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Coronavirus: Your workplace questions

Steve Bridger

At this difficult time, we'd like to offer people managers (and others) who are not CIPD Members an opportunity to ask questions about their specific workplace challenges.

We hope that collectively, the Community will feel able to chip in with guidance and signpost support and resources where these exist.

Thank you. 

  • Can anyone help?

    We have a member of staff who is 71 he has no medical condition however wants to self isolate due to his age, he believes he can be furloughed, we are transport company and as it stands running at full capacity so there is work to do. Due to his age is he classed as extremely vulnerable therefore can be furloughed? I see on the below list it makes no mention of age however I have heard that over 70's should be self isolating but no can't find this information on the government website? Where do we stand with this in our situation, any help would be greatly appreciated.

    www.gov.uk/.../guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19
  • in reply to Claire
    I looked into this . you also need to of set against how much employee is saving in fuel or travel , travel time etc . as if one equals other out you can document this and should have to start paying out for gas electric etc .
  • in reply to Anwen Howells
    I had the same took 7 new staff on on 2nd march therefore do not qualify. We have offered unpaid leave to remain employed with us but also given permission to get work for time being with supermarkets etc.
  • in reply to Jessica
    HI Jessica

    have a look at the fact sheet on this site for covid 19 www.cipd.co.uk/.../faqs

    Employees on who are on sick leave or self-isolating should get Statutory Sick Pay. Employers can place them on furlough leave after the sick pay period if there is no work for them to do and they would otherwise be laid off or made redundant.

    The government guidance says that employees who are shielding themselves in line with public health guidance can be placed on furlough. This means employees who are extremely vulnerable (for example, due to organ transplants, lung cancer, severe chest conditions or immunosuppressed conditions) and who have been notified by the NHS to isolate for 12 weeks
  • Hi

    I have a maternity returner due back next week, She cant get any childcare and therefore unable to work from home . Reading everything ,I believe she can be furloughed ? any thoughts
  • in reply to Jemma
    Thanks Jemma, I don't believe he would qualify for SSP, he is self isolating due to his age only, not because he or anyone in his house has shown symptoms. This is his decision not down to medical grounds either and on the list it does not state anything about over 70's.

    At this stage he would still have work to do so we wouldn't be looking at making redundancies, he is also a driver therefore cannot work from home, unfortunately it looks like he will be on unpaid leave?

    We also have a member of staff who's wife is on the extremely vulnerable list therefore he has chosen to self isolate to protect her, he has also asked to be furloughed, I explained to him we are not in a position to make redundancies as yet and therefore if he could work there would be work to do. Am I right?

    We want to help these people however we don't want to be penalized for wrongfully using the system.
  • in reply to Jessica
    Hi Jessica

    My opinion would be that you can furlough an over 70 year old as they are following public health advice. This runs a risk of not getting the 80% reimbursed by government if in time further guidance is issued which rules this out.

    But I think as it stands you cannot furlough someone who wishes to self-isolate to protect their partner.

    I've seen no definitive answers on either question though.
  • in reply to Kim
    Hi Kim, my husband works for the DWP Jobcentre Plus, now handling all these extra claims. Basically, yes they can put in a claim for U/C in the same way an existing worker can claim, however whether they are then eligible to receive any payment will depend on other factors such as household income if their partner is working etc.
    Hope that helps to support what others have said.
  • in reply to Lucy
    I think you are right Lucy, that's how I've read it. The other option we considered is to ask staff to take leave during furlough but the guidelines are silent on whether this is acceptable or if going on to a period of annual leave will "break" the furlough. Or if they can take leave during the furlough, what rate is it paid out, normal pay or furlough rate...? I'm keeping a constant eye on guidance...