By now you’ll have seen that 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.
And remember, your Croner HR and health & safety advisers are here 24/7 to help you stay productive and profitable whatever challenges you face. So, for expert advice any time of day, simply contact ALFED for more details: alfed@alfed.org.uk.
