We have had a lot of questions about what to do around staff and vaccinations.
Please be aware that no staff has to tell you whether they have or have not had the jab. They could even lie!
Double vaccinated staff
Do not have to self-isolate if have come into contact with someone who has Covid-19 – the pingdemic is over!
There is no requirement that they get themselves tested unless they have symptoms.
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
If they feel ill themselves, they should take a PCR test asap and stay at home until results come through.
While they are at home waiting for their results, they are self-certifying their sickness and are to be paid in line with your sickness policy.
If their result is negative and they feel well enough to come back to work, they should do so.
If their result is negative and they still feel ill, they should stay at home and be paid in line with your sickness policy.
If their result is positive, they are officially sick and stay at home until a minimum 10 days have passed.
Single jabbed or Non-vaccinated staff
Do have to self-isolate for 10 days if they have come into contact with someone who has Covid-19.
If they feel ill themselves, they should take a PCR test asap and stay at home until results come through.
While they are at home waiting for their results, they are self-certifying their sickness and are to be paid in line with your sickness policy. This includes enhanced sick pay.
If their result is negative still have to self-isolate for 10 days.
They are not sick so should be paid SSP rather than enhanced sick pay. You can claim this back from the government.
If their result is positive, they are officially sick and stay at home until a minimum 10 days have passed. They should be paid in accordance with your sick pay policy.
You cannot refuse to pay them enhanced sick pay if they get Covid-19 because “it is their own fault”.
https://faq.covid19.nhs.uk/article/KA-01314
Do not have the right to extra protection at work they are not vaccinated.
Do not have the right to refuse to meet people face to face because they feel at risk.
Do not have the right to insist on working from home. They can request it – flexible working request – but do not have the right to have it.
You are allowed to ask staff to take a lateral flow test or PCR if they are feeling ill. That’s because you have a duty of care to provide a safe workplace.
The coronavirus symptoms are evolving with each variant.
The current delta symptoms are much more like a cold or bad hayfever than they were last year. According to the data from the ZOE app (https://covid.joinzoe.com/post/new-top-5-covid-symptoms), the current top five symptoms if you’ve had two vaccinations are:
- headache
- runny nose
- sneezing
- sore throat
- loss of smell
If you’ve had one dose of vaccine, they are:
- headache
- runny nose
- sore throat
- sneezing
- persistent cough
If you’ve not had the vaccine, the top five symptoms are:
- headache
- sore throat
- runny nose
- fever
- persistent cough
