Union highlights ‘dangerous confusion’ on Covid safety

Trades Union Congress (TUC) reached out to the business secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng to highlight “dangerous confusion on Covid safety”.

The TUC has said that people should not be forced into making a “terrible choice” between going into work with coronavirus or risk losing income by self-isolating at home.

From April 1, employers will no longer be required to explicitly consider Covid-19 in workplace risk assessments.

However, the trade union has warned that the change would contradict statutory duties employers have to conduct general health and safety assessments.

“Ministers are sowing dangerous confusion on Covid safety at work. Longstanding rules on workplace safety clearly indicate that employers should consider Covid risks, but the government has sent out a conflicting message,” TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said.

“We want ministers to clear up this confusion by advising employers that they must still consider Covid-19 in workplace risk assessments.”

Meanwhile, a homeware store has apologised after it was criticised for telling staff they could come into work if they tested positive for Covid-19 amid a new wave of coronavirus infections and hospitalisations.

Wilko’s chief executive, Jerome Saint-Marc, took to Twitter on Tuesday (15) to  issue an apology, clarifying that the company position is that those who test positive should “still stay at home and avoid contact with others”.

To all our customers and team members: a statement from our CEO Jerome Saint-Marc, on our COVID19 policies. pic.twitter.com/pakEcFiMrf

— wilko (@LoveWilko) March 15, 2022

Wilko, the homeware retail chain, which has 414 stores and 16,000 employees across the UK, sent a memo to staff with guidance on its workplace policy after the government’s relaxation of rules as part of its “living with Covid” plan published last month.

“If you test positive for Covid-19 and feel well, you can continue to come to work,” stated the staff memo, which applied from 1 March. 

Wilko’s guidance has drawn widespread criticism from GMB, the union representing the chain’s employees, who said it was reckless guidance that could set a precedent other companies may follow.