COVID-19 and the workplace

This week has seen the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in England, including a return to the workplace for people who are not able to work from home. Understandably, there is a lot of nervousness about how safe this will be. So, what is the legal position of employers and employees in this situation? 

In one sense, nothing has changed. It is clearly established law that employers have a legal duty to take care for the safety of their employees and to take steps to protect them from foreseeable injury. And that includes Coronavirus. If employers do not put adequate social distancing measures in place, or if they do not provide hand sanitiser or hand washing facilities, or if they do not provide suitable PPE where it is needed they will be in breach of legal requirements. An employee who becomes ill as a result may well be entitled to claim compensation.

The contents of this article do not constitute legal advice and are provided for general information purposes only.