From 24th February, there is no legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive COVID test. This means your employees can legally come to work with COVID, putting other members of staff at risk of infection.

There were other announcements too:

• Fully vaccinated individuals and under 18s no longer have to test themselves for seven days after coming into contact with a positive case.
• COVID SSP rules will still be in place until 24 March.
• From 1 April, free COVID testing will end for the general public.

These changes apply to England only; Scotland and Wales will be setting out their own strategy.

The Prime Minister has confirmed that the COVID-19 restrictions introduced late last year to stop the spread of the Omicron variant, will come to an end in England next Wednesday 26 January. Working from home is no longer recommended, with immediate effect and COVID passes will no longer be needed to enter selected venues.

Face coverings will no longer be mandatory, in England, from 26 January, although it is still advisory to wear them in crowded and enclosed spaces.

In Scotland, the restrictions introduced in response to Omicron will be lifted from 24 January, but individuals should continue to work from home wherever possible and face coverings remain mandatory in certain settings.

As you may be previously aware the government passed new emergency legislation to ensure businesses have the flexibility they need to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and to protect workers from losing their statutory holiday entitlement (The Working Time (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, laid before Parliament on 27 March 2020).

These regulations enabled workers to carry holiday forward where the impact of coronavirus means that it has not been reasonably practicable to take it in the leave year to which it relates.

If you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 and are fully vaccinated, you do not have to self-isolate but should take daily lateral flow test for 7 days.

If you have tested positive for Covid-19, you must self-isolate for up to 10 days from the day you took a test, or the symptoms started. You may end your self-isolation period early if you take a lateral flow test from day 5 onwards and another one at least 24 hours later, and both results are negative. This means you can exit self-isolation early after 5 full days, if you have received negative results on day 5 and the morning of day 6.

If the initial positive result was from a lateral flow test, you only need to get a PCR test to confirm it if you are displaying COVID symptoms. Otherwise, you may start your isolation from a positive lateral flow result.

England is moving to Plan B following the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.

Additional restrictions will be introduced over the next week, including:

• From Friday 10^th December, the legal requirement to wear a face covering will be extended to most public indoor venues, although it will not include hospitality settings
• From Monday 13^th December, the guidance to work from home where it is possible to do so will be reintroduced
• Daily tests will be introduced for close contacts, rather than a requirement to self‐isolate, to minimise disruption.

The new restrictions put employers in an awkward position, especially when it comes to implementing new remote working and health & safety policies at short notice.

But don’t worry. Your Croner advice team is here to help NICF Members adapt to ‘Plan B’ as quickly and safely as possible.

For more information log into the NICF Members Area or contact the office on 0115 958 3077. 

COVID-19 Rules have been strengthened in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant in the UK. 

There is now updated COVID-19 guidance in the NICF Members Area. 

Log in here. 

Updated coronavirus guidance has been released on working in peoples homes, throughout the autumn and winter period. This includes minimising contact, limiting numbers of workforce, arranging methods of safely disposing waste, as well as being particularly strict about handwashing and hygiene. 

For further information please email info@nicfltd.org.uk

The UK Government has released its ‘Autumn and Winter Plan’ to tackle COVID-19 over the coming months.

Here’s how the plans could impact your business:

• A booster jab rollout will start soon for some people, including those over 50. That means you may need to think about your absence policies around vaccination during work hours.
• The government will launch a new campaign to encourage flu vaccination. You may want to consider measures to encourage uptake to help prevent illness among your staff.
• In England, anyone working inside a CQC registered care home must be fully vaccinated by 11 November.
• Frontline staff in wider healthcare settings in England will likely need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu. We’re expecting the government to make a decision on this in winter.
• Contact tracing will continue, as will the need to take a PCR test and self-isolate if symptomatic.
• Statutory sick pay for self-isolation will stay in place. That means you’ll still need to pay staff at least the statutory rate of sick pay throughout their self-isolation.

Finally, as a Plan B, the government may consider asking people to work from home again if they can. So, it’s a good idea to be ready to arrange short-notice remote working.

To find out how the government’s winter plan will impact your business, contact the NICF team today.

There is now new information in our members area regarding Red Diesel Replacement Competition

Members should log in to view here

From Monday the 16th of August 2021, self-isolation rules will change in England.

People who are fully vaccinated will no longer automatically need to self-isolate if they come into contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.

These new rules will be a big relief to many employers. Because it means your workers are less likely to take time off to self-isolate.

Whether you need to create flexible working policies for staff, bring people back from furlough, or make tough choices about the size of your workforce, please call the NICF office or email info@nicfltd.org.uk

There is now new information from Build UK in the member's area, regarding how to work safely in other peoples homes. 

Log in to the member's area to read it now.

Through your NICF membership, you can register for Croner’s webinar sessions. 

A full schedule of all webinars is avaliable for members in the members area now, registration is also avaliable through the members area. 

Log in here.

NICF Memebers are urgered to make use of the COVID-19 ToolKit from Coroner. From template letters to sample policies, this is a great free access to useful resources.

The Prime Minister has confirmed that the move to Step 4 of the COVID‐19 Roadmap will go ahead next Monday 19 July. The majority of restrictions including social distancing will end and people will no longer be required to work from home; however, the Government is emphasising that the pandemic is not over and people should exercise caution and take personal responsibility.

COVID-19 restrictions are no longer set to end on the 21st of June in England due to the surge in Delta variant cases.

Instead, the country will stay in step 3 of the lockdown roadmap until at least Monday the 19th of July 2021. That means:

• Nightclubs and other businesses in England that were still closed under step 3 cannot re-open.
• Social distancing rules will stay in place. Work-from-home guidance will likely stay in place, too.
• Hospitality businesses must continue to operate with the restrictions that they are currently under.
• Upcoming changes to the furlough scheme will go ahead as planned. From the 1st of July, you’ll only be able to claim 70% of the wages for your furloughed staff to a maximum of £2,187.50. You’ll then need to make up the difference to 80%, capped at £2,500 per month.

The only exception to the lockdown extension is for weddings and wakes, which will no longer be limited to 30 people as of the 21st of June.

But while we may need to wait a little longer for the end of lockdown, there are steps you can take right now to help keep your staff and customers safe.

That includes using VaccTrak, smart online software from BrightHR that helps you monitor vaccine uptake among your workforce. VaccTrak also gives you access to exclusive online awareness courses to help you educate your staff on the vaccine and how it works.

If you’re a BrightHR user, simply log into your account here to start using VaccTrak. Or, if you don’t have access to BrightHR yet, please click here to find out more.

Croner HR and health & safety advisers are avaliable 24/7 to help you stay productive and profitable whatever challenges you face. So, for expert advice any time of day, simply call us on 0844 892 3932.

The Government has announced that the next step of the reopening roadmap, Step 2, will take place as planned on 12 April.

This will be the date that "non-essential retail" can reopen. This includes carpet retailers and showrooms, which have had to be closed under the terms of the latest lockdown. The full announcement is here. 

It should be noted that the rules on social contact still apply. Therefore indoor settings should only be visited alone or with household groups, with outdoor settings limited to either six people or two households.

The PM also announced an expansion of the testing programme, with everyone in England able to apply for testing kits to be used twice weekly at home.

From today companies, with 10 or more employees who cannot work from home, can order home test kits for their employees, where it is not possible to set up a testing site in the workplace. Employers, who wish to carry out workplace testing, have until Monday 12 April to register for workplace testing. Build UK has produced a guide summarising the process.

The Government has also published an update on the latest reviews of the roadmap. This covers areas such as covid certification, events, international travel and social distancing. The review can be accessed here. 

It should be understood that the above changes to regulations apply to England. The situation in the devolved nations of the UK may be different and can be checked at the following links:

England
Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland

To all our members,

You may be contacted by external agencies, on behalf of HSE, arranging to carry out Coronavirus health and safety spot checks.

Please see the Guidance from HSE regarding this. This importantly includes the contact number to verify that the inspection is legitimate and some reminders about the type of things that an inspection will cover.

• carrying out a COVID-19 risk assessment
• maintaining social distancing
• keeping your workplace clean, with handwashing and hygiene procedures

This is in relation to members own premises.

Inspections may also be carried out on sites and in those situations, HSE will be looking for the good practice outlined in V7 of the site operating procedures (SOP V7).

For our Scottish Members, slightly different rules apply. CICV Forum has extended its suite of guidance for the Scottish construction industry with its newly designed document to help you prepare for and answer potential questions asked by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) during COVID-19 spot checks of premises.

The CICV Forum: Covid-19 Spot Checks document is in our quick links section and can be found here.

The Government’s roadmap out of lockdown confirms that people should continue to work from home where they can, and employers have the same health and safety responsibilities for home workers as for any other workers. The HSE has published information, and there is guidance and a checklist from the CICV Forum.

The Scottish government has set out an indicative timetable for the re-opening of parts of the economy over the next two months.

The timetable is as follows:

From 2 April:

• A lifting of the ‘Stay at Home’ requirement and replacing it with a ‘Stay Local’ message (retaining the current, local authority-based travel restrictions for at least a three-week period)

From 5 April:

• Reopening of non-essential ‘click and collect’ retail
• Extending the list of retail permitted to include garden centres (indoor and outdoor), key cutting shops, mobility equipment shops, baby equipment shops, electrical repair shops, hairdressers and barbers (with shopfronts – not mobile services) by appointment only, homeware shops and vehicle showrooms (appointment only) and forecourts

Note: Homeware shops includes carpet and tile showrooms. 

From 26 April:

• Travel within all of mainland Scotland permitted (subject to other restrictions that remain in place)
• Remaining shops can reopen and mobile close contact services can resume
• Gyms can reopen for individual exercise
• Tourist accommodation to reopen (self-catering accommodation to be restricted in line with rules on indoor gathering)
• Work in people’s homes to resume
• Driving lessons to resume
• Weddings and funerals for up to 50 (including wakes and receptions with no alcohol permitted)
• Libraries, museums, galleries re-open
• Outdoor hospitality to open till 22:00 with alcohol permitted. Indoor hospitality permitted without alcohol and closing at 20:00

From 17 May:

• Further re-opening of hospitality: bars, pubs, restaurants and cafes can stay open until 22:30 indoors with alcohol permitted and 2 hour time-limited slots and until 22:00 outdoors with alcohol permitted
• Adult outdoor contact sport and indoor group exercises can resume
• Cinemas, amusement arcades and bingo halls can re-open
• Small scale indoor and outdoor events can resume subject to capacity constraints (to be confirmed following stakeholder engagement)
• Non-professional performance arts can resume outdoors

June:

The First Minister said it is too early to give specific dates beyond May. However, understanding the need for people and businesses to plan, from the start of June, it is hoped that Scotland can move back to Level 1 of the Strategic Framework, allowing further relaxation across all areas of the economy and society, while still applying physical distancing and other non-pharmaceutical interventions and the FACTS guidance.

A move to Level 0 is hoped to be able to take place from the end of June.

From 29 March, people in England will see restrictions start to lift and the government’s four-step roadmap offers a route back to a more normal life.

The four steps of the Lockdown Roadmap explained: 

A fourth and fifth grant will be made under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). The fourth SEISS grant will be worth 80% of three months’ average trading profits, capped at £7,500 in total. The grant will cover the period February to April, and can be claimed from late April. Self-employed individuals must have filed a 2019/20 Self-Assessment tax return to be eligible for the fourth grant. This means that over 600,000 individuals may be newly eligible.

The fifth and final SEISS grant covers May to September. The value of the grant will be determined by a turnover test: people whose turnover has fallen by 30% or more will continue to receive the full grant worth 80% of three months’ average trading profits, capped at £7,500. People whose turnover has fallen by less than 30% will receive a 30% grant, capped at £2,850. The final grant can be claimed from late July.  

In line with Government guidelines, this week NCC East and NCC South delegates have been welcomed back. The colleges will reopen gradually to ensure they meet all COVID-19 safety requirements, with apprentices returning from the week beginning 22 March. Customers have been informed that everyone will take a lateral flow test, before attending courses – the safety of staff and delegates is paramount.

To further support employers, remote learning is also continuing with apprentices and health and safety courses, with more courses being added in April. Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) testing at the Pearson Vue centres resumed in England and Wales from 18 January, though centres are not currently open in Scotland.

NCC Scotland remains closed for face-to-face learning but is hoping to be able to open on 5 April. NCC will continue to monitor the guidelines of the national governments and keep customers updated.

In line with government policies NCC are continually reviewing local support, for apprenticeships and customer engagement – as soon as it is considered safe, these services will be re-introduced.

Training within our sector is limited to DfE regulated apprenticeships and qualifications only.

Following the reopening of schools and colleges on 8 March, the Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that on‐site training can only resume for students in the following further education (FE) settings if a provider follows the operational guidance:

• Sixth form colleges
• General FE colleges
• Independent Training Providers (ITPs) ‐ defined as organisations that receive Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) formula funding for the provision of 16 to 19 education
• Designated institutions
• Adult and Community Learning Providers (ACLPs)
• Special post‐16 institutions.

Building on guidance provided by the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Build UK has advised that training within our sector must currently be limited to DfE regulated apprenticeships and qualifications.

Unfortunately, this means that privately funded face-to-face training should not be permitted at this time. This includes commercial training courses held at a training facility or on-site and delivered by commercial providers and manufacturer led training.

Based on this update, the training arm of the NICF and CFA, FITA (Flooring Industry Training Association) will remain closed for all privately and commercially funded training courses although the planned apprenticeship delivery will continue as per the guidance. Delegate and visitor safety is paramount for FITA as a training organisation and for the industry bodies that support it. It naturally has been our driving force since the beginning of the pandemic and whilst this is disappointing that commercial training cannot continue at FITA, it is clearly stated in the guidance that non-essential training in this form cannot resume at this time.

There has not been any further [specific] guidance issued about resuming face‐to‐face training in the workplace. Companies will need to determine if any training required can be undertaken remotely or is essential at this time, as they may be required to explain how they are complying with the current ‘stay at home’ restrictions.

Employers who currently have apprentices employed should also read the current apprenticeships guidance, which confirms that FE apprentices may now return to training and assessment in educational settings, and how this should be managed.

We have been advised that the next part of the government lockdown roadmap that applies to training in construction is the 17 May. CFA, NICF and FITA will naturally review the situation and any further specific guidance received leading up to this date in the firm hope that we can fully return to training in our sector. It currently seems unlikely that wider training will be permitted before the 17 May.

On Wednesday, the Chancellor unveiled a new Budget outlining plans for government spending over the next financial year. From an employment perspective, a lot of this hinged on the extension of the Job Retention Scheme.

Croner are hosting a webinar on Thursday 11^th March, where they will explain the HR reactions to the announcement and what members need to do/think about in light of any changes.

Register for the webinar here. 

NICF members are eligible to attend.

The news comes this week that the Furlough scheme is being extended until September 2021.

Croner has provided us with this list of the latest changes:

• For periods from the 1st of May 2021 onwards, you will be able to claim furlough funding for any eligible employees who were employed by you and on your PAYE payroll on the 2nd of March 2021.
• This means you must have made a PAYE Real Time Information (RTI) submission to HMRC between the 20th of March 2020 and the 2nd of March 2021, notifying them of earnings for that employee.
• The funding available for furloughed employees will not change between now and the end of June.
• From July, furlough will start to cost more for employers who continue to use it.
• Furloughed workers will still get 80% of their wages to a maximum of £2,500 per month for unworked hours. However, employers will have to contribute to the 80%.
• In July, you will have to put in 10%. And in August and September, you will have to put in 20%.
• Assuming no further changes, the furlough scheme will close for good at the end of September 2021.

The furlough extension comes ahead of more schools around the country getting ready to reopen. In England, all pupils will return to school from the 8th of March. Meanwhile, Scotland and Wales will follow a phased return to school over the coming months.

And while many will welcome the gradual easing of COVID restrictions, it’s true that employers have a lot to think about—particularly if you put staff on furlough due to childcare issues when schools went into lockdown.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), together with Cabinet Office, DCMS and Home Office, has recently launched the latest phase of its Cyber Aware campaign.

More information on this can be found in our member's area. Click here to login.

To all our members:

Please be aware of a spam message, claiming it is from the NICF.

Please ignore the message and do not respond to it or click any links.

The NICF is not partnered with any third party organisations regarding the database.

Croner Webinars - March 2021 

Croner are hosting the following webinars in February. NICF members are eligble to attend. 

Apprentices, Kickstarts & Trainees: What's the difference?

Mon, March 8 2021 | 2pm start

Register Here

UPDATE | Latest Lockdown Rules: Where Are We Now? 

Mon, March 15 2021 | 2pm start

Register Here

COVID Testing at Work: What You Need to Know From an HR and H&S Perspective 

Mon, March 29 2021 | 2pm Start 

Register Here

There is now a new document from Croner, outlining the PM's roadmap out of England's lockdown. Go to the member's area log in to read it now. 

Croner are hosting the following webinars in February. NICF members are eligble to attend.    

Lockdown Update: Where Are We Now?

Mon, Feb 8, 2021 | 2pm start

Register your place    

Your Guide to Staff Working Hours, Including for Homeworkers

Mon, Feb 22, 2021 | 2pm start

Register your place

You’ll have seen by now that England and mainland Scotland have gone into a full lockdown.

That means there are tighter restrictions on businesses and stronger guidance on working from home. Here’s how the changes may affect you:

• There are now stricter rules on home working. In Scotland, all staff must work from home where they can. In England, people should only go into the workplace where it is unreasonable for them to do their jobs from home. Key workers should continue to go into the workplace if they cannot work remotely.
• All schools and colleges are to stay shut, except for vulnerable children and children of key workers. In England, nurseries may stay open.
• Those who receive notification to shield are advised to not go into work, even if they cannot work from home.
• More businesses will need to shut, including any non-essential retail businesses that were still open in England. Likewise, all restaurants, cafes and pubs can provide takeaway and delivery services only.

England has entered a new lockdown with no confirmed end date, and people must work from home if they can. Construction sites, manufacturing and work in people’s homes can continue. In England this is not restricted to essential work only. Builders merchants and suppliers of building products are allowed to stay open and people can still go to property viewings and move home.

Scotland has entered a new lockdown until at least 31 January, and people must work from home if they can. Construction sites and essential work in people’s homes can continue.

Wales is in lockdown with 'Alert Level 4' restrictions in place until at least Friday 8 January when they will be reviewed. Construction sites and work in people’s homes can continue.

Northern Ireland is in lockdown with restrictions due to be reviewed on 23 January, although they are expected to remain in place until at least 6 February. Construction sites and work in people’s homes can continue.

Carpet retail shops must close.

The full guidance for England’s new lockdown restrictions can be found here.

NICF are constantly reviewing government guidelines and seeking clarification where necessary currently including for training. We will update members accordingly as further information is received. Please note that in some areas the .gov website information has not been updated recently (e.g. guidance on Closing certain businesses and venues in England – last updated 24 December) and it is therefore important to check you are considering the most recent guidance when making decisions.

Croner have produced this handy guide to the upcoming changes to employment law in 2021. NICF members can also attend their webinar on Thursday 14th January at 10am. Register here.

You will have all seen the announcement about the creation of a new Tier 4 level of restrictions, which will apply in London and the South East of England.

The new rules impose greater restrictions on those living in Tier 4 areas, similar to those applying during March and April, although their main aim is to reduce social interactions between people living in different households. In terms of how these apply to the construction industry, the guidance specifies that:

• Those living in Tier 4 areas may continue to travel to work, where work cannot be undertaken at home. This includes those working in other people’s homes:

Where people cannot do so - including, but not limited to, people who work in critical national infrastructure, construction, or manufacturing - they should continue to travel to their workplace. This is essential to keeping the country operating and supporting sectors and employers.

Where it is necessary for you to work in other people's homes - for example, for nannies, cleaners or tradespeople - you can do so. Otherwise, you should avoid meeting for work in a private home or garden, where COVID-19 Secure measures may not be in place.

• It is also allowable to travel into a Tier 4 area from a Tier 1,2 or 3 area for work purposes, again where work cannot be undertaken at home;

We understand that showrooms for kitchens, bathrooms and tiles will be classed as non-essential retail and need to close and are in the process of confirming this.

 The full guidance can be accessed via this link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-4-stay-at-home.

Source: Croner

Croner have provided details of their latest webinars:

Monday 11th January 2021, 2pm

• Brexit Breakdown: Right-To-Work Rules Explained
• Register here 

Thursday 14th January 2021, 10am

• HR: What to Prepare for 2021
• Register here

Monday 18th January 2021, 2pm

• Update: New Employment Laws for 2021
• Register here

Monday 25th January 2021, 2pm

• How to Keep Your Staff Motivated in the New Year
• Register here

A reminder that NICF members have access to Croner's Business Toolkit, which can be accessed here.

The Scottish Government has announced two funding incentives for apprenticeships. Both incentives sit alongside other training support available.

The Apprenticeship Employer Grant (£15 million), supports the Government's aim of maximising  apprenticeships whilst also enabling an increased number of employers to be able to take on an apprentice (or upskill existing staff). 

The Pathway Apprenticeships Programme has been created for school-leavers up to 18-years-old facing fewer options due to the economic impact of COVID-19. This programme will provide work-based training, which will start by helping 1,200 young people in the first phase gain key skills in sectors like construction, business, IT, engineering and early years education. Pathways Apprenticeships will offer 26 weeks of training with a £100 weekly allowance. This can be extended for participants who are disabled or care experienced.  

Additional to support for apprentices who have been made redundant as a result of the pandemic through the Scottish Government’s £10 million Adopt an Apprentice scheme.

Read the full details on the Scottish Government website

“Non-essential” domestic construction work is banned under the level 4 lockdown restrictions coming into force across much of Scotland tomorrow (Friday 20 November).

Scottish Government guidance for the restrictions that come into force at 6pm across 11 council areas have been updated to state that only “essential domestic jobs” are permitted.

The guidance says: “Tradespeople should only go into a house in a level 4 area to carry out or deliver essential work or services.”

LATEST GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE SAYS CARPET RETAIL SHOULD CLOSE

The Government has added further guidance on the closure of non-essential businesses during the current lockdown in England.

The definition of ‘homeware stores’, which are required to close, now specifically includes ‘furniture and carpet retailers’.

It also includes showrooms open to the public for products used in homes, including bathrooms, kitchens and glazing.

The updated guidance does not affect construction sites, manufacturers, storage & distribution facilities or builders merchants without showrooms.

Build UK has made the point that changing guidance midway through a lockdown, particularly after clarification was sought on this specific issue, is not helpful and it has specifically requested that this does not happen in future.

In the light of developments during the first week of England’s lockdown, the National Institute of Carpet & Floorlayers (NICF) believes that while domestic floor laying can continue, most of the retail supply chain should be closed.

The trade element of retail flooring shops and showrooms is key to the ability of domestic floor layers to continue to perform their role and it occupies an important position in serving the supply chain. However, whilst we have seen no firm statements from Government as yet, pressure seems to mounting that the consumer-facing elements of these businesses should be considered as ‘homeware’ and should not continue to trade. A number of the larger multiple retailers, who initially stated their intention to remain open, have now closed their doors, while retaining ‘click and collect’ type operations for retail customers and 1-to1 appointments for the trade.

As we publish this update, carpet and flooring shops are still not explicitly named on either the list of retailers that must close, or those that are exempt. But the official guidance includes the following statement:

“The Government cannot provide comments on individual cases of whether or not a business is permitted to open. It is for each business to assess whether they are a business required to close having considered the guidance and Regulations.”

Carpet fitting in private homes can continue during the lockdown. It is of course important that all tradespeople adhere to safe working practices, including social distancing. In this regard, the guidelines contained on the Trustmark Work Safe, Safe Work website are very useful. These were developed to give practical advice to homeowners about what COVID-safety measures should be discussed and carried out before, during and after work is done in and around their home.

https://www.worksafesafework.info

The full official guidance can be found on the Government website at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november

DOMESTIC FLOOR LAYING AND ITS SUPPLY CHAIN TO CONTINUE WORKING DURING LOCKDOWN

The National Institute of Carpet & Floorlayers (NICF) believes it should be business as usual for the domestic flooring market, as England goes into its second national lockdown.

The Prime Minister has explicitly stated that workers who cannot work from home should “attend their workplace, including where this involves working in other people’s homes.” This is also confirmed in updated details on the .gov website.

Source: The Stocklists 

The new national lockdown looks set to force flooring retailers in England to close if the exemptions some took advantage of earlier in the year do not apply this time.

The Government has announced the closure of non-essential retail from Thursday, November 5. An official list has yet to be published, but first reports are making a distinction between household goods stores which must close and hardware shops which can stay open.

In the first lockdown, many flooring retailers were able to stay open or re-open early under an exemption for "homewares" but so far this category has not reappeared this time. However, further details are awaited and will be published in the next few days.

Read the full article here

The Prime Minister has announced a four-week lockdown in England from this Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December.

The key message from the NICF is that fitters will still be permitted to work in private homes. 

If working in private homes, fitters should follow the recommendations of the Trustmark Safe Work Work Safe campaign, which was designed to give practical advice to homeowners about what COVID-safety measures should be discussed and carried out before, during and after work is done in and around their home.

It is currently understood that distribution can remain open, given that it is aligned to construction, which is allowed to continue in operation.

Workers are permitted to travel for work and hotels can remain open to provide accommodation for workers. Those who have to find hotel accommodation in the course of their work should be aware that some hotels may close due to a reduction in demand.

Build UK has produced an authorisation letter template for employers in the event of workers being stopped on journeys to and from sites anywhere in the UK. 

Within the devolved nations 

Scotland now has five COVID protection levels in place, ranging from ‘Level 0 - Nearly Normal’ to ‘Level 4 - Lockdown’, and you can check the level for an area by entering the postcode. Construction Scotland has a document about working safely on-site during the pandemic.

Wales is under its own ‘firebreak’ lockdown until Monday 9 November 00:01am. 

Northern Ireland has its own restrictions in place until Friday 13 November. 

What to do if a worker develops symptoms

To help employers and work colleagues respond quickly and consistently, Build UK has published an easy to follow flowchart on the actions to take if a worker develops COVID- 19 symptoms, receives a positive test result, or has to self- isolate.  

Furlough Scheme Extended 

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended for one month to the end of November, with employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500. Under the extended scheme, employers will only have to pay National Insurance and pension contributions, with the Government paying the full 80% of wages, and details of how to claim will be available shortly. For an employee to be eligible they need to have been on a payroll run before 23:59 on 30 October 2020.

Employers who were considering terminating contracts of employment now have the option of leaving the employee on furlough for the month of November.

Mortgage holidays will continue.

The Job Support Scheme, which was due to start on 1 November, has been postponed until the Job Retention Scheme ends. 

Businesses required to close in England due to local or national restrictions will be eligible for grants of up to £3000.  

The grant available under the Self‐Employed Income Support Scheme from 1 November 2020 until 31 January 2021 has already been doubled to 40% of average monthly trading profits, capped at £3,750. The level of the second grant covering 1 February until 30 April 2021 will be confirmed in due course.

Materials Shortages

Concern has been expressed about the possibility of materials shortages, as a result of the current situation. NICF members might be able to find the assistance they need on a new section of the CFA LinkedIn forum where members can post requests for help in sourcing generic material  requirements (e.g. underlay, gripper, or floor coverings), which hopefully will be of benefit to all. Please note this page should not be used for specific complaints or customer services issues. Communications regarding other issues, apart from seeking materials should be directed towards the appropriate manufacturer or distributor. The page may also continue to be used for sharing other help and best practice directly between members of the flooring industry.

Source: Croner 

Upcoming Webinars 

NICF members have access to the following webinars hosted by Croner. 

Carrying Over Annual Leave – What Are The Rules

Mon, Nov 2, 2020 | 2pm start

Register your place

Your Questions Answered: The Biggest Issues UK Businesses Face

Thu, Nov 5, 2020 | 10am start

Register your place

What’s New In Employment Law

Mon, Nov 9, 2020 | 2pm start

Register your place

Claiming The Job Retention Bonus – What You Need To Know

Mon, Nov 23, 2020 | 2pm start

Register your place

Source: Croner 

Your Questions Answered: The Biggest Issues UK Businesses Face

During this insightful session, specialist speaker Amanda Chadwick will be revealing the biggest issues facing UK businesses right now, as analysed by Croner’s dedicated advisory team.

Join this session for:

• Recommended actions from specialist advisors
• Vital updates and changes
• Basic employment law practice
• What businesses like yours are seeking guidance on
• How you can take a proactive approach
• Live answers to your own questions

Thursday 5th November, 10am

Register here

Source: Croner UK 

Last week, the Chancellor announced changes to how the Job Support Scheme will work once it comes into effect from 1^st November.

Croner can help you to understand the changes, what they mean for your business, and how to handle them. Through your NICF membership you have access to free, specialist advice from their expert team - available on 0844 561 8133.

What’s Changed?

The rules on the original version of the scheme have now changed – the element of it that helps employers who can stay open. The element to help businesses who have to close has not changed.

Here, Croner provide a breakdown and explain the key changes announced:

Old Rules

• Employees have to work for at least one third (33%) of their normal working hours, which the employer pays for
• The employer also pays the wages for one third (33%) of the unworked hours
• The Government pay the wages for one third (33%) of the unworked hours, to a cap of £697.92 per month

New Rules

• Employees have to work for at least one fifth (20%) of their normal working hours, which the employer pays for
• The employer also pays the wages for 5% of the unworked hours
• The Government pay the wages for 62% of the unworked hours, to a cap of £1,541.75 per month

Even so far into the pandemic, new hurdles are continuously being thrown in the way of businesses as the number of cases fluctuate significantly.

Speak with a Croner specialist today for clarity on 0844 561 8133.

Full guidance is available on the Government website.

Source: Welsh Government 

Yesterday (20.10.20), the Welsh Government stated that tradespeople would be unable to work inside people's homes during the fire break lockdown (23.10 to 09.11), unless there was a safety issue.

Today, the Welsh Government has said that they will allow tradespeople to continue to work inside people's homes. 

The revised guidance states that:

Work carried out in people’s homes, for example by tradespeople, can continue as long as it is managed in a safe way and both the worker and household members are well and have no symptoms of coronavirus. However, we recommend that people consider whether the work can be safely deferred until after this short lockdown.

Like other businesses, people working in someone else’s home must take all reasonable measures to ensure to mitigate the risk of coronavirus spreading when working in other people’s households. 

It is also recommended that no work should be carried out in any household where someone is isolating, unless it is to repair a fault which poses a direct risk to people’s safety.

A reminder that, in the event of workers being stopped on journeys to and from sites, Build UK has produced an authorisation letter template for employers which may be helpful.

Access the full Frequently Asked Questions here.

Source: Build UK

Wales ‘Fire Break’ Lockdown

Restrictions are being increased across the four nations to tackle the second wave of coronavirus, and First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced a national lockdown in Wales from Friday 23 October until Monday 9 November. This will affect tradespeople working inside people’s homes, and the Welsh Government has stated in its Frequently Asked Questions that “work carried out inside other people’s homes can only take place if it is urgent or to repair a fault which poses a direct risk to people’s safety”. It goes on to say that work that is already underway cannot be completed “unless the work is urgent or it would be unsafe to leave the work incomplete”.

Construction sites and work outside or in unoccupied homes can continue and these workers should still travel to work. In the event of workers being stopped on journeys to and from sites, Build UK has produced an authorisation letter template for employers which may be helpful.

Site Operating Procedures ‐ Version 6

The Site Operating Procedures have been updated to reflect recent changes in Government guidance. Whilst there are no significant changes to social distancing requirements on sites, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has taken the opportunity to streamline the Site Operating Procedures whilst maintaining the familiar format.

Changes to the Site Operating Procedures ‐ Version 6 include:

• Current requirements such as social distancing are referenced on page 1 making it easier to update in future
• The CLC statement on The Use of Face Coverings is included
• Updated guidance on shielding, self‐isolation, testing and what to do if a worker develops COVID‐19 symptoms or has to self‐isolate, including a link to Build UK’s flowchart
• Confirmation that canteens serving food must display an NHS QR Code
• The wording has been reviewed throughout to reflect the fact that social distancing is no longer exceptional, and that in some key areas Government has published more detailed guidance or updated terminology.

Cases of coronavirus are increasing across all four nations, and sites are urged to remind the workforce of the importance of social distancing outside of work, in order to protect themselves and others and help keep construction sites open.

Please note that you may need to refresh your browser cache in order to view the latest version of the Site Operating Procedures by pressing Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac).

Source: Croner UK 

Upcoming Croner Webinars: 

Source - Croner 

Employee Wellbeing - Managing Mental Health Issues at Work
Join employment law expert, Amanda Chadwick, for advice on:

• What is mental health?
• Managing staff with mental health issues
• Managing absence
• Personal development

Date: 8th October

Time: 10am

Register here

Source - Croner 

Making Contract Changes Due To Covid-19 

Through your association membership, you have free access to HR and employment advice from specialists at Croner.

Businesses like yours have sought Croner’s professional guidance to navigate the challenges presented by the pandemic, including furlough, safety assessments, managing staff, and more.

Unfortunately, redundancy is one of the most common themes Croner have assisted members with recently. While this may be unavoidable for some, Croner’s specialists explain the ways businesses can reduce costs without terminating staff below.

For further advice on redundancy or wider business matters, call your dedicated member support helpline on 0844 561 8133.

Reducing Staff Costs: What changes can I make?

There are a number of ways to save costs via a contract change, including:

• Reducing overall pay
• Reducing working hours
• Moving location or restricting work to one location
• Shifting from full-time to part-time
• Cutting benefits and/or bonus packages

It’s worth noting that making one big change to your workforce is often impractical and unlikely to solve the issue. Firstly, bigger changes often involve higher risk. Secondly, their impact is more likely to be short-term. Making smaller cuts across the board may involve more work, but it’s less disruptive and reduces the chance of tribunal claims.

It is possible for you to make changes in all the areas listed above. However, you need to consider your employees’ rights before making a decision.

How do I know if I can make a change?

The main thing to keep in mind when you want to make an alteration is this: changes are only lawful if both parties agree to the change, or there is a variation clause in the contract.

If you don’t have a variation clause, you’ll need to hold a consultation with the employee to discuss the proposed changes. The length of the consultation will depend on the suggested change and the impact it will have.

A pay change, or a significant change to the employee’s role will require a more substantial consultation. However, a minor amendment to hours will be less significant.

Failure to consult with an employee could lead to a claim of constructive dismissal.

Even if the employee has a variation contract, we’d still recommend holding a consultation period. The bigger the change, the more important it is to consult. This will allow the employee to prepare for the coming change and open a dialogue about any potential issues they’re likely to encounter.

You’ll also need to provide them with right amount of notice.

What if the employee doesn’t agree to the change?

The purpose of the consultation is to find common ground and agree terms. However, this isn’t always possible. In cases where the individual refuses to agree, you have a couple of options.

You can extend the consultation period and continue to search for a solution. It’s often worth doing this rather than putting yourself at unnecessary risk. Consider the following during discussions:

• Have I done everything I can to reach an agreement?
• Are the changes (as they currently stand) absolutely essential?
• Is the change worth the risk to morale and potential legal action?

If the contract has a variation clause, you can try to force the change. However, this is a risky move, and could open you up to claims. The way to do this would be to dismiss the employee and rehire them under a new contract.

If you do decide to take this route, make sure you follow a fair dismissal procedure. That means giving them adequate notice and offering them the opportunity to appeal against the decision.

Help with Reducing Staff Costs

Need to save money in your organisation but not sure how? Our experts have helped thousands of businesses stay afloat during the coronavirus crisis. If you need assistance, call one of our team today on 0844 561 8133.

Source - Croner

Croner recently surveyed a number of businesses across a range of industries about their biggest workplace worries. With this, we can reveal that becoming COVID-secure is the biggest concern for employers right now.

To help your members become COVID secure, protect their business, and reduce risk, we're offering a new, bespoke service to help them to demonstrate their safety status.

Download our COVID-secure service flyer (PDF) and share this exclusive offer with your members.

PDF Resources

In the Know: Prime Minister’s national coronavirus update

COVID-19 in the Workplace: What to do as an Employer: If you suspect a Coronavirus case in your workplace, it is vital to follow the right processes and abide by guidelines to reduce risk and ensure safety.

Back to Work Toolkit: Get expert guidance on how to get back to work as lockdown eases.

Webinars

We run a number of FREE webinars each month exclusively for Clients and Association Members. Click here to view the schedule

Source: Croner 

Croner are running a series of webinars which are free to Croner clients, partners, and members.

Furlough & the Job Retention Scheme – What Does September Bring?

Tue, Sep 8, 2020 | 10am start 

Register here

Post-Pandemic: Redundancy, Recovery, and the New Reality

Thu, Sep 10, 2020 | 2pm start

Register here

Apprentices, Kickstarts & Trainees – What You Need to Know

Tue, Sep 15, 2020 | 10am start

Register here 

Source: Croner

Coronavirus presents a number of unique challenges to employers. This means the issues you are facing might be different to other businesses.

Source: Croner

Shielding is ending

As the UK transitions back into a regular working pattern, there will be many smaller-scale challenges employers will have to take on.

The first of these is returning shielding staff to work. Some may still feel uncomfortable coming back to work. And, you may have to put additional measures in place to ensure their safety.

Here’s how you should respond to ensure legal compliance and guarantee a straightforward return to work.

How to bring staff back off furlough

This article answers the most common questions surrounding bringing staff back after a period of furlough.

What would a second wave of Coronavirus mean for your company?

A letter published in the British Medical Journal has warned UK ministers that urgent action is needed to ensure that there’s no further loss of life in the event of a second wave of infections in the Autumn.

There is no doubt that a second wave is a scary prospect for businesses. This could mean another lockdown, which means you’d once again be forced to shut. Staff could need to work from home. And, measures taken at the start of the year to facilitate homeworking will need to be repeated.

Read more

Source: Croner

As the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions are lifted, business recovery will be paramount. Re-opening will bring a new set of challenges in terms of assessing business operations and ensuring the workplace is safe.

Croner are holding an exclusive webinar at 12.30pm on Thursday 6th August on how to ensure that your workplace is Covid secure. Employment law expert, Amanda Chadwick, will provide advice on:

• Preparing the building and the workforce
• Ensuring your staff feel safe on their return to work
• Managing your workplace policies to cover COVID changes
• Business risks if you are not health and safety compliant?

Click here to register your place

Source - Croner 

From the 1st of August, employers in England will get “more discretion” on how people work, and will have to make decisions on how it can be done safely.

The new measures are great for business owners eager for staff to return. However, you may face some tough HR and health & safety choices…

For example, what do you need to do to meet the government’s COVID secure guidelines? How do you consult with staff before they return? And what if employees refuse to come back?

The good news is, Croner's here with instant answers to your toughest back-to-work queries. Contact one of our advisers for support on:

• How to follow government guidelines to make your workplace COVID secure
• How to tell if employees have legitimate reasons to stay away from work
• How to handle employees who don’t want to return...

Find out how to get your people back to work quickly and safely when the time comes.

Call 0800 470 1552 today or request a call back to claim your free advice.

Source: Croner 

As the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions are lifted, business recovery will be paramount. Re-opening will bring a new set of challenges in terms of assessing business operations and ensuring the workplace is safe. Join employment law expert, Amanda Chadwick, for advice on:

• Preparing the building and the workforce
• Ensuring your staff feel safe on their return to work
• Managing your workplace policies to cover COVID changes
• Business risks if you are not health and safety compliant?

The webinar will take place on Wednesday 29th July at 2pm. Register your place here. 

Recofloor continues to service its members by collecting from distributors and contractors' premises across the UK, posting bags, offering advice on the scheme and helping to reduce waste vinyl disposal costs.

Measures have been put in place to manage collection frequency and guarantee safest possible handling and processing of materials. If you usually drop-off vinyl waste please contact your local flooring distributor to confirm requirements prior to drop-off at their premises. Please click here for more information.
 
We are closely monitoring the progress and will continue to keep you updated through social media channels, emails and our website. If you would like to contact us, please send us an email at info@recofloor.org or contact a member of the Recofloor team on 0161 355 7618.

Source: Croner

Paul Holcroft of Croner will be running a Facebook Live Q&A at 12:00 noon on Wednesday 17 June for expert advice on how to keep your business successful as lockdown eases.

These Q&A sessions take place every Wednesday and Paul will this week be discussing the latest government updates, furlough, redundancy, and how to get your people back to work. Send in your questions and get instant answers to your most urgent HR problems:

• Learn the rules on ‘part-time’ furlough and how to get the most from the new scheme
• Discover how to avoid easy-to-make employment law mistakes when reopening your business
• Get expert advice on how to handle tough conversations with staff who don’t want to come back to work
• And find out how to keep your staff costs under control, including what to do if the worst happens and you need to reduce the size of your workforce

Simply click ‘Like’ on the Croner Facebook page and tune in at noon tomorrow to join the Facebook Live Q&A.

Source: Croner

The new rules on flexible furlough have been announced. This means claiming wage grants is now significantly more complex.

From July, you get to bring furloughed staff back part time. Plus, you can still enjoy funding to cover some of their wages.

However, to access the part time scheme, you must create a brand new flexible furlough agreement with staff. Failure to do this may mean you miss out on funding.

Croner is here to make flexible furlough easier. You can begin receiving HR advice today, and learn more about:

• The rules on flexible furlough from July 2020
• How to create a new flexible furlough agreement with staff
• The minimum amount of flexible furlough you can claim for
• What records you need to keep to show you’ve followed the rules
• How to handle tough discussions with staff who don’t want to return to the workplace

Get quick responses to your urgent furlough queries.  Call 0800 470 1552 today or request a call back to claim your free advice (remember to quote your scheme number).

Source: Croner

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is changing.These furlough scheme updates may make it harder for you to manage your staff.
There are three major updates that will impact your business:

• The current furlough scheme will close to new entrants on the 30th of June. That means you must put any new employees on furlough by 10th June at the latest.
• A new flexible furlough scheme will launch from the 1st of July. This change will allow you to bring furloughed employees back on part-time hours and claim for the time your employees are not at work, to a set limit.
• As of August, you must begin to contribute towards furloughed employees’ wage costs. The level of contribution will increase each month until the scheme closes in October.

Funding is still available. But the new rules make it more complex, and more costly.

To get instant advice on how to unlock funding under the new rules or obtain support to reduce staff costs without falling foul of the law, contact Croner (remember to quote your scheme number).  Our experts offer quick, comprehensive answers to your most urgent HR questions. We’ll help you get your furlough process right and keep your staff costs under control.

Call 0800 470 1552 today or request a call back to claim your free advice.

Source: HM Treasury

On Friday 29 May The Chancellor announced an extension to the Self-Employment Support Scheme and confirmed furlough next steps.

The government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will be extended, giving more security to individuals whose livelihoods are adversely affected by coronavirus in the coming months. 

For full details of the announcement click here.

Find out how to make your workplace COVID-secure

The UK Government, in consultation with industry, has produced guidance to help ensure workplaces in England are as safe as possible during the coronavirus pandemic. Join a free webinar, hosted by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to find out more about how to make your workplace COVID-secure.

The webinars cover a range of different types of workplace settings which are allowed to be open. Many businesses operate more than one type of workplace, such as an office, factory and fleet of vehicles. You may need to use more than one of the guides/webinars as you think through what you need to do to keep people safe.

• Tuesday 2 June, 3pm: Homes– Guidance for people working in, visiting or delivering to home environments as well as their employer.

Source: Croner

Croner are runninng a series of webinars in the coming weeks and one that may be of significant interest to NICF members is the Recovery Preparation: Re-opening the Workplace - Webinar taking place on Thursday 4 June 2020, start time 2pm.

To register for the above webinar please click here.

Other webinars available to NICF members are:

• Redundancy - is this the Only Option? 2 June 2020 - 10am start
• Pros and Cons of handling Flexible Working Requests - 9 June 2020 - 10am start
• Solving Workplace Disputes - 16 June 2020 - 10am start

If you would like the registration link to any of the above three seminars please email info@nicfltd.org.uk

Source:  Carpet Foundation

After receiving clarification from Government, the Carpet Foundation is advising retailers in England they can open their premises right away, as "homeware stores" – provided they have strict 'COVID-19 Secure' guidelines in place and seek legal advice.

The Foundation told its 370 retail members: "After discussions with Government at the end of last week, we have received this notification regarding the re-opening of carpet retailers: The regulations have always identified homeware, building supplies and hardware stores as being among those businesses which may be regarded as legal exceptions to the requirement to close and it remains for each business to seek its own legal advice in making decisions re: whether or not to operate.
 
"These decisions must take full account of the regulations, guidance and the requirement (related to the Health & Safety at Work Act) to adhere to PHE guidelines on social distancing in the workplace to protect the health and safety of both staff and customers."

NICF is pleased to launch it's Help for Floorlayers leaflet.

The Institute is conscious that floorlayers in the domestic sector need support during the Coronavirus epidemic and to ensure safety is
paramount when returning to work. The information in this leaflet is gathered from a wide range of sources to provide one easy to read document. It includes guidance on returning to work as well as advice on financial support to help floorlayers during this time.

Following the Prime Minister's update on Sunday evevning, the Government has now issued new guidance relating to working in peoples homes during COVID-19 in England.

Click here to download.

For Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland there is no change to the guidance previously issued by these devolved Governments.

Source: Croner

When considering re-opening your workplace, there are many essential considerations to bear in mind.

Below Croner explore the measures employers may wish to put in place when re-opening the workplace.

As an NICF member, you have access to free advice as part of your membership. Call 0844 561 8133 for expert guidance and pragmatic advice. Always remember to quote the scheme number.

Remaining vigilant for the symptoms of COVID-19
Although specific guidelines on how to reopen workplaces are still awaited, plans for a return to the workplace should now be considered. You should continually refer to the latest public health advice issued by the Government as the situation evolves. The public health advice is updated regularly and organisations will need to continue to stay up to date with the Government advice.

As staff return to work, the first thing to be aware of is the signs that any of them could potentially be infected or have been exposed to the coronavirus. The following symptoms may develop in the 14 days after exposure to someone who has the COVID-19 infection:

•    cough
•    difficulty in breathing
•    fever (38.0° C [100.4° F] or greater using an oral thermometer).

If any member of staff feels they are starting to display these symptoms, they should be encouraged to disclose this as soon as possible.

Source: Croner

It may seem a long time away, but eventually the coronavirus pandemic will come to an end and, when it does, employers will need to have plans in place to help staff get back to normal. As we try and return to normality, and potentially see lock-down provisions softened, what should employers bear in mind?

Croner, our trusted HR partner, explore the main points, which employers may face in the workplace after the pandemic.

For pragmatic advice, you can call 0844 561 8133 for free advice as part of your membership.  Always remember to quote your scheme number.

Homeworking
For many companies, putting homeworking options into place may have been an entirely new venture that they had not previously considered. While the initial reaction to the pandemic ending may be to return all staff to previous working arrangements, some companies and their employees may have been satisfied with the homeworking situation and could wish to make it permanent. Ultimately, it is up to employers if they permit staff to work from home but they should consider the benefits of doing so, and the positives of being more flexible with employees in general.

COVID-19 Exclusive Webinar:
Latest Announcements, Developments and Implications
Tuesday 12th May, 1.00pm

Source: Croner

One of the key benefts of your NICF membership is access to Croner’s telephone advice line, available on 0844 561 8133 (always remember to quote your scheme number when calling).

Specialist advisors are able to offer their support and guidance
through HR, health & safety, commercial legal and tax matters,
as well as topical circumstances like the latest challenges
presented by COVID-19.

As businesses begin to consider post-pandemic operations, and
potentially see lockdown provisions soften, what are the essential
points to bear in mind?

During this member-only session, expert speaker Amanda Chadwick
will address the latest Coronavirus announcements, considering how
this will impact businesses and workers.

Click here to register your details and secure your place.

Source - Croner

Join my live Facebook Q&A at 12:00 noon, Wednesday 6 May 2020, for expert HR advice on how to manage your staff during COVID-19 and plan for life after lockdown.

Send in your questions and get instant answers to your most urgent HR problems:

• Find out how to furlough and ‘un-furlough’ staff
• Learn how to avoid costly employment law mistakes during lockdown
• Get expert advice on how to plan NOW so you’re not over-staffed when your business re-opens

Simply click ‘like’ on the Croner Facebook page and tune in at noon tomorrow to join your Q&A. Click here to visit Croner's Facebook page now

Kind regards
Paul Holcroft
Associate Director - Operations - Croner

Source - GOV.UK

The Chancellor has launched a new 100% Government‐backed Bounce Back Loan Scheme for small businesses which will open for applications on Monday 4 May:

• Small businesses will be able to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 from an accredited lender and access the cash within days
• The Government will pay any fees and interest for the first 12 months, as well as providing lenders with a 100% guarantee for the loan
• No repayments will be due during the first 12 months
• Loans can be applied for online using a short and simple form.

The new scheme will run alongside the existing Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Government is taking additional steps to ensure lenders can process applications quickly, including changing the viability tests so that all a bank needs to assess is whether a business was viable pre‐coronavirus.

Source - MoneySavingExpert

The way we live has changed fundamentally due to the coronavirus pandemic and there are many self-employed who have found that they can't continue to work as they have done previously.

MoneySavingExpert is providing guidance, looking at your rights as a self-employed person and what support is out there - including help for limited company directors.

Guidance on the MoneySaving Expert site is updated regularly - please click here for current information.

Source - Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

The Citizens Advice Bureau have issued guidance on coronavirus if you are self employed.

If your income has dropped because of coronavirus, you might be able to get money from the government.  You could get 80% of your average profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month. This is called the Self-employment Income Support Scheme.

If you're eligible, you can get money to cover until at least the end of June 2020.

For NICF members that are self employed or a member of a partnership in the UK and have lost income due to coronavirus (COVID-19) there is guidance available on the Goverment website on how you can claim a grant through the coronavirus (COVID-19) Self-employment Income Support Scheme

There remains some confusion regarding whether construction and flooring installers/contractors should remain at work. The NICF support the basic principle that where it remains safe, our sector can still operate. If it is not safe and all guidance including social distancing measures cannot be observed, stay at home. We have been provided with a template letter regarding traveling to work which you can modify for you or an employee to carry should you be challenged. Please click here

Source - Croner

In light of recent COVID-19 developments, Croner’s team of advisers have received an extremely high volume of calls from your members.
 
Our specialists remain on-hand to offer their expert guidance during these challenging times. We are glad to be able to offer support to NICF members when they need it most.
 
To address the most common queries we are receiving, and reveal the most popular areas we are advising on, we will be hosting a member-only webinar on Thursday 9th April at 10am.
 
We would like to invite NICF members to submit your questions, which will be answered live during the session by expert speaker, Monica Price.

Register your place at the webinar here.

Last week, calls to Croner's advice lines increased dramatically. In fact, thousands of employers contacted Croner for advice on the latest Government initiative – the Job Retention Scheme.

Croner have put together a quick guide on furloughing and the Job Retention Scheme, covering:

How to apply for grants to cover your employees’ wages
How to pick which employees go on ‘furlough’ i.e. temporarily stop working
How long your employees need to be on ‘furlough’ before you can claim back their wages.

You can get this free guidance on furloughing individuals who are self-isolating or on different contracts, and advice on pay, by clicking here.

If you have any questions or to book a call with one of our UK-based business advisers, call Croner on 0800 470 1552 and quote your scheme number.

Source - CPA / BEIS 

Work carried out in people’s homes, for example by tradespeople carrying out repairs and maintenance, can continue, provided that the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms. Again, it will be important to ensure that Public Health England guidelines, including maintaining a 2 metre distance from any household occupants, are followed to ensure everyone’s safety.

No work should be carried out in any household which is isolating or where an individual is being shielded, unless it is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household, such as emergency plumbing or repairs, and where the tradesperson is willing to do so. In such cases, Public Health England can provide advice to tradespeople and households.

No work should be carried out by a tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild.

Source - Croner

As the current situation with COVID-19 brings more disruption and uncertainty to us all, please remember that Croner are here to provide reassurance, updates and guidance for you through these challenging times.

We have now created a central point for you to access a number of resources including industry briefings, webinars, and Q&As.

Visit your COVID-19 Partner Portal.

Our HR specialists are constantly monitoring the situation to give you the most up-to-date guidance we can.

We have seen record demand for our service in the past two weeks, which demonstrates its importance to you. Although there may now be slight delays, the measures we have put in place allow us to continue to deliver our services with the commitment you deserve.

As always, we can be reached on 0844 561 8133 for specialist advice. Please remember to quote your NICF scheme number when calling.

Source - WTC Workwear

In line with the latest Corona Virus guidelines, our company will be temporarily closed accordingly. We can accept orders via e-mail. However, we cannot confirm when these orders we will be despatched. Orders received will be priority once the U.K’s Corona Virus restrictions are lifted. Stock will be allocated to customers in a queue sorted by the date/time your order was placed.

E-mails will be monitored daily. We will review and update this position as the situation develops.

For the health and safety of our staff, customers and the wider community we feel this is necessary at this time to help slow the spread of the virus and in turn help speed up the U.K’s  recovery time.

We ask everyone to please follow the government guidelines and stay safe.

Source - Croner

Croner are still here and committed to supporting you throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.

Coronavirus has had a significant impact on businesses in the UK. It’s affecting operations, supply chains, customer engagement, and service. You can make sure HR isn’t one of the areas affected and minimise the disruption in your organisation by implementing a sensible approach.
In this Advisory Alert, Croner would like to direct you to their coronavirus HR toolkit.

These resources are free, and they’re reviewed and updated daily. Bookmark this page to keep up-to-date with the latest guidance.

The toolkit contains an e-guide, checklist and factsheet to keep you up to date with the latest guidance. This will help you manage employee hygiene in the workplace, establish your obligations as an employer, and minimise disruption to your day-to-day operations.
Get all of this guidance in one place, right here.

Government guidance currently includes:

• do not have visitors to your home, including friends and family

This is naturally putting people off from having work carried out at their homes, and a number of members have already told us about jobs cancelled based on covid-19.

It is of course up to each customer to assess their own circumstances and many (e.g. in high risk categories) will quite rightly choose not to receive a floor layer based on government guidelines. Others, at the other end of the scale, for example with empty properties or new build projects, could easily go ahead. Some customers will have to receive home visits from tradesmen for crtical work and so NICF has gather some best practice together for you to consider to maintain as much of your work flow as possible.

What can you do to secure your income during this period?

We are very conscious that the worrying situation surrounding COVID-19 is escalating on a daily basis. The main guidance we are providing to members comes from the Government’s main websites:

https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

The NHS website goes into greater detail about some of the basic precautions that we would like to re-iterate:

•    wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
•    always wash your hands when you get home or into work
•    use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
•    cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
•    put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
•    try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
•    do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
•    do not have visitors to your home, including friends and family

NICF members have access to support via Croner (Call 0844 561 8133 and quote relevant scheme number) that may be of assistance with regard to specific issues. If you have any further questions that are not answered through these routes, please do not hesitate to get in touch and we will try to assist.

For the NICF, we are also applying Government guidelines and will not be running face to face meetings or events for the immediate future. We will remain active and are currently looking at alternatives to ensure that the business of the NICF in supporting our members continues while we all navigate this pandemic. Communication is probably more important now than ever and so whilst we will maintain our basic principle of not bombarding our members with unnecessary contact, equally we will endeavour to keep you updated with any critical information. We are currently developing a blog on the NICF website that we hope will be in place over the next day or so. This will include basic information and ongoing updates; highlighting support, best practice, news of any guidelines or restrictions implemented by the Government and any wider business help or support that we learn is available.

Please be assured that we continue to work hard on your behalf.