NASC Covid-19 News Stream

21.12.21 – Statutory Sick Pay

The Government will cover the cost of Statutory Sick Pay for Covid-related absences for small and medium-sized employers across the UK, it has been revealed today.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak said: “We recognise that the spread of the Omicron variant means businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors are facing huge uncertainty, at a crucial time.

“So we’re stepping in with £1 billion of support, including a new grant scheme, the reintroduction of the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme and further funding released through the Culture Recovery Fund.”

 

Records you must keep

You must keep records of Statutory Sick Pay that you’ve paid and want to claim back from HMRC. You must keep the following records for 3 years after the date you receive the payment for your claim:

• the dates the employee was off sick
• which of those dates were qualifying days
• the reason they said they were off work – if they had symptoms, someone they lived with had symptoms or they were shielding
• the employee’s National Insurance number

 

More information is available here.

 

Daily testing is being introduced from today for close contacts of someone who has tested positive for Covid‐19 ‐ including those of Omicron cases ‐ in place of the requirement to self‐isolate. This means that anyone who is identified as a close contact and is either fully vaccinated or aged under 18 years 6 months does not need to self‐isolate but should take daily lateral flow tests for 7 days.

The Build UK Covid‐19 flowchart has been updated in line with the new rules. This can be downloaded here.

 

13.12.21  – Covid-19 Plan B Introduced
Yesterday evening the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced that England is moving to Plan B in a bid to reduce the spread of the new Omicron variant. Build UK has produced a short briefing note outlining what the key requirements are as well as the latest guidance to construction industry businesses and employees.