AQO 1578/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 04/02/2021
Answered On Date: 16/04/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy what communication has she had with HMRC to encourage employers to accede to requests for furlough by staff that are clinically extremely vulnerable.

Answer:

From 26 December 2020, Clinically Extremely Vulnerable people who are working and are unable to do so from home are advised not to attend the workplace.

At present this is advice only, those individuals who are deemed Clinically Extremely Vulnerable should use their own judgement about attending work, depending on the Covid-security of their working environment.

All employers however have a 'duty of care' for staff which means taking all steps they reasonably can to support the health, safety and wellbeing of their staff.

Any employee who cannot attend work due to this latest advice will be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, and can use their Chief Medical Officer letter as evidence for their employer.

This advice will be in place until 5 March, and will be reviewed by 18 February in line with the review of restrictions more generally.

Employers have not been advised to furlough staff who are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable or live with someone who is, as this may not be the best or most appropriate option for either, depending on the employment status or contractual issues that may apply to each individual scenario.