We continue to see positive vaccine developments which gives us light at the end of this Covid tunnel although as the Government has indicated it is likely to be at least Spring before significant countrywide changes to our current ways of living take place.
This week saw the decision to end national lockdown on the 2nd December and the re-introduction of a tougher Tier system. More detail can be found in the Covid-19 Winter Plan and local restriction tiers by area. This set out that Liverpool City Region will be in Tier 2 and Lancashire, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire will be in Tier 3 and that positions will be reviewed every 14 days. Notably guidance on work from home where possible and international travel from England (see the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for your destination and the travel corridors list) was also restated.
Reflecting on the latest guidance and its impact on you and our activities, a major and growing concern is your overall wellbeing. Indeed this has been recognised by Government with an additional £500m earmarked to support the much needed mental health services in England.
I’d like to take the opportunity to again to highlight the services in place to support your mental health including our Mental Health First Aiders, the Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health Champions and we have recently reintroduced health and wellbeing courses to our learning and development calendar for you to book onto. I’d also like to stress if you are struggling with your current working environment and it is having an impact on your health and wellbeing, not only use these services but contact HR to see if we can make provision for you to come into an office.
We are always balancing government guidance, with your well-being and sustainability of the business. One of the biggest pieces of feedback we have received is the desire to meet with colleagues and I believe it is important for your health and wellbeing that you be given the opportunity to do so and of course in a Covid-secure environment. Therefore, irrespective of tiers, we have taken the decision to reinstate the use of meeting spaces for those teams who would find it beneficial. This will be discussed further within individual business units. Please, please remember to respect the Covid rules and for example resist the instinct to shake hands, hug colleagues etc., and do wear face masks if you or your colleagues prefer it.
This is not obligatory; I simply want to give you the option should you wish (or need) to connect with your colleagues. You will still be able to join remotely if you wish and we are working to improve our ability to run blended physical-virtual meetings so please bear with us on this one as some blended meetings may have to be primarily audio to begin with. Further guidance is provided in the attached document.
I do hope you will welcome this additional flexibility to help you stay connected with colleagues and I look forward, as I’m sure you do, to the gradual easing of restrictions and the ability to come together more frequently.
Next week, I will be sharing details with you about the festive virtual get-together we have planned. In the meantime, I hope you have a good and restful weekend!