Social distancing | How HR should react to COVID-19 rule-breaking staff

The importance of health and safety in the workplace has been highlighted in the coronavirus crisis and has been a top priority for HR.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) wrote on its site in July that where possible, people should keep 2m apart but if this isn’t possible, keeping 1m apart with “risk mitigation is acceptable”.

The site explained that social distancing measures should form part of an employer’s risk assessment – which is one of the necessary steps to make the workplace ‘COVID-secure’ – and should be communicated with staff and others who may be visiting the premises.

But, what if an employee refuses to adhere to social distancing rules in the workplace? HR Grapevine spoke to an employment lawyer to find out what HR should do in this instance.