Restricting travel abroad after 17th May?

Hello, 

A question has arisen within our organisation, can employers legally stop employees travelling abroad now that the 'Stay in the UK' restriction will be lifted? Can we stop them going to green countries, or can we not do this? 

Parents
  • No you cant. For one its perfectly legal to travel (so "legally" you cant) and secondly you could only do it as a reasonable management request of if you had some pretty restrictive contractual clauses. It cant (for 99.99% of cases at least) be a reasonable management request as HM Govt who know more than you say it is OK to travel.

    You can ask nicely but I am not sure what you will say

    On what basis would you even be trying it? I quite fancy a holiday in the sandwich Islands

  • Thanks Keith, We are within the childcare sector and feel it would be an additional risk.. we have managed to go the whole pandemic with no cases in our setting.
  • On what scientific basis do you think it would be an additional risk?

    Given the very severe restrictions that HMG have placed on travel there are places in the UK with potentially higher contagion rates...

    But you can ask nicely
  • You can point out that if the green status changes to amber or red they will have to isolate/quarantine by taking additional holiday whilst doing so.
    BTW why would Portugal be any worse that spending all weekend in the gym and pub and catching up with 'hugging'?
  • HI Rebecca, there was a similar thread recently about restricting what people do in their own time, with very similar answers. The employer has little right to involve itself in someone's private time, especially if the planned activity is legal (not always cut and dried even if it isn't legal!) Think also about the message, your people have put themselves at risk to come to work with little ones who don't understand social distancing or not coughing on the nearest adult, and now they may finally be allowed a holiday abroad, you're threatening that you might not allow this.
  • All of this applies to returning from green countries:

    Before travel to England

    Before you travel to England you must:
    •complete a passenger locator form
    •take a COVID-19 test
    •book and pay for a day 2 COVID-19 test

    On arrival in England

    You must take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 after you arrive.

    You do not need to quarantine unless the test result is positive.

    You must self-isolate if NHS Test & Trace informs you that you travelled to England with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Reply
  • All of this applies to returning from green countries:

    Before travel to England

    Before you travel to England you must:
    •complete a passenger locator form
    •take a COVID-19 test
    •book and pay for a day 2 COVID-19 test

    On arrival in England

    You must take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 after you arrive.

    You do not need to quarantine unless the test result is positive.

    You must self-isolate if NHS Test & Trace informs you that you travelled to England with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Children
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