Track and trace to be compulsory for hospitality businesses

New restrictions for England are to come into force on Monday 14 September 2020 after a rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the UK, and will be accompanied by a tightening of "track and trace" which has an impact for hospitality businesses. 

Compulsory contact tracing

The health secretary, Matt Hancock, interviewed on the Radio 4 Today Programme, has indicated that every venue in England will be required to take customer contact details (previously a voluntary requirement), as part of a strengthening of enforcement around hospitality businesses in England.

It creates the uncomfortable prospect of hospitality businesses turning away guests who refuse to provide their contact details or who provide obviously false contact details (there are reports that "Mickey Mouse" is a regular visitor to UK hospitality businesses...).

The Government has produced a facility to create a coronavirus Test and Trace QR code and poster for your venue. Guests are asked to scan the QR code when they arrive, using the NHS Test and Trace app. 

COVID-19 HR issues for hospitality

We will be exploring current relevant HR issues including those arising from the COVID-19 pandemic for the hospitality, leisure and retail sectors.

Join our virtual round-table event on Thursday 24 September at 10.30am where we will be discussing:

• Training staff in handling challenging customers and dealing with harassment.
• Identifying and managing potential goods and services discrimination risks.
• What happens after the furlough scheme – the next steps for employers.
• Managing COVID-related challenges such as quarantine, a backlog of holidays, handling formal processes remotely, and supporting staff with ongoing COVID-19 symptoms.

This will be an opportunity for you to discuss these topics with peers from within the sector and to share your ideas and experiences. It will be hosted by our hospitality HR experts, Head of Employment Jane Amphlett and Legal Director Lydia Christie, who will offer their legal and commercial insights.

Please RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gwkE3Ky to register your place and let us know if you have any additional topics you'd like to discuss at these sessions.