COVID-19: helping your employees stay well
Measures available to responsible businesses
This toolkit includes measures available to responsible businesses to help employees stay well during COVID-19 pandemic, with a specific focus on those who may be considered vulnerable.
Government advice and guidance
Measures for the workforce include:
- Changes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and sickness certification.
- Changes to Universal Credit and Contributory Employment and Support Allowance for people not eligible for SSP
- A Hardship Fund of £500 million to be delivered through Local Authorities, to support economically vulnerable people and households. Most of this funding is expected to be used to provide council tax relief.
Take a whole person approach
Business in the Community ( BITC) promotes a whole person approach to wellbeing that covers mental, physical, social and financial aspects. With COVID-19, all these strands of wellbeing are at risk and responsible employers and managers can help reduce those risks for themselves and colleagues to stay well as possible.
Advice for employers
We would urge employers to be clear and practical about how they support their workforce to absorb extra responsibilities, reviewing their emergency dependant’s leave and avoid making any gendered assumptions about who will step in.
Resources
Encourage employees to protect themselves and others against Coronavirus by following NHS advice. Download marketing resources related to the current COVID-19 response from the PHE Campaign Resource Centre.
Learn more
How Business in the Community is creating a skilled and inclusive workforce for today and tomorrow