The NHS Test and Trace system was rolled out today. Bluntly, if anyone has a positive test result for Covid-19, the service will notify anyone who has had recent contact with that person. Those ‘notified’ persons will then need to self-isolate for 14 days to help stop the spread of the virus.
The Statutory Sick Pay regulations have been amended to offer employers the right to recover statutory sick pay for these ‘notified’ people for that 14 day period.
Why is this important?
Unless working from home is possible, if one of your employees receives a notification via the Test and Trace system, they will be required to stay away from your workplace and self-isolate. These employees should be given a minimum of statutory sick pay.
What should you do?
- If you have not done so already, amend your Covid-19 risk assessment to prepare for the fact that someone in your workplace may receive a Test and Trace notification. You should consider what steps you may need to take as a result of this notification and, of course, follow Government guidance.
- If they are healthy and can work from home during self-isolation, they should do so. In this case, they should receive normal pay.
- If they cannot work from home, you should not ask them to come into work and you should pay them SSP.
- If they are sick, you should follow your usual sick pay rules.
If you need more information relating to employees affected by NHS Test and Trace, please contact Trethowans on 0800 2800 421 or see www.trethowans.com to find out how we can help.