both inside and outside of work. HR can give guidance on obtaining and self-administering tests should you require additional support.
Whilst the above guidance is particularly applicable to working from the office many points also apply to when visiting customers so please apply the same principles then.
Dave said: “As a management team we remain focussed on providing a safe working environment for us all, and if we continue following our guidelines I am sure we can continue to offer that safe working environment and avoid any requirements to self-isolate.
“We will continue to monitor the situation, and any changes in government guidelines, but hope to still be in a position to continue to welcome more and more people back to the offices after July 19.”