Oxford NUJ members are, like all workers at the moment, concerned about the coronavirus crisis, so we thought it would be helpful to compile a summary of our rights and responsibilities as workers and colleagues. These notes were sent to our members on 18th March, and while the general advice should remain accurate there will be further information available as the situation evolves. Please check the NUJ website and social media for the latest updates.
We all want to stay safe.
We all want to be able to keep earning.
We all want to look after ourselves and each other.
Most of our major media employers in the area have all informed staff of the measures they will be taking to minimise the risk to staff of contracting or spreading COVID-19 virus.
How this works out in practice is partly up to us as individuals and as chapel members.
The following information may help us all try to do the best we can for ourselves and our colleagues.
Health and safety rights at work
Section 7 of the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974 (HSAWA 1974) places a duty on every employee while at work:
a) to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work
Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996) protects the employee (with no qualifying service period) from any ‘detriment’:
d) in circumstances of danger which the employee reasonably believed to be serious and imminent and which he could not reasonably have been expected to avert, he left (or proposed to leave) or (while the danger persisted) refused to return to his place of work or any dangerous part of his place of work, or
e) in circumstances of danger which the employee reasonably believed to be serious and imminent, he took (or proposed to take) appropriate steps to protect himself or other persons from the danger.
The Labour Research Department explains: “As long as the employee forms a genuine view of a risk that they reasonably regard as serious and imminent, the fact that the employer disagrees with the seriousness of the risk or the appropriateness of the steps taken is irrelevant.”
The NUJ health and safety committee has produced an advice document Covid-19 Coronavirus: Notes for members, reps, chapels and branches (PDF).
Stress and overwork
One of the best tips from Public Health England has been to look after your own health. Many of us are already under pressure to work excessive hours, which can lead to high levels of stress and fatigue. This pressure may increase in companies that are worried about the financial impact of this epidemic.
The NUJ always advises members against working excessive hours and against feeling responsible for any failure to cope with unsustainable workloads. This will be particularly important during the epidemic. Contact the branch at oxfordnuj@gmail.com if you need advice about how to protect yourselves against these pressures.
If you’re working from home…
This could go on for a long time, so it is worth taking time to think about how to organise your home working environment to make it as safe and comfortable as possible. Those of us who worked through the RSI epidemic will remember tips, for instance, about ensuring your elbows are at more than a 90 degree angle when you type. It’s worth checking out tips like these on the GigaOm website.
Freelances
Freelances may face particular issues, such as access to corporate computer systems if they rely on shift work carried out on-site, in the event that the premises are vacated and staff expected to work from home. The Covid-19 Coronavirus: Notes for members, reps, chapels and branches document issued by the NUJ health and safety committee has specific advice to Freelances, which includes some financial information. The union is also calling for financial protection for freelances during the pandemic.
Protecting those of us most at risk
Many of our members come into the high-risk category of those who are over 50 and/or with comorbidities (ie one or more chronic health conditions). We have a collective responsibility to ensure that those of us who are most at risk get the support and protection we need.
Health and safety reps
Health and safety reps have strong legal rights to take the time and action they need to protect the health and safety of staff. All of our chapels have health and safety reps. The TUC has issued guidance for trade union reps, designed to give an understanding of the workplace issues in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide support in being effective at negotiating with employers steps that can be taken to best protect the health and safety of the workforce. The branch will be in touch with health and safety reps over the coming week to see what needs they have for information and training in relation to the COVID-19 epidemic.
Help us to help you – we need a second branch Welfare Officer
The branch Welfare Officer is here to help support members with any welfare issues, including mental or physical health issues, and money issues. We have one great officer in place, but we need a second. No prior knowledge or experience is needed. This is about having time to listen and working with the national union to find advice and resources that can help. We need to share the load. If you think you could share the role of branch Welfare Officer, then please do let us know at OxfordNUJ@gmail.com
NUJ Extra
The NUJ charity NUJ Extra is there to help members get through times of acute financial hardship. It can provide advice and guidance and one-off loans and grants. You can read the guidelines on how it works here.
If you are looking for a way to help your fellow NUJ members, this would be a great time to make a donation to NUJ Extra.
Let us know what is happening
Sharing information and experiences is one of the most effective ways we can help one another. Please let us know what is happening to your work and your working practices. Tell us about the good things and the bad things so we can respond and also learn from one another. This blog is also available for people to share experiences and tips.
Further advice and information
NUJ: Covid-19 information
NUJ: Coronavirus: Advice for freelances
Advice on the NUJ is regularly updated – links are on the homepage.
TUC: Covid-19 Coronavirus: Guidance to unions (PDF)
ACAS: Coronavirus: advice for employers and employees (PDF)
Government: Coronavirus: UK government response
NHS: Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice
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