The government has confirmed that all businesses should ensure their employees work at home, if at all possible.
Following its announcement yesterday that all non-essential premises must close, the government has published its further guidance
here
.
Speaking at yesterday's COVID-19 press conference (24
th
March), Health Secretary Matt Hancock responded to a question about who employees should listen to when they are being told to go to work when they feel their job isn’t essential and are unable to stay two metres apart.
He said: “The advice is crystal clear. That you should stay at home, unless you have one of the four reasons; exercise, shopping – as little as you have to, for medical reasons, or to go to work where that work can’t be done at home. Employers have a duty of care."
However, he added that if employees are key workers, employed in the NHS or social care, they should continue to go to work because the work is vital to tackle coronavirus.