I’m writing to you following last night’s announcement regarding local lockdown across much of our Northern geography, which has come into full effect today. The wording, nature and timing of this announcement will have created uncertainty and anxiety for people trying to understand how the new rules, which centre on some social activities and may appear selective, as well as open to wide interpretation, are to be applied.
On a personal level, I really do appreciate that these new restrictions will have a significant negative impact on many of you, particularly colleagues who were due to celebrate Eid with family and friends this weekend. While worship in mosques can still take place, I recognise that this will not be the same as the celebrations you will have had planned.
We do need to acknowledge that these changes are in response to increasing rates of infection and these measures are being introduced to reduce the likelihood of a full national lockdown.
As a business, we have always taken considered and timely action to ensure the safety of our staff and manage the business. As we unfortunately have to get used to living with Covid, we will continually need to balance and manage the short and long-term health and business impacts of this pandemic, but your safety will continue to be our guiding principle.
The latest announcement makes it clear that we can all continue to travel to and from Covid-19 secure workplaces and undertake business related activity in them. We will follow this approach and not, at this time, re-impose a complete lockdown of our accommodation/facilities or prevent colleagues from attending other business properties, where all previous guidance is being adhered to.
We will however, stop the introduction of the recently announced discretionary activity, such as the proposed team meetings, for the next two weeks. This reflects the delay to the easing of restrictions that were due tomorrow but will now be delayed for two weeks. We will also provide the opportunity to use facemasks in our facilities to all colleagues and clients. Please note that the latest guidance is now to wear facemasks in other premises including museums, galleries, cinemas and places of worship – and this will be a legal requirement on 8 August.
Additionally, I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of all the measures we already have in place to ensure that we are covid-secure, including:
- Only limited front line staff should be on site to enable us to maintain social distancing
- Signage and workplace changes to enable social distancing
- Enhanced cleaning
- Safe queueing to enter the building to enable social distancing
- One-way systems at entry and exit points introduced where possible and necessary
- Removing sign-in systems and accepting visitors by appointment only
- Hand sanitiser and anti-bacterial wipes available throughout
- Temperature checks when entering a building
- We continue to provide clear guidance for staff who are visiting clients
You can read our full employee guidance and watch our short video explaining the measures we have put in place on the Coronavirus Staff Hub.
I would also like to point out that the isolation period for those who test positive for COVID-19 has now increased from 7 to 10 days quarantine. Please remember to let your manager know if you are displaying symptoms and/or have tested positive for Coronavirus.
Finally, I’d like to re-emphasise that, alongside these measures, we will not expect colleagues or clients to, at any time, place themselves in a position where they feel uncomfortable and that any concerns should be raised with your line manager or HR Business Partner. It is likely that even our current low level of ‘face-to-face’ activity, will reduce whilst these new measures are in force as clients and colleagues may judge there is an unacceptable level of risk.
We will keep the situation under continuous review and update at least at the end of next week as to how we see the situation at that time. Despite all of this please do try to enjoy the weekend, even if somewhat frustrated, anxious or annoyed.