In his long-awaited announcement on 22nd February 2021, Boris
Johnson set out a four-step plan to ease lockdown restrictions in
England. In the paper that was issued alongside this announcement
(Covid-19 Response-Spring 2021) (the Plan)
detail on the issue of returning to workplaces is sparse. We are
simply told that the guidance on working from home will continue to
be in place during all steps until a review is conducted prior to
Step Four (21 June 2021, at the earliest).
The requirement to work from home is currently set out in
legislation. Under this legislation, working outside the home is
only permitted where it is not reasonably possible to work from
home. The Plan states that people can leave home for work if they
cannot work from home and to escape illness, injury or risk of harm
including domestic abuse. The Plan suggests that this current legal
duty will continue in place until 29 March 2021.
