The escalation of the global and local situation with regards to Covid-19, including confirmed cases in the Channel Islands, means that employers need to consider their existing employment policies, according to Bedell Cristin.
Its employment law team has recently advised one of the largest Channel Island businesses to assist with drawing up new and revised policies to account for the spread of the virus.
David Cadin (pictured), Jersey managing partner at Bedell Cristin, outlined that Channel Island businesses face some specific challenges. “The close nature of the islands means that many businesses operate on a pan-island basis and even more have employees engaged in a wide range of roles – from back-office to public-facing staff,” said Mr Cadin. “This sheer variety means that employment policies need to be broad-ranging and ensure that all employees, and the employer, are suitably protected and accounted for.”
The ever-evolving threat posed by coronavirus is impacting the business environment and has caused many companies to explore options such as allowing staff to work from home, splitting teams across multiple sites and limiting contact with the public.
“Each business is different and each is facing its own challenges and demands as a result of the virus,” advised Mr Cadin. “We have worked collaboratively and quickly with local HR departments to identify their circumstances and help them put the right policies in place to allow them to continue to function and protect their employees.”
Although the current coronavirus outbreak presents a real threat, measures must be adopted simultaneously to ensure business continuity and virus containment within the workforce.
Bedell Cristin has produced a briefing document to give employers and employees an overview of what they can do to mitigate against the risks and what the responsibilities are for both parties.
You can find their advice at: https://www.bedellcristin.com/insights/briefings/coronavirus-what-are-my-responsibilities/
