Introduction
As the Covid-19 vaccination programme continues, employers and
businesses are beginning to consider a return to the workplace for
those employees that have continued to work remotely over the past
year. Realistically, it will be September before employees return
to their workplaces, but considerable planning needs to be
undertaken for that return.
Work Safely Protocol
On Friday, 14th May last, the Tánaiste
and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar,
published an updated Work Safely Protocol ("the updated
Protocol"), reflecting the most up to date public health
advice for the workplace. The updated Protocol is the second
revision since the document was first published in 2020. In
addition to the updated Protocol, there is now also a range of
complementary material available for the workplace, including a
checklist and posters which may make it easier to communicate the
measures advised in the updated Protocol. These work