Covid-19

What is coronavirus?

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new strain discovered in 2019 which had not been previously identified in humans. The primary symptoms are a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back and a new, continuous cough – this means you’ve started coughing repeatedly.

What should I do if I think I or someone I live with has these symptoms?

The government is asking that if you or anyone in your household has one of those two symptoms, then you should stay at home for fourteen days. That means that if possible you should not go out even to buy food or essentials, other than for exercise, and in that case at a safe distance from others. If necessary, you should ask for help from others for your daily necessities. And if that is not possible, then you should do what you can to limit your social contact when you leave the house to get supplies.

What advice has the government given to the general population?

On 16 March 2020 the government asked that everyone stop non-essential contact with others and stop all unnecessary travel. They have asked that people start working from home where they possibly can and avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues. The government say that avoiding all unnecessary social contact, is particularly important for people over 70, for pregnant women and for those with underlying health conditions.

Has the government issued any specific advice for colleges and universities?

On Wednesday 18 March the UK government announced the closure of schools and colleges in England for all learners other than those whose parents or guardians are key workers. This follows similar decisions in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  Currently the government has not asked universities to close or curtail their core functions. UCU said in response: ‘we will be seeking further clarification about the nature and impact of the decisions taken for further education, and we are pushing the government to shut down prison education as well in the interests of staff safety. We need to see much more urgency from the government and university leaders in shutting down as much as possible to reduce unnecessary contact on campuses and to protect the health of students and staff. The current piecemeal range of responses is causing understandable confusion and uncertainty. We recognise there will be necessary core functions that continue, but clear direction, and action, at this time is vital for all staff and students.’

We are keeping members working in prison education updated here.

What is UCU calling for?

UCU believes that with regard to universities and colleges the government’s advice does not go far enough. We are calling for universities and colleges to shut down their core functions, particularly those which involve face-to-face interaction or bring large numbers of people together. We recognise that some university and college infrastructure should stay open, including student accommodation and, where agreed with staff, medical research units. The exact pattern of closures will vary depending upon the institution but its parameters should be agreed with UCU and other staff trade unions which prioritise the safety of students and staff.

If I am at work what steps can I take to limit the spread of the virus?

Because it’s a new illness, nobody yet knows exactly how coronavirus spreads from person to person. Similar viruses are spread in cough droplets, or via hard surfaces infected with the virus. It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses. Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. This may vary under different conditions (eg, type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment). If you think a surface may be infected, clean it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. Clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.

The government advises that you:

  • wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
  • always wash your hands when you get home or into work
  • use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
  • try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
  • avoid touching your eyes and nose as far as possible.

I am a UCU member on strike as part of the USS and/or Four Fights disputes. What should I do?

UCU’s industrial action in the form of action short of a strike continues.

My university or college has asked me to provide online learning or supervision to students?

Many universities are proposing to move away from face to face teaching or supervision in response to the virus. Where staff are instructed individually or as part of an institution’s general policy to work from home and provide support ‘online’ for students our legal advice is that this will generally constitute a reasonable request.

In the current crisis staff will want to do their best for their students including by providing, where possible, instruction and advice online. However, institutions need to set out clearly how and with what equipment this interaction will take place. The size of this task is one reason why UCU has called for institutions to pause between the shut down of face-to-face teaching and the onset of an online offer. This period would allow the institution to agree how online learning will operate with UCU and give staff enough time to prepare suitable materials for an online environment and also for the union to agree safeguarding of members’ intellectual property and performance rights (see below).

My employer has declared business as usual, what should I do?

Where the policy of institutions is to remain fully open and continue face-to-face interaction as usual you should protect your health by limiting your attendance at the institution to the minimum. Where it is logistically possible and not contrary to the institution’s general policy you should consider online or other alternatives to large gatherings of students or staff. If a meeting is non-urgent or unnecessary you should cancel it if it is within your power, or propose cancellation to those leading the meeting if it is not.

What responsibilities do institutions have regarding my health?

It is an employer’s duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees and other people who might be affected by their business. Employers must do whatever is reasonably practicable to achieve this. This means making sure that workers and others are protected from anything that may cause harm, effectively controlling any risks to injury or health that could arise in the workplace. Employers have duties under health and safety law to assess risks in the workplace. Risk assessments should be carried out that address all risks that might cause harm in your workplace. Employers must give you information about the risks in your workplace and how you are protected, also instruct and train you on how to deal with the risks. Employers must consult employees on health and safety issues. Consultation must be either direct or through a safety representative that is either elected by the workforce or appointed by a trade union. If you have doubts about any aspects of your institution’s planning for COVID-19 with specific regard to your health you should raise your concern directly with your manager and make sure your local UCU branch representative is copied in.

See also Thompsons Solicitors briefing on employer and employees’ responsibilities in the wake of coronavirus.

What should I do if I feel unwell?

If you feel unwell with symptoms of the coronavirus you should self-isolate in line with the advice in question 2. If you feel ill in any other way you should err on the side of caution at this time and inform your employer that you are unwell and will be off work.

I am on a casual contract, what are my rights if classes do not take place?

Non-salaried staff are sometimes not paid if for any reason their classes do not take place or they fall sick. UCU has called for all staff in this situation to be paid as normal based on their regular patterns of work. This is not only fair but will also assist in limiting the spread of the virus.

See also: Protecting precarious workers

What should I do if I am asked to do something that I consider dangerous?

There is a general legal duty, set out within Section 7 of the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act 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’. If arising from your institution’s COVID-19 policy you believe that you or those in your care are in danger, you should raise the issue directly with your immediate line manager and seek their instruction and also immediately contact your local UCU branch. There is a further legal right to leave the workplace, under Section 44 of the 1996 Employment Rights Act, ‘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’. However, the legal bar for such action is high and heavily dependent on the particular circumstances; members should therefore seek advice from the union BEFORE they do this.

I have been asked to record a lecture or class for playback off campus to students?

Staff should take care to ensure that any recording of a lecture or class is subject to an agreement between UCU and the institution before they agree to allow the archiving of any recording. Where no agreement exists and the terms and conditions of lecture capture are inadequate to protect your rights, members should not sign such terms and should set out clearly that any recordings they make can only be used with their permission and that permission is granted only for the duration of the current crisis. Your local branch will be able to advise you further on any local policies that exist. See also: Intellectual property

I am an academic-related/professional services staff (ARPS) member required to attend my workplace, what should I expect my employer to do to ensure my health & safety?

UCU is aware that some ARPS staff in areas such as IT and facilities will need to attend on-site as part of skeleton staffing teams, to ensure that their institution can continue to function and to provide and maintain essential services eg, IT support for online teaching and learning.  Please read our guidance for ARPS members here. [152kb]

I have been asked to work but I am in a vulnerable group. What should I do?

The government has indicated that those aged 70 or over are particularly vulnerable to catching COVID-19. If you are aged over 70 you should contact your line manager to request that you not be required to work in situations that involve face-to-face work and if this request is refused you should raise the matter with your local UCU branch. If you are under 70 but have a relevant underlying health condition or are pregnant you should make a similar approach and ensure you let the union know if your request is refused.

The current pandemic presents additional challenges and barriers for UCU members with disabilities and there is   some specific advice here [120kb].

There have been two key pieces of guidance on pregnancy and coronavirus:

Maternity Action (who UCU affiliates) is a useful source for pregnancy and maternity rights in general.

I am an international member of staff or student on a visa. How would non-attendance due to coronavirus affect me?

We are also asking all employers to notify all relevant staff of the revised Home Office guidance regarding absence of those on Tier 2, 4 and 5 visas due to COVID-19. We have also written to employers to seek their assurance that, in line with the recently revised guidance from the Home Office, they will not take any visa compliance action against students or employees who are unable to attend their studies/work as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

See Covid-19 information for international staff for more detailed information.

I am due to travel outside the UK as part for my work. What should I do?

If you are a member of a vulnerable group you should not travel unless it is absolutely necessary. For work-related travel you should consider whether the trip would be better postponed and, if not, seek the advice of the Foreign Office on the COVID-19 situation in the country that you are travelling to.

Am I allowed to give students advice about not attending face to face lectures or classes?

You have a general duty of care to students. If they have coronavirus symptoms you should ask them to inform the institution that they need to self-isolate. If they are member of a vulnerable group (over 70 or with an underlying health condition or pregnant) you should advise them not to attend large gatherings in person.