As lockdown measures are beginning to be eased, more of our client companies are re-opening and we are able to place more of our agency workers back into work. Your health & safety at work is extremely important to Acorn and we are working with our clients to ensure that you are not put at risk in the workplace.
Staying safe in the workplace
All of our clients will be required to provide us with a detailed risk assessment detailing what measures are going to be taken to protect you. This information will be shared with you and you will be expected to follow all site health & safety rules at all times.
Measures will vary depending on your job role but some examples include:
It is essential that you adhere to the health & safety measures that have been put in place to protect you. If you have any concerns about where you are working, please contact your Acorn Representative.
Please also adhere to all social distancing rules when you are not at work. Further advice can be found on the Gov.uk website.
Symptoms
In order to avoid putting anyone at risk of contracting the virus, prior to any assignment, you will be asked a series of questions regarding symptoms of COVID-19. If you have any symptoms detailed below, you will not be able to start work. If you develop any of these symptoms while on an assignment, you cannot attend work and must contact your Acorn Representative as soon as possible.
The common symptoms are:
Self-Isolation
You must self-isolate in the following circumstances:
In these circumstances, you may be eligible to receive statutory sick pay (SSP). You will be required to provide an Isolation Note which you can obtain from the NHS website. Please send this to your Acorn Representative who will advise if you are eligible.
Testing
The Government has now made testing available to anyone with Coronavirus symptoms (as above) who is unable to work from home. Testing must be done within the first 5 days of developing symptoms.
You can apply for a test online via this link: Apply for a coronavirus test. The test will either be administered at home or via a drive through testing centre.
Foreign Travel
If you choose to travel on holiday to a foreign country, you must check whether you will be required to quarantine for a period of 14 days. A full list of countries and travel rules are available on the Gov.uk website. You must inform your Acorn Representative of where you are travelling and the dates of travel. This can be done via an Acorn Holiday Request Form. If you are required to quarantine, you will be unable to attend work for 14 days. This time off will be unpaid, unless you have sufficient holidays accrued to be paid for some or all of the time off.
Personal Details
For test & trace purposes, it is essential that your personal details such as; address, contact number, email address and emergency contacts are up-to-date. Please inform your Acorn Representative of any changes ASAP. You can also check with your Acorn Representative that the details currently held on file for you are correct.
Further information
We advise you to stay updated with the government guidance – this is a fast-moving area and the guidance is being updated daily https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus