Dozens of employers have imposed restrictions for workers amid the coronavirus outbreak - but can your boss really ban you from going abroad?
This is the question workers have been asking us as the illness continues to spread globally.
If you already have a holiday booked for personal reasons, your employer cannot stop you from travelling nor sanction you for doing so, under your employment rights.
But your boss can cancel annual leave that has already been approved over safety fears.
This is allowed, as long as they give the minimum required notice, which is the same amount of leave that is to be taken.
But employers should "proceed with caution" if they go down this route, Alan Price, chief executive at HR software firm BrightHR explains - as it could leave workers out of pocket.
"There may also be a discrimination risk here; cancelling all leave to China, Italy or Korea may have a disproportionate impact on employees who are using their holiday to visit family," Price said.
Either way, it may be difficult for you to travel to the areas as airlines have cancelled flights to parts of Italy, further parts of Europe and even the US .
Depending on where you're travelling, you may have to self-isolate when you return - if you're sick or have to self-isolate, see the Government's sick pay rules, here .
These are all of the things your employer must do to protect you amid the coronavirus outbreak .
Here are your rights if you need emergency time off work if your child's school or nursery is closed .
What tourist areas have been banned by the FCO?
Here are the regions the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised against travelling to due to coronavirus:
-
All of mainland China
Italy
-
Bertonico
-
Casalpusterlengo
-
Castelgerundo
-
Castiglione d’Adda
-
Codogno
-
Fombio
-
Maleo
-
San Fiorano
-
Somaglia
-
Terranova dei Passerini
-
Vo’ Euganeo
South Korea
-
Cheongdo
-
Daegu