Should you work from home or the workplace?

The Government is taking further measures to stem the recent rise in the number of coronavirus cases. One of these measures is encouraging people to work from home where possible.

There are several local restrictions because of Covid-19 and the Government has already reduced the number of social gatherings in England down to 6 from the 14 September.

The latest changes announced for England are:

• People should work from home wherever possible
• Pubs, bars and restaurants to close at 22:00 BST
• They will also be restricted to table service only
• Face masks compulsory for bar staff and non-seated customers, shop workers and waiters
• Limit on guests at weddings reduced from 30 to 15
• Plans to allow fans to return to sporting events paused
• “Rule of six” now applies to indoor team sports
• Fines for not wearing masks or following rules increased to £200 for first offence

The death rate remains low at 1% of deaths in England and Wales and we all hope this surge has a very different outcome to the last one. Like many businesses we have taken steps to maintain social distancing and protect our employees and clients and think that now it is a good time for all of us to reiterate these and make sure everyone is protected as best they can.

The key question for many of us is should we work from home or the workplace?

The new guidance to “work from home where possible” is a change from Government advice in July and the campaign last month to encourage people back to the workplace. The best we can do here is keep you informed of any changes in the guidance as they come out.

In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced:

• A ban on meeting inside other people’s homes.
• A 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants from Friday 25th.
• Up to six people from two different households can meet outdoors, including in private gardens.
• There will be no limit on the number of children under 12 who can meet or play together outdoors.
• Young people aged 12 to 18 are exempt from the two-household limit and can meet outdoors in groups of up to six.

Ms Sturgeon raised the possibility of a two-week “circuit breaker” with further restrictions for Scotland in October, although she said no decision had been made.
In Wales up to 30 people can meet outdoors and four households can form an “extended household with a maximum of six people aged 11+.

For Northern Ireland six from two households in a private garden and up to 15 in a public place can meet.

There are no social visits to private homes but up to 15 people can meet at other venues. It is expected these rules will change and we will keep you informed of them as and when they happen.
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