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I will return to work on Monday, but how will I know what I should and should not do?
Well that depends on your employer. From the beginning, the government’s Return to Work Safety Protocol document says that all infection control prevention measures, and there will be many, must be communicated and explained to staff, visitors, and contractors. Employers must also have a Covid-19 response plan. Several employees will be appointed to take the initiative, but how complicated all this is will only be clear from next week.
In fact, Maeve McElwee, director of employer relations at Ibec, said the biggest challenge is likely to be the scale of the challenge.
But how can I be sure that none of my colleagues has the virus?
Well, both employers and employees are expected to do something to rule that out. Workers will have to complete a form three days in advance saying they have no symptoms, have not been told to isolate themselves or are waiting for the test results.
But I am concerned because I have an underlying health condition.
Well, the good news on this front is that if you are considered an “at risk or vulnerable” worker who cannot do your job from home, your employer must establish preferential supports to keep you 2 million away from others. But the little Irishman and The Medium-Sized Business Association (Isme), which represents 3,000 companies, says the need for employers to know personal details about someone’s health is problematic and that the Data Protection Commissioner should be consulted.
Are you doing something else to give me some peace of mind?
Temperature checks. Remember those pictures from other countries where people line up to take their temperature? Well, that also seems to be the future here, and employees “must” consent. Again, however, there are some concerns. Isme points out questions about what type of equipment is considered appropriate, who should make it, and how expensive they are to buy. What if someone refuses? “This only places employers in an area that is not [trained] for, “said CEO Neil McDonnell.
Well that’s fine, but what if someone develops symptoms while at work?
This must also be planned and, in some detail, according to the Government. Workplaces are told to appoint an appropriate manager to deal with suspected cases, and considerable emphasis has been placed on establishing an isolation area behind a closed door. The protocols also recommend additional isolation areas to deal with multiple cases and say employers should arrange for transportation home or to the hospital for a medical evaluation, avoiding public transportation. But employers have understandable concerns. Isme notes that many small businesses don’t have a free space for insulation, regardless of some of them.
In my work I am Close to people. I’m not too sure that things will change.
Physical distancing is a key aspect of government plans to get people back to work, but of course there are concerns about how this might actually work. Ibec has identified this as a challenge and Isme says that many small companies will have difficulties due to the space available. However, among a long detailed list of demands on employers, there should be no handshakes, workers should be limited to team units when possible, dining rooms should be closed or staggered, the conduct of meetings should be strictly controlled and of course the workers meeting is out.
On second thought, I’m just going to work from home. I can do that?
Well, that might depend on who you ask. The government document says office work “should continue to be done at home, whenever possible.” Employers must develop a home work policy together with staff and unions. A NUI survey in Galway found that 83 percent of workers expressed interest in continuing to work remotely, so they are not alone. Of those who had never worked remotely, 78 percent said they would like it at least part of the time once the crisis is over.
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