HR AND BUSINESS RECOVERY JULIA SHALLCRASS
Employers' obligations during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
Returning to work postCOVID-19 lockdown requires careful management of health and safety risks and legal obligations. Julia Shallcrass, employment lawyer and director at HR training company KiwiBoss, talks us through our requirements, as well as some of the opportunities arising for workers and employers.
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mployers must ensure the safety of their workers by informing them about their health and safety obligations and following their COVID-19 safety management plans. Employers should plan for sick leave entitlements and seek financial support under the government’s COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme. Now is the time to consider how to support staff through organisational change, and to apply any learnings from lockdown relating to working from home arrangements.
Safety first
Health and safety at work is paramount, and employers must ensure the health and safety of all workers during the COVID-19
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HUMAN RESOURCES
WINTER 2020
pandemic. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, employers must protect their workers and others at work from the risk of infection, so far as is reasonably practicable. Employers should prepare for the safe return of staff to work under Alert Level 2 with a COVID-19 safety management plan. This should set out how the employer will operate safely at work. Inform staff and stakeholders about the plan and expectations required of them before they return to work. “The key to success is ensuring everyone is aware of the safety management plan,” says Matt Jones of Advanced Safety. “Tell everyone about do’s and don’ts – and remind workers of their legal duties under legislation.” Be mindful that staff will be tired from riding an emotional roller-coaster. Matt recommends, “keeping tasks brief, conference calls short and not too much decision-making during the first few days returning to work”. Matt advises employers to keep their COVID-19 Safety Management Plan simple. “Employers can add COVID-19 to existing hazard and risk registers and share these with their team. List controls on your register
from reliable sources such as the Ministry of Health, Unite Against COVID-19, and WorkSafe NZ.” Employers should minimise the risk of passing on the COVID-19 virus at work through controls, such as: • supporting people with flulike symptoms or exposure to COVID-19 to self-isolate • ensuring physical distancing in accordance with government guidelines (1 metre during Alert Level 2, where practicable). Depending on your workplace, you may use smaller rotations of staff and stagger meal breaks, or change hours to allow for adequate physical distancing • disinfecting surfaces, including common touchpoints like door handles and light switches. Shared equipment must be wiped and cleaned at the beginning and end of each shift • maintaining good hygiene, particularly hand hygiene and good cough and sneeze etiquette • providing appropriate resources to minimise the risk of spreading infection, such as hand sanitisers, face masks, disposable gloves and other protective equipment
