Location: Northern Ireland
Rep.of Ireland
Location: Northern Ireland
Rep.of Ireland

First Tuesday Q&A

The claimant was dismissed by reason of gross misconduct and in particular.

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Is There any Guidance on Travelling into Work in Adverse Weather Conditions?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 03/10/2023 With the arrival of Storm Agnes last week causing flooding and difficult driving conditions, it is important for employers to keep in mind that there can be instances where commuting to the office can cause travel problems or even be a risk to the safety of their employees. In the first instance, e...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Health and Safety Contracts of Employment

Is There a Maximum Working Temperature For Employees?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 02/08/2022 Under Northern Irish Law, there are no set maximum or minimum working temperatures for employees. Employers are legally required to keep the temperature inside buildings ‘reasonable’. Further, thermometers should be displayed throughout the workplace to enable employees to determine the temperature...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Health and Safety

An employee is refusing to return to the workplace due to COVID-19 concerns - what do we need to consider?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 13/04/2021 There are a number of issues you will want to consider when deciding how to deal with this situation, including: what level of national or local restriction applies; the nature of the workplace, and whether any restrictions on opening apply; the nature of the employee’s work, including whether the...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Health and Safety Coronavirus/Covid-19

Can we make our employees wear face masks when in the office?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 04/08/2020 Public Health NI strongly advises individuals to think about wearing a face covering in particular circumstances, such as short periods in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not possible. It is anticipated that face masks could become compulsory in shops in Northern Ireland from 20 August 2...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Health and Safety Coronavirus/Covid-19

If an employee has been advised to self-isolate but a test shows they are negative for COVID-19, can they return to work before the self-isolation period is up?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 06/07/2020 Yes, once an employee has received a negative COVID-19 test they are able to return to work provided that they feel well enough to do so.
This article is listed under the following topics:
Absence and Sickness Health and Safety Coronavirus/Covid-19

Are employees who are self-quarantining following a foreign holiday entitled to SSP?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 06/07/2020 The rules on self-quarantine following over-seas travel do not apply universally to the UK and are a devolved matter, which means employers need to tread carefully to ensure that they are following Norther Ireland specific guidance. Therefore, the more relaxed approach taken by England is not curre...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Absence and Sickness Health and Safety Coronavirus/Covid-19

How can we ensure that employees inform us if they are told to isolate as part of the test and trace system?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 06/07/2020 This is a concern for many employers, particularly as employees who are advised to self-isolate will likely only be entitled to receive SSP (unless their contract permits them to receive enhanced sick pay). As the current SSP entitlement is £95.85 per week, employees may not want to inform their em...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Absence and Sickness Health and Safety Coronavirus/Covid-19

Can We Ask an Employee Who Has a Family Member Who Has Been Diagnosed With, or Is Suspected to Have, Covid-19 Not to Come in to Work?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 03/03/2020 If the employee has been in close contact with the family member, for example, lives with them, it would be a reasonable request for an employer to ask the employee to self-isolate. However, it is likely in such a scenario, the employee would wish to self-isolate anyway. In contrast, if an employer...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Health and Safety Pay Coronavirus/Covid-19

Do Employers Have to Pay Employees Who are Self-Isolating After Returning From an Affected Area?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 03/03/2020 Firstly, if employees are self-isolating as a precautionary measure, depending on the nature of their role, they may be able to continue working from home. In such instances, employees would continue to be paid because they are still fulfilling their duties to their employer. If employees who are ...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Health and Safety Pay Coronavirus/Covid-19

Can Employers Make Employees Stay at Home Who Have Just Returned From an Affected Area?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 03/03/2020 Employers have a duty to ensure the health and safety of their workforce. Therefore, it is understandable that employers are concerned about employees returning to the workplace after they have visited an affected area. If employers knowingly permit employees who have been advised to self-isolate t...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Health and Safety Pay Coronavirus/Covid-19