CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 12TH February 2021

Apprentice Employer Incentive Grant

Due to unprecedented demand, we have had to put any new applications on hold.
We have now filled our contract numbers for Skills Development Scotland and have applied for extra places. However, there is no guarantee we will get those extra places
If you have already started the process of application, this will proceed, and we will apply on your behalf.
Any new notes of interest will be placed on a pending list, with inductions of apprentices taking place after April 5th, 2021.
The current grant scheme is set to close for all applications on the 25th of March 2021.

If the Scottish Government extend the incentive grant after this date we will apply for the grant for all new apprentice inductions after the 5th April, when our new contract begins.

Facemasks in retail shops

To make you all aware we have been hearing about issues with customers not wearing masks in shops.
It is widely recognised that an “exemption” card can be purchased online and used whether that individual has a condition or not.
Government advice is that it is not the responsibility of the business or their staff to police this.
You should not ask for proof of exemption.
However, food business owners have a duty of care to their staff and all have taken the correct measures to protect those who work in the business.
We have been made aware of an incident in a shop with a customer with a child, who were not wearing facemasks.
The customer then took to social media to complain about the business, stating that they and their child had a condition of exemption.
The business then received an official letter from the individual claiming that the business had shown discrimination under the disabilities act.
There is now a demand for compensation which is disputed by the owner.
This is an ongoing situation.

Please be careful in how you deal with the public on this issue as there does seem to a very large grey area around this subject. Please make sure you offer alternatives such as delivery or pre order and collection at the entrance to the premises.
We have asked for clarification on this from the relevant government body in the area the incident took place.

Below is a response from our employment advisors, Lindsays

From an employment perspective therefore we recommend Members:

1. Understand the extent of the legal obligation on individuals to wear masks in shops – 'A person who enters or remains within a place listed in paragraph 3 [including a shop] must wear a face covering, unless”¦' an exemption applies.
There is a long list, but of most relevance to members, those exemptions include where the person is””
(a) a child under 5,
(b) unable to put on, wear or remove a face covering””
(i)because of any physical or mental illness or impairment or disability (within the meaning of section 6 of the Equality Act 2010), or
(ii)without severe distress,
(c) communicating with a person who has difficulties communicating (in relation to speech, language or otherwise) and relies on lip reading or facial expression to be able to communicate,

The full detail is set out in the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (legislation.gov.uk)
I recommend personnel within your members who are responsible for setting policy review the full list and identify any further applicable exemptions in their business context.

2. Develop a policy reflecting the above which is circulated to and explained to all staff, being clear that those who enter the shop must wear a face mask unless they are exempt. The policy should be displayed in the shop in a way which makes it clear to customers

3. Provide training to staff both by way of (a) refresher equality training and (b) training in how to inform customers of the policy and ask them to wear a mask. They should be advised that not all disabilities are obvious and that if a customer identifies that they are exempt they should not be required to show evidence or prove the reason and should not be refused service. Such customers should be treated politely and with courtesy.

4. Review and adjust risk assessments to identify any additional risk management measures to address circumstances where staff are obliged to serve customers who are exempt from wearing a mask

5. Document the above steps and refresh periodically as required

The email below from the Equality and Human Rights Commission is a helpful overview and makes these points clear. I also recommend members read, incorporate and circulate to all staff the guidance in the link – Retailers' legal responsibility to disabled customers | Equality and Human Rights Commission (equalityhumanrights.com) as part of the training process
.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (legislation.gov.uk)

Meat Managers Hygiene and HACCP Course

It is increasingly important to make sure that our businesses have an operational and auditable food safety management system in place.
We have traditionally held our Meat Managers Hygiene and HACCP courses in one location on one day. These have been held throughout the country and have proven very popular and useful in the development of individuals within the business who are required to take responsibility for the implementation of the HACCP system.

The courses have been delivered by Verner Wheelock.

Paul Bache has presented these courses for many years on behalf of Scottish Craft Butchers and the certificates issued are recognised by the local authority environmental health officers.
Due to the current restrictions we cannot hold face to face courses.
Therefore, we have decided to offer the course online during video meetings in April.
The format will be 3 x afternoons ( 3 hours each session) on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with a maximum of 7 places. Each candidate will have to attend all 3 sessions!
The course content is attached!
If you would like to find out more or register yourself or someone in your business on the course, please contact Claire by e-mail [email protected]

Mass covid testing of employees in the food industry

The industry held a meeting with Public Health Minister Mairi Gougeon at the start of the week.
A scheme to mass test food sector workers will begin rolling out by the end of the month. The first pilots of the new programme could begin as early as next week.
The Scottish scheme will be a very close copy of the English programme.
On Monday, the Food and Drink Federation are hosting a webinar jointly with Defra to explain how the system is working in England.
Any Scottish manufacturers interested in being part of the Scottish scheme should register for this webinar as they will get a better understanding of how it will work and what it entails.

Details of the webinar:
Monday 15 February, 15:00 – 16.30.
To attend the event please email Griffin Shiel at [email protected] to receive a link to the webinar which will be held on Microsoft Teams.

SFMTA Employer Practice Liability Insurance

For the past few years we have had an insurance policy in place along with our HR employment law advisors, Lindsays, which protects our members businesses from the outcome of employment tribunals. This policy would be accessed as long as businesses followed the legal advice given in each case from Lindsays.
The policy was held with AXA insurance. We have been informed that the cost of renewing this policy has tripled in value and that AXA now insist on a £5000 excess on each case.

This is an unacceptable increase, and we were given 3 days to respond whether we were going to renew or not. We have decided not to renew and have instructed Lindsays to investigate whether a similar policy can be found with another company.

Until we have this information, please be advised that as of Saturday 13th February 2021 we will not have any insurance policy in place in respect to this.

The Scottish Craft Butchers office in Perth is now closed following government guidelines.
We will be available to our members to answer any queries via email or by mobile phone and will be available out of office hours for any members wanting to contact us.
Our contact details are below
Gordon King: [email protected] 07917524313
Bruce McCall: [email protected] 07834490922