COVID-19 advice for businesses and employers

Post emergency phase update

As we learn to live safely with coronavirus (COVID-19), there are actions we can all take to help reduce the risk of catching COVID-19 and passing it on to others. These actions will also help to reduce the spread of other respiratory infection, such as flu, which can spread easily and may cause serious illness in some people. 

Who this information is for

This information is for employers and people who are managing organisations and applies to both paid staff and volunteers.

This information will help you to understand how to reduce the spread of respiratory infections such as COVID-19 and flu in the workplace. This is especially important if there are people in the workplace whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19.

It is important that as a business or an employer you continue to comply with your legal obligations relating to health and safety, employment and equality duties.

Actions to reduce the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19

Support staff to stay at home if unwell

It is advised that staff stay at home if feeling unwell. Employers should encourage and support their staff to do so, to help reduce the spread of all illnesses, not just COVID-19. If anyone has symptoms of COVID-19 they should stay at home until they feel well with no fever.

COVID-19 symptoms

Encourage and enable vaccination

Vaccinations are very effective at preventing serious illness from COVID-19, flu and other diseases. Employers, in accordance with their existing legal obligations, may wish to consider how best to support and enable staff who wish to be vaccinated to get their vaccines when offered them.

There is a COVID-19 vaccination guide for employers which contains information on actions employers can take to enable staff vaccination. There is also guidance available on the vaccines that are available through the Government of Jersey.​

Let fresh air in

Bringing in fresh air to occupied spaces can help to reduce the concentration of respiratory particles, lowering the risk of airborne transmission of respiratory viruses.
Ventilation in the workplace

Maintain a clean workplace

Keeping workplaces clean reduces the risk of infection and can reduce sickness in a workforce. It’s especially important to clean surfaces that people touch a lot. Staff can be supported to maintain a clean working environment by providing them with cleaning products, soap and hot water, and/or sanitiser.