Managing the “pingdemic” – when do my employees need to self-isolate?
- Employment Law
- 28th Jul 2021
As COVID infection rates remain high, and the so-called “pingdemic” continues to cause disruption to businesses and social lives, many employers are feeling the impact of their employees being unable to attend work due to self-isolation requirements. With every chance that this disruption will continue through the summer, the Employment team at MLP Law thought […]
By Stephen Attree
MLP Law
As COVID infection rates remain high, and the so-called “pingdemic” continues to cause disruption to businesses and social lives, many employers are feeling the impact of their employees being unable to attend work due to self-isolation requirements.
With every chance that this disruption will continue through the summer, the Employment team at MLP Law thought it would be useful to set out the isolation requirements which may impact on your workforce over the coming weeks.
From 19 July onwards:
| If your employee……… | They must……… |
| Has COVID symptoms | Take a PCR test and self-isolate until the results are received. |
| Receives a positive result from a lateral flow test (LFT) | Take a PCR test as soon as possible (within 2 days of the LFT. Self-isolate until the results are received. |
| Receives a positive result from a PCR test | Self-isolate for 10 days following the date their symptoms started. If they have no symptoms, the 10 days runs from the date of their test. |
| Receives a negative result from a PCT test | No need to self-isolate, unless they fall into another category which requires self-isolation. |
| Lives with someone who has COVID symptons or who receives a positive result from an LFT | Self-isolate whilst the person they live with awaits the results of a PCR test. Only if the PCR result is negative may your employee end their self-isolation. |
| Lives with someone who has received a positive result from a PCR test | Self-isolate for 10 days following the day on which the person developed their symptoms or had their PCR test (if no symptoms). This applies even if your employee receives a negative result from an LFT or PCR test. |
| Is contacted by NHS Test and Trace and instructed to self-isolate due to contact with a positive COVID case | Self-isolate for 10 days following the last day on which they had contact with that person who had tested positive. This applies even if your employee receives a negative result from an LFT or PCR test. A limited number of workers in specified industries are exempt from these requirements, provided they have been fully vaccinated. |
From 16 August 2021, your employees who
• have been fully vaccinated (having received their second dose at least two weeks previously); or
• are under the age of 18 years and 4 months
will not be required to self-isolate if contacted by NHS Test and Trace. Instead, they will be advised to take a PCR test and must follow the above self-isolation guidance if they test positive. All other rules as set out above will continue to apply.
Understanding the rules on self-isolation is as important as ever, with employers still at risk of a minimum fine of £1,000 if they are found to have knowingly allowed an employee to breach their self-isolation obligations.
The good news is that the Employment team at MLP Law is on hand to talk through your options for managing the “pingdemic” and the impact of the pandemic generally. If we can help in any way, please do not hesitate to get in touch on 0161 926 9969 or employment@mlplaw.co.uk, or follow us on Twitter @HRHeroUk.
About the expert
Stephen Attree
Managing Partner
Stephen is the Owner of MLP Law and leads our Commercial, IP and Dispute Resolution teams which provide advice on all aspects of the law relating to mergers, acquisitions, financing, re-structuring, complex commercial contracts, standard trading terms, share options, shareholder and partnership agreements, commercial dispute resolution, joint venture and partnering arrangements, IT and Technology law, Intellectual Property, EU and competition law, Brexit and GDPR.
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