Returning to work after ‘freedom day’: what should businesses be doing?

WorkNest in
the News

News

July 20, 2021

Returning to work after ‘freedom day’: what should businesses be doing?

With lockdown restrictions eased in England and a ‘pingdemic’ on the horizon, People Management spoke to HR and employment law experts, including our Director of HR Consultancy, Stephanie Robinson, for advice on nervous employees and employers’ next steps.

City photo created by diana.grytsku – www.freepik.com

News

img.wp-smiley,img.emoji{display:inline !important;border:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;height:1em !important;width:1em !important;margin:0 .07em !important;vertical-align:-.1em !important;background:none !important;padding:0 !important;}body{--wp--preset--color--black:#000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray:#abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white:#fff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink:#f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red:#cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange:#ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber:#fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan:#7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan:#00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue:#8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue:#0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple:#9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,#9b51e0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan:linear-gradient(135deg,#7adcb4 0%,#00d082 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,#cf2e2e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray:linear-gradient(135deg,#eee 0%,#a9b8c3 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum:linear-gradient(135deg,#4aeadc 0%,#9778d1 20%,#cf2aba 40%,#ee2c82 60%,#fb6962 80%,#fef84c 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffceec 0%,#9896f0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux:linear-gradient(135deg,#fecda5 0%,#fe2d2d 50%,#6b003e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffcb70 0%,#c751c0 50%,#4158d0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean:linear-gradient(135deg,#fff5cb 0%,#b6e3d4 50%,#33a7b5 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass:linear-gradient(135deg,#caf880 0%,#71ce7e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight:linear-gradient(135deg,#020381 0%,#2874fc 100%);--wp--preset--duotone--dark-grayscale:url("#wp-duotone-dark-grayscale");--wp--preset--duotone--grayscale:url("#wp-duotone-grayscale");--wp--preset--duotone--purple-yellow:url("#wp-duotone-purple-yellow");--wp--preset--duotone--blue-red:url("#wp-duotone-blue-red");--wp--preset--duotone--midnight:url("#wp-duotone-midnight");--wp--preset--duotone--magenta-yellow:url("#wp-duotone-magenta-yellow");--wp--preset--duotone--purple-green:url("#wp-duotone-purple-green");--wp--preset--duotone--blue-orange:url("#wp-duotone-blue-orange");--wp--preset--font-size--small:13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium:20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large:36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large:42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20:.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30:.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40:1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50:1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60:2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70:3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80:5.06rem;}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap:.5em;}body .is-layout-flow > .alignleft{float:left;margin-inline-start:0;margin-inline-end:2em;}body .is-layout-flow > .alignright{float:right;margin-inline-start:2em;margin-inline-end:0;}body .is-layout-flow > .aligncenter{margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;}body .is-layout-constrained > .alignleft{float:left;margin-inline-start:0;margin-inline-end:2em;}body .is-layout-constrained > .alignright{float:right;margin-inline-start:2em;margin-inline-end:0;}body .is-layout-constrained > .aligncenter{margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;}body .is-layout-constrained > :where(:not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.alignfull)){max-width:var(--wp--style--global--content-size);margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;}body .is-layout-constrained > .alignwide{max-width:var(--wp--style--global--wide-size);}body .is-layout-flex{display:flex;}body .is-layout-flex{flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}body .is-layout-flex > *{margin:0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap:2em;}.has-black-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;}.wp-block-navigation a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){color:inherit;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap:2em;}.wp-block-pullquote{font-size:1.5em;line-height:1.6;}.wpupg-grid{transition:height 800;}div[id*='ajaxsearchlitesettings'].searchsettings .asl_option_inner label{font-size:0px !important;color:rgba(0,0,0,0);}div[id*='ajaxsearchlitesettings'].searchsettings .asl_option_inner label:after{font-size:11px !important;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;z-index:1;}.asl_w_container{width:100%;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;min-width:200px;}div[id*='ajaxsearchlite'].asl_m{width:100%;}div[id*='ajaxsearchliteres'].wpdreams_asl_results div.resdrg span.highlighted{font-weight:bold;color:rgba(27,86,145,1);background-color:rgba(238,238,238,1);}div[id*='ajaxsearchliteres'].wpdreams_asl_results .results div.asl_image{width:70px;height:70px;background-size:cover;background-repeat:no-repeat;}div.asl_r .results{max-height:400px;}.asl_w,.asl_w *{font-family:"sailec" !important;}.asl_m input[type=search]::placeholder{font-family:"sailec" !important;}.asl_m input[type=search]::-webkit-input-placeholder{font-family:"sailec" !important;}.asl_m input[type=search]::-moz-placeholder{font-family:"sailec" !important;}.asl_m input[type=search]:-ms-input-placeholder{font-family:"sailec" !important;}.asl_m,.asl_m .probox{background-color:rgba(255,255,255,1) !important;background-image:none !important;-webkit-background-image:none !important;-ms-background-image:none !important;}.asl_m.nitro-lazy,.asl_m .probox.nitro-lazy{background-image:none !important;}div.asl_m.asl_w{border:1px solid rgba(208,205,219,1) !important;border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px !important;box-shadow:none !important;}div.asl_m.asl_w .probox{border:none !important;}.asl_r.asl_w{background-color:rgba(255,255,255,1) !important;background-image:none !important;-webkit-background-image:none !important;-ms-background-image:none !important;}.asl_r.asl_w.nitro-lazy{background-image:none !important;}.asl_r.asl_w .item{background-color:rgba(255,255,255,1) !important;background-image:none !important;-webkit-background-image:none !important;-ms-background-image:none !important;}.asl_r.asl_w .item.nitro-lazy{background-image:none !important;}div.asl_r.asl_w{border:1px solid rgba(136,130,166,1) !important;border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px !important;box-shadow:none !important;}div.asl_r.asl_w.vertical .results .item::after{display:block;position:absolute;bottom:0;content:"";height:1px;width:100%;background:#d8d8d8;}div.asl_r.asl_w.vertical .results .item.asl_last_item::after{display:none;}.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-submit:focus,.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-submit:hover,.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-submit,.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-icon{color:#fff !important;background-color:#7a5cf0 !important;border-color:#7a5cf0 !important;}.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-submit path{fill:#fff !important;}.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input::-webkit-input-placeholder{color:#fff !important;}.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input:-moz-placeholder{color:#fff !important;opacity:1;}.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input::-moz-placeholder{color:#fff !important;opacity:1;}.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input:-ms-input-placeholder{color:#fff !important;}.is-form-style-1.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input:focus,.is-form-style-1.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input:hover,.is-form-style-1.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input,.is-form-style-2.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input:focus,.is-form-style-2.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input:hover,.is-form-style-2.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input,.is-form-style-3.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input:focus,.is-form-style-3.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input:hover,.is-form-style-3.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input,.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input:focus,.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input:hover,.is-form-id-41163 .is-search-input{color:#fff !important;border-color:#12054d !important;background-color:#12054d !important;}@media only screen and (max-width: 400px){iframe.form-frame{height:900px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 400px){iframe.form-frame{height:900px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 400px){iframe.form-frame{height:900px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 400px){iframe.form-frame{height:900px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 400px){iframe.form-frame{height:900px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 400px){iframe.form-frame{height:900px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 400px){iframe.form-frame{height:900px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 400px){iframe.form-frame{height:900px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 400px){iframe.form-frame{height:900px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 400px){iframe.form-frame{height:900px !important;}}

Solutions for HR teams of all sizes

No HR team

Small HR team

Established HR team

Latest news & insights

Reasonable adjustments for mental health | Acas publishes new guidance for employers

Government abandons ‘sunsetting’ provisions of Retained EU Law Bill

6 common long-term sick leave frustrations – and why you can’t just dismiss

New WorkNest Survey Identifies Alarming Link Between Financial Pressures and Employee Underperformance

‘Picking on’ or performance managing? How to address grievances from ‘sensitive’ staff

Revisiting performance management | How to avoid legal risks when getting your team back on track

Solutions for teams of all sizes

No Health & Safety team

Established Health & Safety team