Lifting COVID-19 Control Measures

Lifting control measures in Liverpool

The recent UK Government decision to lift all Covid 19 control measures and restrictions in England means that no measures are now required across Home Office sites.

PCS Home Office Merseyside Branch has worked closely with the employer over the past two years to ensure that we had robust safety measures in place to keep members safe. In addition to the main building Risk Assessments (RA) management carried out numerous specific RAs across the different areas of the business to identify risks, and implemented control measures and safe systems of work (SSOW) to protect staff from contracting COVID-19 in the workplace.

PCS locally can’t fault the effort, and the standard of the measures that were implemented, across the Merseyside Campus. Some measures added were better, and beyond, what was required by government guidance.

Unfortunately, and due to the recent change in that government guidance, new RAs have been completed and subsequently most of the previous control measures have been removed.

Hybrid working is due to start on 14 March. A large percentage of members who have previously worked from home for the last two years will begin to attend workplaces. The main concern for PCS locally is the percentage of desks that some areas have been allocated by MOJ Estates. It is our understanding that some areas will only be allocated 50% (5 in 10) of FTE (full time equivalent). If an area of the business has an FTE of 600 their allocation would be 300 desks. This sounds OK in theory when considering hybrid working with some staff still working up to 60% at home. However, if the desk allocation is only 50% for some areas that could mean almost every allocated desk in use in their area. That’s 300 desks in use and potentially a full floor.

PCS is concerned that estates and the accommodation floor plan designs are mostly the same as pre-COVID-19. Some areas have minimum standard desks installed prior to, and therefore with no consideration of COVOD-19 and “social distancing”. PCS understands that there is no longer a legal requirement for social distancing measures however the Employer and MOJ Estates need to consider the potential impact and risk to staff sitting close together in this “new” COVID-19 environment. We need to remember that it hasn't gone away, only the government guidance has.

PCS locally have expressed our concerns and asked management to work closely with MOJ Estates to take a cautious and sensible approach regarding staff attendance with desk allocation and floor design in mind to ensure a safe working environment is provided.

PCS will continue to work with the employer and monitor how the accommodation situation develops.