NewsSLF Lawyers NewsWorkplace Relations & SafetySydney team is back to office

After a lengthy lockdown of more than 100 days, SLF Lawyers are very happy to announce that our Sydney team are finally making their return to the office on Monday, 11 October 2021!

As employees begin making the transition from working from home to back to the workplace, employers must ensure they are complying with their obligations under the workplace health and safety laws and maintaining the health and safety of all employees, so far as is reasonably practicable.

Below are some tips from our Workplace Relations & Safety team for employers to note when their employees are making a return to work:

Ensure your COVID-19 Safety plan is up to date;

Ensure staff and any visitors are wearing masks indoors;

Ensure staff practice good hygiene, including washing hands and using hand sanitiser;

Ensure staff maintain social distancing where possible (at least 1.5 metres);

Undertake cleaning and disinfecting of the workplace regularly;

Have signage around the premises reminding employees of the measures to take to reduce transmission (eg: social distancing and practising good hygiene);

Explore any alternative work arrangements for employees (if necessary);

Review and update any Work Health and Safety policies (if necessary);

If there are any operational changes to the business, ensure this is applicable to any employee award, agreement or employment contract;

If your employees are required to be vaccinated, consider implementing a COVID-19 vaccination policy;

Consider updating your privacy policy if you intend to collect information from employees about their vaccination status; and

Communication with your employees is key. Focus on rebuilding employee engagement and remember to regularly check in on employee mental health and well-being.

*Please note that the easing of restrictions at 70% and 80% in accordance with the NSW Roadmap apply to fully vaccinated people who have had both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine or those with a medical exemption. The roadmap suggests that from 1 December, restrictions will apply to all individuals in NSW notwithstanding their vaccination status.*”