2. Supporting vulnerable workers
Some people can be anxious about the idea of returning to the workplace. This includes people who:
- have been shielding, and
- live with those who have been shielding
You can help these workers by explaining how you’ll support them. This could include:
- working from home where possible
- giving them different tasks to do when they return to the workplace
Supporting workers in higher-risk groups
Some groups of people may be:
- at greater risk of infection
- more likely to get seriously ill if they catch coronavirus (COVID-19)
These higher-risk groups include people who:
- are older males
- have a high body mass index (BMI)
- have health conditions such as diabetes
- are from some Black, Asian or minority ethnicity (BAME) backgrounds
Individual risk assessments are not required but it is important to support your workers and discuss any concerns.
You can support higher-risk groups by:
- making sure everyone works safely
- explaining clearly how you’re managing the risks from COVID-19
- talking to them about any concerns they may have
Questions to help you support vulnerable workers
- How can we communicate with those in higher-risk groups and, in particular, clinically extremely vulnerable people?
- What else can we do to help people coming back to the workplace?
- What can you do?
- What can your manager do?
- What can the company or organisation do?
Find out more
To help answer these questions, read our guidance on protecting vulnerable workers.
We review and update this page regularly to reflect any changes in guidance.
Page last reviewed: 31 August 2021
Next review due: 30 September 2021