Reopening Retail
Last month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that non-essential retail in England will be permitted to reopen from 12 April, much to the relief of business owners up and down the country.
Sadly, with many familiar brands having gone into administration, we can expect a much altered high street when non-essential stores begin to trade again. However, some independent store owners are predicting a retail revival and have spent the latest lockdown investing in revamped premises and larger stores.
But each day that a shop remains closed increases the chances that it will never open again, costing jobs and damaging local communities. It is therefore critical that you are prepared to reopen smoothly, safely and without delay.
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COVID-19 | FREE expert guidance for employers, including sample policies, template risk assessments and more
Watch On-Demand
In this recent live webinar, co-hosted by Ellis Whittam’s Director of Employment Law, James Tamm, and Director of Health & Safety, Nick Wilson, alongside special guest, BIRA CEO Andrew Goodacre, the trio covered important topics such as:
Agenda:
- Preparing to reopen safely for your staff and customers;
Making sure your premises are consistent with the relevant guidance; - The employment legalities surrounding vaccination;
- Utilising flexible furlough to accommodate safety measures and respond to fluctuations in demand;
- What to do about holiday accrual;
- The key risk control measures that need to be in place;
- The importance of reassuring customers about safety;
- Face coverings and the challenges experienced by shops that have stayed open; and
- A recap of what has happened previously when operating with COVID restrictions in place, such as working with local authorities regarding road closures and footfall figures.
Resources from the webinar
Use this template to record important checks of your retail premises before returning to work after lockdown. Stay alert to government announcements on return to work and complete before reoccupation.
This health and safety checklist should be completed on a weekly basis or more frequently if required. Where the response is that action is needed, this should be noted on the Action Log at the back of this checklist and allocated to a named person for action. When the task is completed, details will be recorded for future reference.
Common questions about the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
On 3 March 2021, the Chancellor announced that the scheme would be extended again, this time until the end of September 2021. Up until the end of June 2021, the government contribution remains at 80%. In July, employers will have to make a 10% contribution to furlough pay increasing to 20% for August and September 2021.
During, before and after the Reopening Retail webinar, we were inundated with questions.
Our expert Employment Law and Health & Safety teams have answered all of them in this handy PDF which you can download below.
Related resources
Vaccination FAQ (England & Wales)
Should we force employees to be vaccinated? What’s the position regarding pay? And should we update our risk assessment? Find out in this England & Wales-specific FAQ.
Vaccination FAQ (Northern Ireland)
Should we force employees to be vaccinated? What’s the position regarding pay? And should we update our risk assessment? Find out in this Northern Ireland-specific FAQ.
Vaccination FAQ (Scotland)
Should we force employees to be vaccinated? What’s the position regarding pay? And should we update our risk assessment? Find out in this Scotland-specific FAQ.
Risk Assessment Template (Shops & Branches)
This template risk assessment is intended to help you document the risk control measures you have introduced within the workplace to control the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). It is not a Business Continuity Plan.
You must modify this risk assessment to ensure it reflects your business activities and the specific risks and controls you have in place.
Vaccination & Testing Guide
Vaccination has many employment law implications. This guide covers making vaccination mandatory, what happens if employees refuse, and the legal risks.
Immunisation & Testing Policy
This template policy will help you to communicate your stance on vaccination and testing to your employees and make your position clear.
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