New Coronavirus Regulations regarding self-isolation came into effect at midnight (they were created Saturday & laid before Parliament yesterday…)
They set out the mandatory requirements from today for self-isolation and to notify the Secretary of State of any such requirement – honestly the wording made our heads spin (have a read & try working out who is P, R or C!) but for employers Part 2 is the crucial part:-
- the worker / employee must notify their employer of the need to isolate ASAP (and where they will be in self-isolatin) and at least before the next time they are due to attend work
- the employer must not knowingly allow the worker / employee to attend work once they are aware of the need for the worker / employees self-isolation
Anyone not adhering to this can be issued a fixed penalty fine as follows:- For not self-isolating when required – fines start at £1,000 up to £10,000 for repeat offences.
For employers knowingly allowing someone who should be self-isolating to attend work – fines start at £1,000 up to £10,000 for repeat offences.
There are higher fines if someone required to self-isolate does not do so knowing that they will come into close contact with other people and / or “is reckless as to the consequences of that close contact for the health of that other person or group”