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Is Your Workplace Ready For The Coronavirus Outbreak Governments Warn About?

Is your employer supportive - Will you suffer loss of income?

That is a major question that every working person in the UK should be asking themselves and their employer, along with Union Safety Reps across the country.

The World Health Organisation has issued advice for all employers on the actions they should be taking in order to protect their employees and to keep business running.

In the UK serious questions are being raised about the advice to self-quarantine in the event workers find themselves showing sign of infection from the Covid-19 virus, and the response of employers; plus the economic cost to them and their families. This especially concerns those on zero hours contracts, part-time workers and the self employed.

Whilst WHO does not go into details regarding this element of the affects of the virus on those infected, the UK Government has been urged to find a solution to the financial hardships working people who have to self-quarantine will inevitably face.

Indeed, the chances of those in such positions being able to stay at home for 14 days in the event they do have symptoms and their employer refuses to pay them whilst doing so, will ensure the total failure of the Governments 'containment strategy' unless they are prepared to step in to help.

The advice from the World Health Organisation to employees and employers alike, is available to download from the Unionsafety E-Library here Use keyword 'Coronavirus' to search for it.

Here is part of the advice given in the document:

Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace

The low-cost measures below will help prevent the spread of infections in your workplace, such as colds, flu and stomach bugs, and protect your customers, contractors and employees.

Employers should start doing these things now, even if COVID-19 has not arrived in the communities where they operate. They can already reduce working days lost due to illness and stop or slow the spread of COVID-19 if it arrives at one of your workplaces.

• Make sure your workplaces are clean and hygienic

Surfaces (e.g. desks and tables) and objects (e.g. telephones, keyboards) need to be wiped with disinfectant regularly

Why?

Because contamination on surfaces touched by employees and customers is one of the main ways that COVID-19 spreads.

• Brief your employees, contractors and customers that if COVID-19 starts spreading in your community anyone with even a mild cough or low-grade fever (37.3 C or more) needs to stay at home. They should also stay home (or work from home) if they have had to take simple medications, such as paracetamol/acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin, which may mask symptoms of infection.

Source: World Health Organisation / Unionsafety

 

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