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Council staff should report for work
 

Fórsa has again advised local authority workers to attend work as usual unless alternative arrangements have been agreed with their line managers. The advice comes as some local councils have announced that some premises will be closed to public from this evening.


Fórsa has again advised local authority workers to attend work as usual unless alternative arrangements have been agreed with their line managers. The advice comes as some local councils have announced that some premises will be closed to public from this evening.

 

The senior union official in the area, Peter Nolan, said there was no uniform approach among the countries local authorities.

 

“Councils are moving to evaluate their requirements in relation to critical and non-critical services and, where possible, to provide the opportunity to work remotely. For now staff should turn up for work unless they have been told not to, or have another good reason to be absent,” he said.

 

Yesterday, the union issued this advice on attendance at work.

 

Last Thursday, Fórsa sought clarification from local authority management following the announcement that nation’s cultural institutions were to close as part of the Government’s response to the Covid-19 public health crisis.

 

The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), which represents local authority management, said line managers would give consideration to applications for special leave, but said there was an onus on councils to provide essential services.

 

In related news, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) issued new guidance on civil and public service working arrangements today (Monday).

 

The guidance calls on managers and employees to be flexible in circumstances where staff have to mind children on foot of school or crèche closures. In this regard, it recommends measures like home working, flexible shifts, or longer opening hours.

 

It advises staff who experience coronavirus-related childcare difficulties to stay in regular contact with their managers.

 

“Employees should work from home where possible. Employers need to implement alternative working arrangements to support employees to attend work. For example, this could include flexible shifts and longer opening hours, to support the provision of services while supporting social distancing measures,” it says.

 

The guidance says staff redeployment across the civil and public services could be required to ensure the maintenance of essential services, and also calls for the reassignment of staff within organisations to prioritise the most critical services.

Childcare advice expanded
 

Civil and public service employers have been encouraged to support staff experiencing childcare difficulties because of coronavirus-related school or crèche closures.


Civil and public service employers have been encouraged to support staff experiencing childcare difficulties because of coronavirus-related school or crèche closures.

 

New advice from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) says this could be done by enabling home working or introducing flexible shifts, staggered shifts, longer opening hours or weekend working.

 

DPER says such measures could also ease workplace social distancing measures. “Where employees can work from home this should be facilitated to the maximum extent feasible,” it says.

 

It has called on managers and employees to be flexible in circumstances where staff have to mind children on foot of school or crèche closures. And it advises staff who experience coronavirus-related childcare difficulties to stay in regular contact with their managers.

 

Meanwhile, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has produced new guidance for staff temporarily working at home. And the Data Protection Commission has issued guidance on protecting personal data when working remotely. You can find the Data Protection Commission guidance here. 

 

Staying safe
 

The Health and Safety Authority has produced new guidelines about temporary working at home due to the coronavirus. You can read them HERE.


Staff with medical risk
 

Staff who are in a vulnerable group (ie, you are over 60 or have a long-term medical condition like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, cancer or high blood pressure), should phone their doctor for advice before attending work.

 

 


Staff who are in a vulnerable group (ie, you are over 60 or have a long-term medical condition like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, cancer or high blood pressure), should phone their doctor for advice before attending work.

 

You should avoid attending the doctor’s surgery unless specifically advised to do so.

 

You should also inform your line manager or HR department that you are seeking medical advice before attending work. And you should maintain communications with your line manager.

 

Official advice to HR departments is clear that employers have a duty of care in these circumstances.

 

The HSE has also advised pregnant women to take extra care. So pregnant workers should also phone their doctor for advice before attending work.

 

You should contact us if you are encountering difficulties with your employer.

Staff redeployments sought
 

Civil and public servants “may be asked on a temporary basis to work in a different role, or even for a different organisation, in order to meet critical work needs,” according to new guidance from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. 

 


Civil and public servants “may be asked on a temporary basis to work in a different role, or even for a different organisation, in order to meet critical work needs,” according to new guidance from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. 

 

This means redeployment will not be compulsory at this stage. However, given the current circumstances, Fórsa has urged members to co-operate. Union advice published yesterday (Sunday) said: “Fórsa strongly urges members to volunteer if they are able to do so, and to co-operate with requirements arising from such redeployments.”

 

A number of members have asked the union how they can volunteer for Covid-related redeployment. We’ve advised them to contact their line manager or HR department in the first instance.

 

Management in various parts of the civil and public service is expected to seek volunteers to redeploy to the HSE to undertake urgent work like contact-tracing and staffing helplines.

 

The civil service is also likely to seek redeployments into the Department of Employment and Social Protection to deal with an expected increase in workloads there.

 

This is a fluid situation, and Fórsa is in ongoing contact with DPER. The union will expect engagement with DPER prior to any change in the advice on redeployment.

New advice issued for public servants
 

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) today issued new guidance for its staff and managers.

 

 


The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) today issued new guidance for its staff and managers.

 

The advice covers a wide range of coronavirus-related issues, including self-isolation and paid leave, Covid-19 in the workplace, staff at high risk of contracting the virus, redeployment, childcare issues, and employee data.

 

You can read the circular HERE.

New advice on self-isolating workers
 

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) has issued new advice on what employees should do if they have to go into self-quarantine or self-isolation as a result of the Covid-19 virus.

 

 


The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) has issued new advice on what employees should do if they have to go into self-quarantine or self-isolation as a result of the Covid-19 virus.

 

Staff must telephone their manager before 10am on the first day of self-quarantine or self-isolation to give an update on their situation.

 

They will have to say what medical advice they are acting on. This could be advice from a GP, the HSE, a hospital or another medical source, which must be specified.

 

If the worker is well, and undertaking these measures as a precaution, they will be asked to work from home where possible.

 

They may then be asked to sign a self-declaration on return to work, including written confirmation of the details outlined above.

 

If a staff member can’t get in touch with their manager, they are advised to contact another manager in their area or the HR team. In rare situations where neither are possible, they are advised to make a note of the date and times of calls made, and to continue to try get in touch with management.

 

It is important to note that public service employees applying for special leave with pay must comply with these provisions. They cannot also claim DEASP Covid-19 illness benefit.

 

Failure to comply with these measures may result in disciplinary action.

 

Get more information HERE.

Fórsa policy on Covid-19 and workplaces
 

The union’s elected national officers met last Friday (13th March) and agreed a number of items. 


The union’s elected national officers met last Friday (13th March) and agreed the following:

 

“Fórsa and its members across the civil, public, private, voluntary and semi-state sectors are committed to co-operating fully with emergency measures necessary to contain the Covid-19 coronavirus, protect the health and safety of citizens and workers, and maintain essential services during this unprecedented public health emergency.

 

“The union will continue to advise its members to co-operate with all necessary measures, including some that might not be acceptable in normal times, so long as employers consult with the appropriate unions, respect existing collective agreements, and reach agreement with the union if they feel it necessary to waive aspects of collective agreements in the short-term.”

 

Members have been strongly advised to co-operate with management in its efforts to contain the Covid-19 coronavirus, protect the health and safety of citizens and workers, and maintain essential services – including when this means doing different things, in different ways, at different times.

Also in this issue
Fórsa: Here to support you
 

Fórsa is here to protect you if you have problems arising from the coronavirus or other workplace issues. The best way to contact the union at this time is HERE.

 

We will deal with queries as quickly as we can but, needless to say, the union will prioritise cases where members’ jobs and incomes are at immediate risk – as well as any serious health and safety issues that may arise.

 

Fórsa has cancelled all face-to-face meetings for the time being. The union is redeploying its staff to prioritise engagement with management on proposals arising from the Covid-19 public health crisis, and to provide rapid and efficient responses to members’ queries and concerns.

 

Wherever possible, Fórsa staff have been equipped to work remotely. Therefore, members should not attend Fórsa offices at this time. If you have a query or concern, the best way to raise it is to contact the union HERE.