Throughout the pandemic, workers across Ireland have adapted to working from home, but with Covid cases decreasing and restrictions lifted, some employees will be asked to return to the office.
The government has announced new guidance for workplaces titled the Transitional Protocol will see the end of many Covid measures but states that businesses should still implement good practice.
Following meetings with businesses and unions, the latest workplace guidance was published, seeing an end to the requirement to work from home.
Other measures no longer required include:
- Two metre social distancing
- Pods of six
- Collecting the contact details of people on the premises
Wearing facemasks within a workplace setting will also now only be required for healthcare, transport, retail and public offices and by those serving food and drink.
However, the guidance states it is still good practice for those sharing work vehicles to wear a face covering.
The document aims to remind employers to continue to advise employees not to come to work if they are displaying symptoms of Covid or if they have had a positive Covid-19 test.
It also asks workers to keep up to date with changing symptoms of the virus and its variants and to follow public health advice.
Speaking about the new guidance, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar said the document was designed to help, not to complicate.
He said: "It's a guidance document and is designed to help, not to complicate.
"The emphasis on personal protective measures, including getting vaccinated and boosted, still stands, and it is still crucial that anyone with symptoms isolates and takes a test – either an antigen or PCR depending on their circumstances."
The news comes after the Health Protection Surveillance Centre recorded a further 3,872 Covid positive PCR tests on Monday.
As of 8 am, there were 692 patients with Covid being treated in hospital, of whom 75 were in ICU.
Employers have been asked to maintain good infection control practices, keep a Covid-19 response plan in place, and consider the needs of high-risk workers.
The guidance says specific sectors can introduce their own measures and that it remains crucial that anyone with symptoms isolates and tests.
It also says employers should begin developing or finalising their long-term plans for blended and remote work.
