Social security legislation uses a broader definition of ‘employee’ which means that supply teachers may be eligible for SSP if they have three months continuous service and earn a minimum of £118 per week or, if the level of pay varies, it will depend on the average pay over the previous eight weeks. If you have been identified as ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’, your employer can furlough you, provided you cannot work from home once you have declared yourself fit to return to work. Get the Inverness Courier sent to your inbox every week and swipe … What happens if I cannot travel to a coronavirus testing site? Is this correct? NASUWT Advice on Dealing With Coronavirus-related Harassment and Abuse, Local Association Secretary or National Executive Member, Directorate of Children and Young People for Ministry of Defence Schools, Workplace where strenuous physical effort is required, 18, with the ability to easily adjust to 15. Pregnancy is a natural process and should be as uncomplicated as possible. 2. This is an abuse of the TUPE transfer provisions. For masks to be effective, the wearer must be clean shaven and the mask fit tested and members should bear this in mind when undertaking tasks where a mask is required. See the Government web page Extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The National Centre is open Mondays to Fridays from 8.30am to 5.30pm. However, some teachers in Scotland are able to access NHS testing already and, where this is the case, they should continue to follow that route. Additional Guidance on Managing Risks of Covid-19 for Early Years Teachers. If the work you undertake varies, it is still the case that you may have to enter into a flexible furlough arrangement more than once. No. There are very strict rules around what can be deducted from an employee’s salary when they are on furlough. They will also give you advice around nutrition and supplements while pregnant, such as taking folic acid. Should my school be routinely screening the temperatures of pupils and teachers on entry? This includes supply teachers as agency workers provided they meet the eligibility criteria. As the weather becomes colder this may not be a reasonable option. My employer says this must be taken as sickness absence in accordance with the school’s policy. I am pregnant, have had an individual risk assessment and need to work from home. In this case, leave to attend a medical appointment should be requested. Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you’re employed and cannot work. If your employer seeks to compel you to accept less than your full salary entitlement, then you must write to the employer stating that you are receiving the reduced salary under protest and that you reserve the right, at the appropriate time, to pursue all legal remedies available to you to recover the deducted salary. Read our guidance for maternal medicine in the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.Version 2.5: published Wednesday 9 December 2020.; The RCOG guidance on self-monitoring of blood pressure in pregnancy has also been updated and can now be found as an appendix within the above document. However, the wearing of masks can be mandated in some circumstances in schools in areas subject to local lockdowns; detain a pupil without consent. Pregnant women are considered to be a vulnerable group and should be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures. While furloughed by your employer, you are not able to undertake any work for that employer or any organisations linked to that employer. Employers can now claim for employees, including supply teachers as agency workers, who were employed on 30 October, provided the employer has made a PAYE Real Time Information (RTI) submission to HMRC between 20 March 2020 and 30 October 2020, unless the employer re-employed an employee after 23 September 2020. There is a strong body of law that protects pregnant workers. Can I still be put on and off furlough by my employer? Top of page. Further details on the above can be found on the Government's web page Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you’re employed and cannot work. However, there is nothing to prohibit you from undertaking work for another employer while furloughed with your current employer(s). Currently, it is unlikely that individuals will be tested for coronavirus if they are staying at home. A teacher who is pregnant should be expected to stay at home and may be asked to work from home, without this impacting on maternity leave entitlement, pay or other maternity rights. The equivalent information for HSENI can be found on the HSENI web page Report an incident. Look for one … It is still the case that the amount you receive is 80% of wages, capped at £2,500. Pregnant women are being urged to attend antenatal appointments as normal after the government said they should be shielded from coronavirus. 1. It has been established by public health authorities in the UK that the virus responsible for Covid-19 can remain active on contaminated surfaces, ‘although the amount of infectious virus on any contaminated surfaces is likely to have decreased significantly by 24 hours and even more so by 48 hours’. If an employer knows a worker has tested positive, or lives with someone who has tested positive, they are now responsible for stopping the worker from working, unless they can work from home. Hand sanitisers may also be used in many schools, although regular and effective hand washing is the best way to protect against coronavirus. I have been risk assessed as needing to work from home. As a supply teacher, can I be placed on furlough if I am shielding in line with advice from UK public health authorities? Before undertaking an assignment in a school or schools, you should look to familiarise yourself with the health and safety measures, including the relevant risk assessment and any specific information for supply teachers. All pregnant women should follow the government advice on coronavirus: Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK. The kit is delivered to your home. In such circumstances, separate claims would have to be made by the employer which could impact on the amount you are paid and when you receive payment, although employers are expected to try to match claims with their payroll. The medical advice indicates that face masks may not be an effective protection for individuals against the spread of coronavirus and if they are not used and disposed of properly can themselves be a source of infection. All employers must continue to abide by this. They may have to consider hiring or purchasing air purifiers in place of the ventilation through windows and doors. I have been told that self-isolation is now only 10 days, rather than 14 days, is that true? The Government has also confirmed that the entire grant must be paid to the employee - no part of the Job Retention Scheme can be held back by the employer, e.g. Additionally, the Health and Safety Executive has stated explicitly that ‘If people choose to wear face coverings in work, you [the employer] should support them.' The employer will need to determine how much to claim for you as a grant and how to pay you as the employer. Unfortunately, they cannot be compelled to do this. Teachers who choose to wear a face mask or face covering, where it is not required by their job, must make their own provision and have a responsibility to ensure that: In high-risk circumstances (such as dealing with a suspected case), FFP3 masks that are clearly CE marked should be used. The Union has written to DfE seeking urgent clarification on this important issue. The teacher’s rights in law are unaffected and a teacher should not be forced by an employer to take maternity leave from a particular date. An employer cannot require an employee to undergo a medical examination without the consent of the employee. The Government advice and guidance for the extended CJRS makes it clear that employers can still claim for supply teachers, including during school holiday periods provided they meet the usual eligibility criteria: The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 which apply to England, Wales and Scotland and The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 state that: If this is difficult, you should consider staggering your child’s drop-off and pick-up times. The extended Job Retention Scheme does not change the fact that employers are obliged to pay any additional amounts in excess of the grant received under the Job Retention Scheme, although your employer has the flexibility to restrict when leave can be taken as well as requesting workers to take holiday, provided the employer engages with you to explain the reasons and gives the relevant notice period. They must be permitted to take the call from home if they wish due to the circumstances and context of the telephone consultation. The Scottish Government advises that even if a key worker has had a negative result, it is important to still apply caution. The fairness of the Government's approach It is not acceptable that teachers should be expected to take a cut in salary. They’ve said the government’s advice has changed but I am unable to see this change. If the actions of anyone in the workplace make you feel at serous risk and imminent danger then you should immediately inform your headteacher and contact the NASUWT. The Government’s advice on self-isolating is intended to reduce the overall amount of infection that is passed on to others in the wider community. The NASUWT advice on risk assessments can be found in the Health and Safety Reps Handbook. Employers are expected to pay employees according to their contract of employment, i.e. The DfE has referred schools to advice and guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists which notes that, while pregnant women may not be more likely to become infected by Covid-19, those who contract any respiratory illnesses in the third trimester of pregnancy (ie the 28th week and beyond) can become seriously unwell. Can they do this? they wash their hands in soap and hot water before putting on the mask and after removing it; they do not touch their face while wearing the mask and if they do it will need to be replaced; if it is removed while in the workplace, it must be immediately bagged and disposed of safely – at no time should it be left on any surface in the workplace; if masks become damp during the day, they should be replaced; masks/face coverings should be changed/replaced regularly. At present, no COVID-19 vaccine is available. This will depend on whether or not you have previously been subject to furlough. Can I ask my employer to refer me for a coronavirus test? Where consultations with individual parents on a one-off basis are necessary, it is critical that any on-site meeting is organised in a way that is in accordance with the control measures that schools must have in place when adults who are not members of school staff are visiting sites in person. Please contact us by following the link to the agency reporting form for England or Wales which can be found on our Supply Agencies page. Even before the issues of Covid-19 arose, schools were required to ensure that classrooms were ventilated appropriately. Are there any other circumstances where a report should be made to the HSE/HSENI? No Members who are required to self- isolate because a member of their family is self-isolating or has tested positive for COVID-19 are not on sick leave as they are  following government requirements and are available for work from home. The equivalent information for HSENI can be found on the HSENI web page Report an incident. The health and safety at  work legislation places a responsibility on individual employees to maintain safe working practice and to raise concerns with their employer if they feel any working practices are putting them at risk. No. Pregnancy is a natural process and should be as uncomplicated as possible. What is not an option is for employers to expect staff to trade off the safety measure of effective ventilation against a comfortable working temperature. (England/Scotland), I wish to wear a face covering/mask at school at all times, but my headteacher has said I must remove it. The Government has removed the four-day qualifying period so this can be claimed from the first day of absence due to self-isolation. The healthier and more conscious women are during this time, the greater the likelihood that they will enjoy the experience of pregnancy and giving birth. Yes, you can still be placed on furlough if you are returning from a period of statutory maternity leave, including adoption leave, shared parental leave, paternity and parental bereavement leave, even if you are being placed on furlough for the first time. Maybe not in class and maybe not teacher-to-student, but teens need this information. All helped me. There are two ways of accessing testing: by self-referral or referral by your employer. Details of how to make a RIDDOR report to the HSE can be found on the HSE web page How to make a RIDDOR report. My employer says that I must take sick leave. The UK Government has issued advice stating that for those who are over 70, those who have an underlying health condition or those who are pregnant, they should: This is general advice which is also relevant to teachers. Although it is a sensitive subject that some schools won’t touch and others want to over-mandate, students need to learn sex education. Where members are off sick with COVID-19,  the employer’s  normal sick pay arrangements will apply. Does the NASUWT agree that the Government’s emergency measures are fair and reasonable in the circumstances? Members are advised to read the details of any revised arrangement carefully, including if it contains reference to a deferred or conditional arrangement, whereby the employee commits to not receiving any pay under the CJRS grant until the grant has been received by the employer from HMRC. The school’s operational guidance should have been amended in the light of that assessment to make clear to staff what the arrangements are for site safety while building and repair work is in progress, including maintaining social distancing. It is clear in this scenario that there are measures and the employer is therefore not abiding by statutory provisions and can therefore be challenged. Read our detailed advice on pregnant workers Read the full advice on protecting yourself if you’re at high risk from coronavirus on the government website. (England). However, there is nothing stopping a supply teacher from making contact directly with schools for which they have never worked, asking them about any work that might be available. If you were not on the payroll, then you will not be eligible to be furloughed under the Job Retention Scheme, but you may be eligible for other state benefits. due to a school closure), you can be considered for furlough under the CJRS, including if you had not previously been placed on furlough. These will be matters for the Government to determine. Many other pregnant workers, such as teachers, those working in call centres, etc, wouldn’t be able to socially distance themselves from others and do their job as normal. Is the classroom teacher or special family member having a baby? It is still the case that the amount you receive is 80% of wages, capped at £2,500. Pregnant teachers or students should not be in schools, according to the education minister. However, there is nothing that prevents your employer from topping up the salary you receive so it exceeds the 80% under the Job Retention Scheme. Should the mask comply with any standards? The Union also recognises the need for governments to act appropriately to protect public health. Registered office: Swaleside Grange, Green End, Asenby, Thirsk, North Yorkshire YO7 3QX You are still able to be furloughed multiple times and each period could vary based on whether or not you are on flexible furlough. The advice often includes a model letter that parents are encouraged to send to schools about these control measures or other related matters confirming that they wish their children to be exempt from them. It makes it clear that employers requesting someone takes leave during furlough must consider whether the person is under any restrictions that prevent them from resting, relaxing and enjoying their leisure time, i.e. If support staff, e.g. Well, third trimester is a little different for every woman, … As a supply teacher, can I work in more than one school? Answering questions about the needs of a baby, why a baby cries and why people decide to have a baby in the first place students can make a touching gift for pregnant teachers and staff members. Members who are required to quarantine who had either booked a holiday prior to a quarantine announcement or an announcement was made while they were on holiday are not on either sick leave or unpaid leave when they are carrying out the Government’s quarantine requirements. Where pregnant healthcare workers in this group choose not to follow government advice, they must not be deployed in roles where they are working with patients the occupational health assessment must take into account the pregnant worker’s physical and mental health. Obtaining health information about an individual is a special category under the GDPR legislation and an employer can only process this data on certain grounds. Once referred, you should receive directly a text message with a unique invitation code to book a test, for yourself if you are symptomatic or for the member of your household who is symptomatic. This advice should be read in conjunction with the general advice to members on Health and ... Find out more. If, however, you are happy to take an appointment call during your working hours in your school/college, the school should be informed and must provide a private space in which a call of this nature can be taken confidentially. The scheme will be reviewed in January 2021 and the Government will decide whether employers should contribute more for February and March. The consensus from a number of organisations is that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any risks of transmission of the virus. Now that the autumn term has started, schools should be planning how they intend to meet the regulatory requirements regarding ventilation whist ensuring that classrooms do not fall below the minimum required temperatures in which staff and pupils can be expected to work. An employer reports the hours worked as well as the hours not worked and claims a pro rata amount of 80% based on the proportion of hours not worked out of your normal working hours. 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