This page provides links to sources of information and advice on coronavirus (COVID-19).
Safe working
As set out in the government's COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19 published on 21 February 2022, there are no Covid-19 restrictions that apply to HEIs in England. The Department For Education (DfE) has removed previous HE operational guidance and has instead published Guidance for how educational and childcare settings should plan for and deal with emergencies, including significant health incidents. The government has also published public health principles for reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including Covid-19 in the workplace for employers in England. The HSE has updated its Advice for workplaces to reflect that Covid-19 restrictions have been replaced by public health advice an dalso has guidance for employers on managing home working including risk assessment.
The Scottish government has updated the Strategic Framework which sets out Scotland's approach to managing Covid-19 in the long term and has published guiding principles to manage Covid-19 for universities and colleges. The Welsh Government has published updated guidance for universities and colleges and the Northern Ireland government has published Covid-19 advice on schools, colleges and universities.
Self isolating
Under the government's plan for Living With COVID-19 from 24 February, in England there is no longer a legal requirement for people to self-isolate if they test positive for Covid-19. New UKHSA Guidance for people with symptoms of a respiratory infection including Covid-19 advises people who test positive to stay at home and avoid contact with other people. After 5 days they may choose to take a Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test followed by another the next day - if both are negative, and they do not have a temperature, they can safely return to their normal routine. There is no longer a legal requirement to self-isolate for people who are unvaccinated close contacts, and people who are fully vaccinated close contacts no longer are advised to test for 7 days. There is specific guidance for staff working in health and social care settings.
Data protection and Covid-19
The ICO has published guidance for organisations to consider around the use of personal information in light of the relaxation of Covid-19 measures across the UK.
Support and guidance for businesses
The government package of measures to support businesses during the pandemic included a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and a restructuring regime for HEIs facing financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic. The CJRS guidance includes information for employers on how to claim under the Scheme and a worked example of how to calculate flexible furlough. The CJRS closed on 30 September 2021 and claims under the Scheme for September had to be submitted by14 October 2021 and amendments by 28 October 2021. The legal framework for the CJRS is set out in the Treasury Direction published on 15 April 2021 which supersedes previous versions.
Department for Education
The DfE has an incident support helpline for employers, parents and young people to ask questions about Covid-19
Phone: 0800 046 8687 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm)
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Home Office immigration guidance
The Home Office has published guidance for those affected by changes to UK immigration and borders due to coronavirus (Covid-19) including:
- Guidance for Skilled Worker (Tier 2), Student and Temporary Worker (Tier 5) sponsors.
- Guidance on right to work checks.
- Advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents
Coronavirus Immigration helpline
Telephone: 0800 678 1767 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Email: CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk
Universities UK (UUK) has a dedicated webpage:
Information and resources for universities
Employment advice:
ACAS: Coronavirus: advice for employers and employees
CIPD: Coronavirus advice and hub
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC): Guidance to help employers ensure that their decisions in response to coronavirus do not discriminate against employees with protected characteristics.
Eversheds Sutherland: Coronavirus legal hub and planning checklist for 2020/21 academic year.
CBI: Coronavirus hub
Health and mental wellbeing advice:
A number of organisations have published information, guidance and resources specifically to help support both employers and employees with mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. These additional resources include:
UKHSA:
NHS: Mental wellbeing while staying at home: this resource has tips and advice for people to keep on top of their mental health while staying at home.
MIND: Coronavirus and your mental health: MIND’s hub has information and resources to help people cope during the pandemic including coronavirus and wellbeing, coping with going into work during coronavirus and useful contacts.
ACAS: Coronavirus and mental health and work: ACAS have published guidance and resources to support employers and employees during the coronavirus pandemic.
Student Minds: Coronavirus resources: guidance and resources to support students and people in the university community including looking after mental health, staying at home and mental health and guidance for those with ongoing mental health difficulties.
CIPD: Wellbeing helpline services for CIPD members: CIPD members can access a range of products and resources to support their mental health during these challenging times.
Mental Health UK: Managing mental health during the coronavirus outbreak: this includes information about working from home, looking after others, mental health and money advice and looking after mental health.
Emergency volunteering leave:
Eversheds Guidance on emergency volunteering leave
Details of emergency volunteering leave in the Schedule 7 of the Coronavirus Act 2020
Holiday entitlement and pay during coronavirus (COVID-19) and annual leave carry-over:
The government has published guidance setting out how holiday entitlement and pay operate during coronavirus (COVID-19), where it differs from the standard holiday entitlement and pay guidance.
Changes to the Working Time Regulations to allow workers who have not taken all of their statutory annual leave entitlement due to COVID-19 to carry it over into the next 2 leave years.
