Archives for May 2020

GOVERNMENT PROVIDES MORE DETAILED GUIDANCE ON WORKING IN HOMES

The Government guidance for tradespeople working in people’s homes has now changed for work being carried out in England only, and is no longer stipulating that only essential work can be undertaken, but instead, the new Guidance is asking companies to adopt a risk-based approach.

The new Guidance now allows standard work to go ahead, provided that it is safe to do so, Public Health England (PHE) guidelines are being followed (social distancing, hygiene and cleaning routines etc.), a risk assessment has been undertaken, and mitigating measures to reduce the risks have been introduced.

and how to minimise these for employees (this also includes self-employed tradespeople) and those whose homes they are working in. Companies are encouraged to publish these online and share assessment results with householders.

Although the guidance does allow more work to take place, it does still specify that work should not be undertaken in a household where someone has symptoms or is being asked to shield, and that additional precautions should be taken when working in households where there are vulnerable people, for example the over-70s.  

The Guidance also includes, face coverings when on public transport or working in confined areas (such as inside homes) and in close proximity to others. Individual tradespeople and firms should familiarise themselves with the social distancing, hygiene and PPE (personal protection Equipment).

John Agnew, GGF Managing Director, “Following the latest guidance issued yesterday evening, the GGF contacted Government first thing this morning and it has been clarified that under the new guidance, work can take place if it is safe to do so. It must be stressed that companies should follow the Government guidance on risk assessment, social distancing, PPE and hygiene to minimize the risk of spreading the virus.”

Click here for the PDF

To access the “Working safely during COVID-19 in other people’s homes” full guidance please follow this link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/homes

The new Guidance is for work carried out England only and the GGF recommends that companies in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales should refer to the latest guidance on the devolved governments’ websites. Please see links below:

Northern Ireland https://www.hseni.gov.uk/news/covid-19-safety-guidance-construction-employers-federation-ni-cefni-taskforce

Scotland https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-construction-sector-guidance/

Wales https://gov.wales/coronavirus

Please note: the GGF understands that the Government guidance is now being updated across its online channels to reflect these recent changes.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak, today issued a statement regarding the Job Retention Scheme, COVID-19 and Business.

Please see the key points of the Chancellor’s statement below:

• The Government’s plan is one of the most comprehensive in the world
• The Job Retention scheme has been a world-leading economic intervention
• 7.5m jobs have been furloughed, jobs that could have been lost had the government not acted. Nearly 1m businesses supported
• As the government reopens the economy they will need to support people back to work
• Sunak announced the scheme will be extended for four months until the end of October.
• Until the end of July, there will be no changes, then from August to October, it will continue for all sectors and regions but for greater flexibility to support the transition back to work
• Employers will be able to bring furloughed employees back part-time and the government will ask employers to start sharing the cost of paying peoples salaries
• Full details will follow by the end of May, but the Chancellor stated that workers will continue to receive the same level of overall support as they do now, at 80percent of their current salary up to £2.5k per month

Chancellor Sunak added, “We stood behind Britain’s workers and businesses as we came into the crisis, and we will stand behind them as we come through the other side”

To find out how you can claim Job Retention Scheme support, please click on link below: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

Following reported confusion in the Glass & Glazing industry last week around the issue of whether or not companies can work in domestic properties, it was incumbent on the GGF as the industry’s leading trade body to contact Government with some of the key questions raised by GGF Members.

Throughout the COVD-19 crisis the GGF has always been strictly aligned to the Government Guidance and Public Health England (PHE) Guidelines. These guidelines were published on the GGF website on 8 April and cited in numerous subsequent GGF articles which included a direct link through to the Government web page on Social Distancing Guidance which can be read here.

The GGF has been in correspondence with Government since the start of the lockdown and has been careful to convey an accurate and credible position based on the information received from Government. In addition, the GGF has also been careful not to get embroiled in speculation and interpretations, which have led to unfounded rumours and misinformation causing reported confusion within the industry. These are serious issues and poor advice could in the worst case lead to loss of life and companies potentially facing very difficult legal positions.

The GGF position remains, as it has been since the outbreak of COVID-19 and that is; that companies must follow Government and Public Health England (PHE) Guidance on working in construction and in people’s homes and if working in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales to follow devolved Governments’ guidance, before taking any decision to carry out installation, repair or maintenance work.

In the last few days, the GGF has sought and gained further clarity from the Government Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and reiterates that companies must follow the latest Government guidance.

• In unoccupied properties; the Government advises that work can continue, only if it is safe to do so but companies must adhere to the Government Social Distancing guidance, which can be found here.
• In occupied properties, the Government guidance emphasizes that only essential repair or maintenance work should be carried out and, only if it is safe to do so and is carried out strictly in line with the Government Social Distancing guidance which can be read here.

Note: Essential can be defined as; work required on a building where the occupants’ health and safety could be at risk. For example, this could be a damaged window or door, or a window or door that may be beyond repair and require replacement. 

In relation to any essential work involved in a dwelling, this should only be carried out with the prior willing agreement of the occupants/owners.

• Work that should not be undertaken includes non-essential home improvements inside occupied properties. This could include work such as upgrading windows and doors, glass interiors (such as screens, partitions, kitchen counter tops, splashbacks etc.), decorative glazing and roof lights (unless deemed an essential replacement).
• Work outside the home on land surrounding the property, the Government guidance shows that this can be carried out if it is safe to do so and in line with Government Guidelines on Social Distancing. This could include conservatories, porches, orangeries, extensions, replacement roofline and glass and garden structures.
• New build and housebuilding, the Government guidance shows this can continue, if it is safe to do so and in line with Government Guidance on Social Distancing and the Site Operating Procedures (SOP) published by the Construction Leadership Council. (The latest version of SOP was published on the GGF website on 15 April you can read this document here)
• Manufacturing and processing, the Government advice shows that this can continue, if it is safe to do so and in line with Government Guidance on Social Distancing and guidance on the correct Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). The GGF published this specific guidance on 16 April, it can be found here.

The GGF asks that all companies refer to the Government guidelines in conjunction with the above clarification, prior to taking the responsible decision to undertake work or not.

The GGF emphasizes that health & safety comes first and that prior to making any decision, it is advised that all companies undertake a proper health and safety risk assessment for each individual job. The GGF published guidance on health and safety risk assessments on 7 April, you can read this here.

In addition the GGF urges all companies, prior to undertaking any work, to check with their insurers that they are covered for Public Health and Health and Safety Employer liability.

The GGF also advises that if work is undertaken, that companies must ensure their employees have suitable PPE as outlined in the Government Guidance.  

At present, there is no set date for when the Social Distancing guidelines will change or will be eased. The GGF will continue to update Members and the industry as and when information from Government is received. It is in anticipated that there will be further Government announcements this week on Social Distancing in the workplace.

To see all the COVID-19 updates on the GGF website please visit: https://www.ggf.org.uk/category/covid-19/

The GGF business support partner Citation has now issued a free guide for Members, regarding facemasks and RPE in the workplace.

To try to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, the UK may be asked to start wearing masks when we’re out in public. This has been requested, and in some cases even required, by many countries around the world.

Naturally, this will be something that you will have to consider when you’re thinking about how your organisation will adapt to the new normal that comes on the other side of COVID-19.

This free guide from our partner, Citation, explores the implications and considerations of staff wearing facemasks in the workplace.

GET YOUR FREE GUIDE

It offers expert guidance on how to decide what facemasks to use, whether you can make someone wear a facemask, how to make sure facemasks fit, plus other key questions employers should ask themselves.

This guide is the second in a series put together to help businesses and their people return to work safely and protect their futures. The first guide looked at social distancing in the workplace and can be accessed for free by clicking here.

Your member benefit – available support from Citation

Citation’s industry-leading experts are here to help take the headache out of keeping your business safe and dealing with your HR & Employment Law.

In the coming weeks and months, they can specifically support you with:

• Navigating through Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and government guidance, giving you a real steer on what you need to do to keep legal and compliant;
• Offering a safe pair of hands whenever you need support through their 24/7 helpline, visits and site inspections, and Atlas platform;
• Specific Risk Assessment support, focused on COVID-19, giving you more reassurance you are on track and outlining the steps you need to take to continue to monitor your working environment as events and government guidelines unfold.

Got any questions or want to book a free online consultation?

Please click here or call 0345 844 1111. please mention you are a GGF Member when enquiring to access your member benefit and preferential rates.

The new Bounce Back Loans scheme is now open for applications. The scheme allows small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 and access the cash within days.

The government guarantees 100% of the loan and there won’t be any fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months.

Loan terms will be up to 6 years.

No repayments will be due during the first 12 months.

The government has also agreed with lenders that an affordable flat rate of 2.5% interest will be charged on these loans.

Businesses can apply online through a short and simple form.

You can find further information about the scheme, including eligibility, here.

The scheme will be delivered through a network of accredited lenders and will run alongside the existing Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS)

The Government has set up a discretionary fund to accommodate certain small businesses in England previously outside the scope of the business grant funds scheme.

This additional fund is aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs. Local authorities are being asked to prioritise businesses in shared spaces, regular market traders, small charity properties that would meet the criteria for Small Business Rates Relief, and bed and breakfasts that pay council tax rather than business rates.

Businesses must be small, under 50 employees, and they must also be able to demonstrate that they have seen a significant drop of income due to Coronavirus restriction measures.

Local authorities may choose to make payments to other businesses based on local economic need.

The maximum grant will be £25,000.

There will also be grants of £10,000.

Local authorities will have discretion to make payments of any amount under £10,000. It will be for councils to adapt this approach to local circumstances.

The GGF is pleased to promote a series of free webinars hosted by Government departments this week to help businesses understand the support available including: 

• Tuesday 5 May – Financial support for small businesses during coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Wednesday 6 May – COVID-19: Impacts and changes to International Trade
• Thursday 7 May – Managing your business during coronavirus: reporting, regulations and tax
• Multiple dates – Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – How to make a claim
• Multiple dates – Coronavirus COVID-19 Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme

Keep up to date with all the latest available webinars here.