Infections have been climbing again thanks to new variants and reportedly cases have risen by 29% in the UK in the last week.
The NHS is also struggling with large caseloads at a time of year when it usually has a respite.
Yet reportedly one in four people who have Covid are going to work.
While it is understandable that businesses facing a perfect storm of rising costs, supply chain issues and recruitment difficulties may be reluctant to let people take time off work, there is still much they can do to protect people.
Firstly, after two years of survival during lockdowns by using remote working, businesses can still allow people with Covid to return to remote working.
While regulations regarding Covid may have been removed, businesses should still be ensuring their workplaces are as safe as possible.
This means ensuring there is plenty of fresh air circulating, providing hand sanitisation stations and asking people to wear masks to protect themselves and others, especially in customer-facing roles.
Given the current difficulties in recruiting staff it makes sense for a business to demonstrate that it has employees’ wellbeing at heart.
Our Board Briefing is still worth a read.