Preparing for the second lockdown

Posted 3 years ago

With the country going into its second lockdown on the 5th of November, it’s crucial that employers are prepared for what could be a difficult month ahead. For many employers (and of course employees), this is a particularly stressful time, and planning ahead can be daunting.

Our advice is very much the same as it was over 8 months ago - follow the guidance, break planning down into manageable steps, and keep staff in the loop with updates and any changes.

HSE Guidance

For those with homeworkers

The following guidance has been taken directly from the HSE:

As an employer, you have the same health and safety responsibilities for home workers as for any other workers.

When someone is working from home, permanently or temporarily, as an employer you should consider:

- How will you keep in touch with them?
- What work activity will they be doing (and for how long)?
- Can it be done safely?
- Do you need to put control measures in place to protect them?

The HSE

The HSE’s guidance mainly focuses on three key areas for homeworkers and they are:

Lone working

Lone working can pose greater risks to workers, especially without direct supervision and the support they may require if things do go wrong.

Think about the risks that your home workers could come into contact with. How can you mitigate these risks if at all possible?

Lone workers are also at a greater risk of becoming disconnected from the workplace, therefore employers should consider ways in which they can keep lone workers engaged and monitor stress levels and support them with mental health.

Working with DSE

There are a number of risks associated with regular use of DSE, and although working from home doesn’t add to these risks, workstation assessments should still be carried out when working from home.

Employers should provide their home working DSE users with practical guidance on completing their own basic DSE assessment at home.

We offer an online DSE Assessment Tool, which is included within our DSE Training course, that can be distributed to homeworkers looking to complete their own assessment.

Some simple steps that DSE users can take to reduce the risks associated with their work includes:

Taking a 5 minute break from the screen at least once an hour.
Change position regularly to avoid static postures.
Doing regular stretches.

Employers must also try and meet their employee's needs for specialised DSE equipment such as a keyboard, mouse, and desk riser.

Finally, it’s an employer's responsibility to engage in regular discussions with workers to assess whether additional support is needed.

For example, changes may need to be made if they were to report the following:

Aches, pains, or discomfort related to their DSE arrangements.
Adverse effects of working in isolation.
Working longer hours without adequate rest and recovery breaks.

Stress and mental health

Home working can be a direct cause of work-related stress and can have a negative impact on an employee's mental health. It can also be difficult for employees to feel like they have access to proper support whilst they are away from their colleagues and managers.

With that being said, employers should ensure that they are offering their staff support when it comes to mental health and wellbeing.

It is essential that the homeworker has an emergency point of contact if they need any help. It is also advised that employers introduce procedures to ensure homeworkers have direct contact with their managers, to make it easier for them to recognise signs of stress in the employee.

These procedures could include:

Having daily/weekly scheduled phone calls.

Having scheduled video meetings with the managers team.

Frequent communication through the use of messaging platforms.

For those who’s staff cannot work from home

In accordance with government guidance, employees are able to leave their home for work purposes if it is not possible for them to work from home. This also includes if their job involves working in other people’s homes.

It is essential that employers take steps and make arrangements to protect their workers from being exposed to Coronavirus.

Most importantly, employers must make it clear to their workers that they cannot attend work if they are showing any symptoms of the Coronavirus.

This government webpage offers information on working safely during coronavirus to specific business practices.

More generic guidance for businesses still operating at their premises includes:

Limiting the number of people allowed on site.
Introducing a one-way system to the workplace.
Ensure that highly used equipment/surfaces are cleaned regularly.
Hand sanitizer is readily available to all workers.
Face coverings are worn when walking around the premises.

It is also important that employers lookout for signs of stress in their employees who remain in the workplace. As we enter a second lockdown, workers could be left feeling anxious when they leave their homes. Ensure that they have the support available to help them through this tough period.

Keep in touch with staff

For many, much of their human interaction comes from being in the workplace and talking to their coworkers. However, with the Coronavirus sending millions of people to work from home, this may not be a reality for quite some time.

Although working remotely shouldn’t fundamentally change a workplace’s culture, it can lead to a number of issues, such as a negative impact on the mental health of employees, if the correct systems aren’t in place to encourage communication.

If an employee doesn’t have frequent communication with other colleagues or their manager, it could lead to them feeling isolated and negatively impacting their mental wellbeing.

Fortunately, there are some things employers can do to help create and maintain strong social bonds amongst their team to help them keep from feeling isolated and stressed.

Virtual Lunches - Typically a time where employees socialise with one another, lunch times can be recreated virtually in order to help employees catch up with each other.
Team meetings - Whether it’s daily or weekly, team meetings are a fantastic way to bring together a group of employees who are used to working closely together. Team meetings can help employees to feel involved and engaged.
Daily/weekly phone calls from managers - Although this may sound pestering, it’s a great way for employees and managers to remain on the same page as each other and catch up on how they’ve been getting on with work or their personal lives.
End-of-day catch-ups - Similar to the phone calls with managers, end-of-day catch ups allow employees and managers to remain on the same page, but also offers the opportunity to ask any questions they may have about their current projects.