Who can work in new national lockdown?
Boris Johnson announces new national lockdown
Boris Johnson addressed the nation this evening (Monday, January 4) to announce a new national lockdown in England. From Tuesday, people in England will be told to stay at home and to only leave their homes for essential reasons.
Who can work in new national lockdown?
During his announcement on Monday, the PM stated only people who “absolutely cannot work from home” should be leaving their homes to attend work.
Mr Johnson said: “You may only leave home for limited reasons permitted in law, such as to shop for essentials, to work if you absolutely cannot work from home, to exercise, to seek medical assistance such as getting a Covid test, or to escape domestic abuse.”
The Government’s national lockdown guidance states people in some professions, such as construction and manufacturing, should continue to travel to their workplaces during the lockdown if they cannot work from home.
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The Government guidance reads: “You may only leave your home for work if you cannot reasonably work from home.
“Where people cannot work from home – including, but not limited to, people who work in critical national infrastructure, construction, or manufacturing – they should continue to travel to their workplace.
“This is essential to keeping the country operating and supporting sectors and employers.
“Public sector employees working in essential services, including childcare or education, should continue to go into work.
“Where it is necessary for you to work in other people’s homes – for example, for nannies, cleaners or tradespeople – you can do so.
“Otherwise, you should avoid meeting for work in a private home or garden, where COVID-19 Secure measures may not be in place.”
The Government guidance states extra care needs to be taken to keep people safe when they have to attend their workplace.
The guidance adds: “Employers and employees should discuss their working arrangements, and employers should take every possible step to facilitate their employees working from home, including providing suitable IT and equipment to enable remote working.
“The risk of transmission can be substantially reduced if COVID-19 secure guidelines are followed closely.
“Extra consideration should be given to those people at higher risk.”
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Should you attend work if you have been advised to shield?
The Government is reintroducing shielding guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable during the third lockdown.
Mr Johnson said on Monday: “If you are clinically extremely vulnerable, we are advising you to begin shielding again and you will shortly receive a letter about what this means for you.”
Under the current guidance for Tier 4, people who are advised to shield are advised not to leave their homes to attend work.
The Tier 4 guidance states: “You are strongly advised to work from home because the risk of exposure to the virus in your area may be significantly higher.
“If you cannot work from home, then you should not attend work.”
Those who cannot attend their workplace due to shielding guidance and also cannot work from home can explore Government support, such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Other Government support is also available, such as Statutory Sick Pay.
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