Fórsa has been in contact with employers about the work-related implications of An Taoiseach’s ‘stay at home’ announcement on Friday evening (27th March).

If you're workplace isn't mentioned below, the union’s general advice is to contact your line manager for direction and to go to work if in doubt.

But don’t put yourself, your family or others at risk, and take note of all the official advice on containing the spread of the coronavirus.

In the meantime (and unless your line manager says otherwise):

• An Post: As things stand, it is likely that most postal services will continue to be deemed essential. The following essential services will continue in the GPO: State savings, GTS, security, cleaning, prize bonds, public office staff, call centre/contact centre. Fórsa’s advice is that you should report for work as rostered unless your line manager says otherwise.

• Aviation: As things stand, it’s expected that remaining services in the sector will be deemed essential. Aer Lingus has said its staff should report for work as rostered. Fórsa’s advice is that others, including airport and air traffic control staff, should report for work as rostered unless your line manager says otherwise.

• Civil service: Get details HERE.

• DEASP: The Department of Employment and Social Protection has identified the areas where staff should go to work unless otherwise instructed. They include claim processing and payments (including post, scanning and verification, and treasury management), Intreo centre customer services, customer communications, and IT. See the full list HERE. 

• Garda Síochána: Garda management have told Fórsa that clerical and administrative staff are deemed essential staff and should report to work as currently agreed unless your line manager says otherwise.

• Health workers: At this point, all health workers are deemed essential and should go to work as rostered.

• Education: There no changes to the arrangements in place prior to the Friday 27th March announcement. As things stand, staff should continue with the existing arrangements.

• Local authorities: Fórsa has been in contact with the Local Government Management Agency, which says councils will continue to deliver a full range of services including (1) services where staff work remotely and (2) services that require workers to go in. Fórsa’s advice is that staff should report for work as rostered unless your line manager says otherwise.

• Marine Institute: Staff involved in food safety testing, aquaculture farming, animal welfare, environmental regulation and facilities supports are deemed essential, and should go to work unless their line manager tells them not to.

• Revenue Commissioners: Get details HERE.

• Sea Fisheries Protection Authority: All staff are deemed essential for work attendance unless they are already working remotely.

• Telecoms: As things stand, Fórsa expects many staff in the sector to be deemed essential, so you should report for work as rostered unless your line manager says otherwise.

The Government has also published an economy-wide list of essential providers, which covers a wide range of sectors including health, public administration, communications and transport.

The union expects more specific advice to emerge over the weekend, so keep checking our website.

Keep safe.

If you’re in doubt, please feel free to contact us HERE.