Thank you to everyone who has continued to work through these challenging times. The board at RCB would like to say what an incredible job you are all doing in helping to keep people safe and healthy on a daily basis – well done!
Please see below general information:
To book a holiday – please visit https://rcbuk.com/holiday/
To report an absence – please call 0800 047 1016
We have updated information relating to the topics below:
- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)
- Key workers; travel letters, training, guidance, support, disclosure of underlying medical conditions and changes in current health
- Furloughed; working or volunteering
- Care Package if you or anyone in your house becomes ill
- Changes to RCB Holiday year
- Employees advised to self-isolate
- What is social distancing?
- Handwashing and respiratory hygiene
- Looking after your mental
- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)
From the initial brief announcement on Friday 20 March 2020 the government issued updated guidance on 26 March, 4 April 2020 and since my last briefing, on 15 April and 17 April 2020.
Shortly after the revised HMRC guidance on 15 April the Treasury issued directions to HMRC pursuant to the Coronavirus Act 2020 which has raised more questions than it answered.
It is important to remember that the HMRC guidance is just that – guidance. However, the directions issued by the Treasury appear to have statutory authority but many points are still awaiting clarification.
Although some issues have been clarified by the latest update to the guidance, there remain unanswered questions and some inconsistencies between the guidance and the Treasury’s Schedule. It is hoped that further amendments from HMRC will address these soon. RCB will provide and update as soon as further information becomes available.
What does this mean for me?
You will shortly receive a personal letter detailing the latest payment figure if you are classified as a furloughed worker. The CJRS payment system has been reviewed and updated following the latest advice issued from the government on Friday 17th April 2020.
2. Key workers; disclosure of underlying medical conditions and changes in current health
If you are still working for RCB because your normal place of work is still open and operating, please let us know as soon as possible if you begin to feel ill and have symptoms of coronavirus, which are:
- A high temperature
- A new cough
For more information regarding symptoms of Coronavirus and what to do, please follow the link to the NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms-and-what-to-do/
If you do have any underlying medical conditions or changes in your current health, please contact us to discuss this further. You can contact us by:
- Email: hr@rcbuk.com
- Text: 07393 198689
Someone will be in touch to discuss and assess your medical condition.
3. Furloughed; working or volunteering
If you’re on furlough leave, you should not devote any of your normal hours working for a business or charity without the written permission of RCB as this is restricted in your contract of employment. Under the Working Time Directive, please be aware that you should inform RCB if you work for another company or have other work.
However, given the current situation RCB would encourage you to volunteer, whilst you’re on furlough leave to help with the national effort that will be required to get us through the difficult times ahead.
Please do let us know by emailing hr@rcbuk.com if you are looking to or are volunteering and if you wish to disclose an alternative job that you may have. This will be reviewed by HR and written permission granted where practicably possible.
4. Care Package if you or anyone in your house becomes ill
Please let us know if you or anyone in your house becomes ill and we will try to arrange a care package containing basic cleaning essentials that you may need during your self-isolation and recovery time.
We wish you and your families to stay safe and well.
5. Changes to RCB Holiday Year
During the Coronavirus pandemic, it may not be possible to take your planned holidays due to cancellations and restrictions to travel or you may be required to continue to work as a key worker.
The government has introduced a temporary new laws relating to holidays and allowing employees and workers to carry over up to 4 weeks’ paid holiday into their next 2 holiday leave years.
RCB have reviewed the change in legislation and have updated the holiday year to accommodate for the most efficient and practical way of managing the holidays within the system. The holiday year will run from 1st May 2020 until 30thApril 2021 and annually thereafter.
You do not need to do anything or change any pre-booked holidays that you do have. The change will mean that a calculation is made to transition the holiday year.
6. Employees advised to self-isolate
The advice on self-isolation, and the applicability of statutory sick pay, has changed a number of times over the last weeks. The current advice is below:
a. Individuals with relevant symptoms (a new persistent cough or high fever):
advice is to self-isolate for 7 days, and longer while a fever persists.
b. Individuals who do not have symptoms but live with someone who has a high temperature or a new and continuous cough:
the whole household should isolate for 14 days
c. Extremely vulnerable individuals covered by shielding guidance:
people with specified serious underlying health conditions have been written to by the NHS to advise self-isolation for at least 12 weeks.
Previous iterations of advice also covered
- those with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 but who are asymptomatic, where the advice was to self-isolate for 7 days, and
- those who have had close contact with a confirmed case or travelled from the original high risk areas, where the original advice was to self-isolate for 14 days.
This advice has since been removed from the government websites, presumably because the evolving situation has rendered it less relevant given restrictions on international travel (see Travel below) and more limited testing, but if applicable it would seem prudent to continue to follow this advice.
Given our duty to provide a safe place of work for all of our employees, we therefore instruct all employees to comply with the above advice.
It is deemed reasonable to require employees to notify RCB if you fall within groups 1, 2 or 3. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action necessary to protect the health and welfare of others around you.
For further information, please follow the link to the Government’s website:
7. What is social distancing?
Social distancing measures are steps you can take to reduce social interaction between people. This will help reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).
They are to:
Avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough
Avoid non-essential use of public transport when possible
Work from home, where possible. Your employer should support you to do this. Please refer to employer guidance for more information
Avoid large and small gatherings in public spaces, noting that pubs, restaurants, leisure centres and similar venues are currently shut as infections spread easily in closed spaces where people gather together.
Avoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media
Use telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services
Everyone should be trying to follow these measures as much as is practicable.
We strongly advise you to follow the above measures as much as you can and to significantly limit your face-to-face interaction with friends and family if possible, particularly if you:
- are over 70
- have an underlying health condition
- are pregnant
This advice is likely to be in place for some weeks.
8. Handwashing and respiratory hygiene
There are general principles you can follow to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:
- washing your hands more often – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitiser when you get home or into work, when you blow your nose, sneeze or cough, eat or handle food.
- avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- avoid close contact with people who have symptoms.
- cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin and wash your hands.
- clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home
What should you do if you develop symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)
The same guidance applies to the general population and those at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19).
If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 (high temperature and/or new and continuous cough), self-isolate at home for 7 days. You can find the full guidance at stay at home.
9. Looking after your mental wellbeing
Understandably, you may find that social distancing can be boring or frustrating.
You may find your mood and feelings are affected and you may feel low, worried or have problems sleeping and you might miss being outside with other people.
At times like these, it can be easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behaviour which in turn can make you feel worse.
There are simple things you can do that may help, to stay mentally and physically active during this time such as:
- look for ideas of exercises you can do at home on the NHS website
- spend time doing things you enjoy – this might include reading, cooking, other indoor hobbies or listening to the radio or watching TV programmes
- try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, drink enough water
- keep your windows open to let in fresh air, get some natural sunlight if you can, or get outside into the garden
- You can also go for a walk or exercise outdoors if you stay more than 2 metres from others.
It is important to look after your mental health and wellbeing.
What steps can you take to stay connected with family and friends during this time?
Draw on support you might have through your friends, family and other networks during this time. Try to stay in touch with those around you over the phone, by post, or online.
Let people know how you would like to stay in touch and build that into your routine. This is also important in looking after your mental wellbeing and you may find it helpful to talk to them about how you are feeling.
Remember it is OK to share your concerns with others you trust and in doing so you may end up providing support to them too.