Lockdown: Who is Boris Johnson encouraging to return to work with relaxed remote working guidance?

When the lockdown was first introduced on Monday 23 March in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the government stated that if members of the public are able to work from home, then they should.

Only employees at essential businesses such as supermarkets and key workers such as healthcare, transport and education workers were expected to continue operating in their workplaces. However, the reopening of non-essential retailers in June and of businesses including pubs, restaurant and hairdressers in July meant a number of people have started returning to work.

While the advice that members of the public should continue working from home if they are able to has largely remained in place, on Friday 17 July the prime minister lead a press conference in Downing Street during which he outlined relaxed guidance for working from home in England.

The announcement appeared to contradict a statement recently made by the UK’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, who said on Thursday 16 July that there is “absolutely no reason” to change the guidance on working from home.

“Of the various distancing measures, working from home for many companies remains a perfectly good option because it’s easy to do,” he told the Commons science and technology committee.

“I think a number of companies think it’s actually not detrimental to productivity. And in that situation, there’s absolutely no reason I can see to change it.”

During the press conference on Friday 17 July, Boris Johnson stated that guidance for remote working would be updated from 1 August.

The prime minister said that instead of continuing to tell people that they should work from home if they are able to, employers will be given "more discretion" to consider how their staff can continue working safely.

Mr Johnson explained that while this may involve employees continuing to work from home, which has "worked for many employers and employees", it may also consist of returning to workplaces that are "following Covid-secure guidelines".

The prime minister said that whatever employers decide, they should "consult with their employees" and only ask workers to come back to work "if it is safe".

During a previous address delivered on Sunday 10 May, the prime minister said that members of the public should only return to work "if you must".

People working in industries including construction and manufacturing were “actively encouraged” to return to work from Monday 11 May.

Dale Vince, founder of green energy firm Ecotricity, told The Guardian that the company will not “be forcing anyone to come in and take a risk they are not comfortable with”.

The government has published 14 guides on its website regarding how employers can go about making their workplaces “Covid-secure”.

These include sites such as factories and warehouses, heritage locations, hotels, offices, other people’s homes, restaurants and shops.

The government has also outlined the five steps that businesses should take to ensure they are able to resume operations as safely as possible.

The first involves carrying out a Covid-19 risk assessment, in line with HSE guidance.

The steps also include introducing cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures, helping employees work at home, following social distancing guidelines and “managing transmission risk” if workers are unable to remain at least two metres apart.