Covid-19 and working safely
We’ve created the following FAQs to help you during the transition phase of returning to work.
Please follow Government Guidance in conjunction with these FAQs as guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19) changes regularly.
Read more information regarding COVID-19 in our dedicated COVID-19 Hub. This includes information on the Government Job Retention Scheme and Furlough, Getting Tested and Remote Working.
Whether you can work from home or not will depend on the assignment, type of work and whether the client determines homeworking is possible. Your Recruitment Consultant will be able to confirm all of this with you.
The majority of SoltixSolutions temporary workers and contractors are engaged by SoltixSolutions under contracts for services. Temporary workers and contractors are not employees of either SoltixSolutions or the client and are at liberty to end an assignment under the terms of their contact for any reason. You are under no legal obligation to remain in an assignment if you do not wish to do so.
If you do not feel the client is operating a safe system of work in line with government guidance on COVID-19 health and safety practices, please raise your concerns with your SoltixSolutions Recruitment Consultant first and they will work with you and the client to resolve any issues insofar as it is possible to do so.
The Umbrella Company will pay you SSP in the same way, i.e. from day one and in line with Government guidelines. You will need to get in touch with your Umbrella Company regarding any specific procedures.
There is no entitlement to SSP for CIS workers, although they may be able to claim on their insurance (they would need to check their own policy), or in line with Government announcements in relation to COVID-19, they may be able to claim for Universal Credit or Employment Support Allowance (workers would need to claim this directly themselves)
There is no entitlement to SSP for Ltd Company workers, although they may be able to claim on their insurance (they would need to check their own policy), or in line with Government announcements in relation to COVID-19 they may be able to claim for Universal Credit or Employment Support Allowance (workers would need to claim this directly themselves).
Employers have a duty of care to ensure that the workplace is sufficiently safe, following the latest, relevant government guidance and checking for updates. Some measures may need to be scaled up or reintroduced, such as social distancing, testing for COVID-19, mask-wearing, sanitising gels, possible changes to working hours to reduce risk of exposure, improved ventilation and increased workplace cleaning and sanitation measures.
It is important that businesses engage with their people to understand their concerns and help them to work in a way that makes them feel most safe. There should be consultation with staff at a company level. It is also important that line managers understand the specific concerns of their individual team members so they can support their mental wellbeing and future ways of working.
Employers are presented with some options when remote or hybrid working is possible for some or all of their employees. Many factors affect a person’s professional performance, including their environment, the ability to collaborate or to work quietly and whether they feel a sense of purpose, belonging and professional identity. Working in the workplace may improve the performance and wellbeing of some people while others may be more productive working from home.
Currently, in line with government guidelines, SSP is payable up to a maximum of 28 weeks; we will continue to pay SSP in line with the guidelines and your current assignment dates.
In this circumstance you may need to provide information or a sick note for SSP to continue for longer than 14 days (although this guidance may change over the coming days/weeks as government guidelines are updated).
The majority of SoltixSolutions temporary workers and contractors are engaged by SoltixSolutions under contracts for services. Temporary workers and contractors are not employees of either SoltixSolutions or the client and are at liberty to end an assignment under the terms of their contact for any reason. You are under no legal obligation to remain in an assignment if you do not wish to do so.
