Return to office - issues following COVID

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a situation where there is a 'new normal' we all have to adapt to. For employers, this means hybrid working and the need to build emergency contingency planning into all business operations going forward. Sudden changes in staffing levels or working arrangements will be with us for some time to come. Nevertheless, employers will also want to regain some of the 'old normal'.

In this webinar, we discuss the key issues that employers will have to consider when planning a return to the workplace, primarily how to make the workplace COVID-safe and what role vaccinations should play in that.

We will update you on the latest Government guidance on returning to work safely, including the new rules on who has to self-isolate.

We will look at risk assessments: who should conduct them, what needs to be included in them and areas of vulnerability which businesses should pay particular attention to, such as hot-desking and crowded communal areas.

At the heart of the webinar is a consideration of whether vaccinations can be required as a condition of return to the office. Though controversial, many employers are grappling with this issue and there is very little precedent for how this should be approached. Businesses need to be aware of the contractual implications, potential discrimination issues and scope for workplace division. We provide practical tips on how you should go about this exercise if you are considering requiring vaccinations or monitoring take-up.

Finally, we set out how to navigate the data protection implications of processing health data relating to Covid-19. Being able to provide a paper trail showing you have considered the impact of such processing is key, as well as the reason why you are doing it in the first place.