Coronavirus Updates
Find the latest updates from Eazy Garden.
Have a question please feel free to ask us confidentially.
This page is designed to keep you up to date with company policy regards government announcements around the Covid-19 pandemic.
Due to the increased risk of disruption within the company and risk to staff members health we are bringing in new measures which will be active from Monday 20th December and at the moment will run until the end of January 2022, with a review mid January 2022.
- A negative lateral flow test must be reported before attending work. (confirmation email sent to info@eazygarden.co.uk)
- Single occupancy within vehicles.
- Vehicles are to be kept clean and sterilized within the cab on a daily basis. (vehicles will be inspected weekly)
- The office will be shut from Monday and home working if mandatory.
- All meetings done via zoom.
- Only one vehicle and occupant is allowed at my house at any time. (if rubbish is loaded into a van and needs two people face masks must be worn)
- Gloves to be worn when handling any tools.
Test kits can be order via this link https://www.gov.uk/order-
As lockdown continues and we hopefully get an update in the next week on a road map out of this current set of restrictions, nothing much has changed with regards to the current set of company policies. One thing we are bringing in is that you will be paid full pay from the 1st March 2021 if you are required to self isolate and cannot work from home up to a maximum of 10 working days. This excludes having to self isolate from returning from international travel unless it is to do with a work based activity. If you need to self isolate past 14 days you will be allowed to use holiday to cover any further days up to your holiday limit.
Once again I want to thank everyone for their continued efforts and please remember stay safe.
With the government stating that no restrictions will be lifted in the near future Eazy Garden must follow suit. So all previous guidance stays in place and restrictions on holiday. The company offices will not reopen until May1st 2021 at the earliest. I want to thank everyone for their continued efforts in very difficult circumstances and remember any sign of symptoms please stay at home and seek medical advice.
With the Covid vaccine rollout speeding up, Here at Eazy Garden we would like to encourage you to take up the opportunity to get the vaccine when it is offered to you, and also to ask you to let us know once you are vaccinated. Whilst some people will have valid concerns about the Covid vaccine and not everyone will be able to have it, all the evidence to date suggests it is safe and it is one of the easiest and most effective ways we can protect one another.
Should I have the coronavirus vaccine?
The vaccine means you are much less likely to become ill from Covid-19, which can cause serious illness and death. At the moment you will only be offered it if it is considered that you will benefit from the vaccine more than the general population. If you have a heart condition you are at increased risk of serious illness if you catch the virus, so it is really important to have it. Having the vaccine could also benefit those around you. Although it doesn’t mean you can’t spread the virus, you will probably be less infectious for a shorter period. Vaccination also reduces the potential for the virus form new variants that might stop a vaccine from working in future.
Is the coronavirus vaccine safe?
Vaccines are only approved for use after being thoroughly tested on tens of thousands of people. In order to approve a vaccine, experts at the MHRA look carefully at all the evidence about the vaccine and make sure have that it meets strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness. There have been a very small number of reports of allergic reactions to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine however hundreds of thousands of people have now been monitored after having the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and all the approved vaccines are shown to be safe. People receiving the vaccine will be observed by medical staff for 15 minutes afterwards – so in the rare chance of a reaction, it can be treated right away.
You can find out more about the vaccines and roll out below:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/
What’s the point in a vaccine if it doesn’t work for everyone?
The evidence so far suggests that the approved vaccines are very effective. Having the vaccine when you are offered will give you the best chance of being protected and will help to protect those around you. No vaccine is 100% full proof, they require 2-3 weeks for immunity to develop, and with Covid, it seems that it may be possible for you to pass the virus on for a short period even if you’ve been vaccinated, so you should continue to follow government guidance even once you have had the Covid vaccine.
Will I be forced to get the vaccine?
You will not be required by the government or NHS to receive a vaccine, and a Covid vaccine will not become a requirement of working for Eazy Garden.
We would like to know what percentage of our employee population is vaccinated as this will give us a gauge of the risks when considering changing our policies on things like vehicle sharing, opening offices, training, meetings, overnight stays and social events. Because our employee population is not the same as the UK population, we cannot assume that once 50% of the UK is vaccinated, 50% of our colleagues will be, and we need to track what they difference is so we can make decisions with the correct information. We are only going to use this survey to understand the level of immunity in our employee population as a whole, and amongst those we know to be vulnerable. We will not use this information to discriminate against or to target specific employees, however, we will try to avoid sending further comms to those who have completed it.
Once you have received the first vaccination, please complete the survey
here: Vaccination Survey. Please return using the same device and browser (if possible) to fill in the second date. Please note, we are only asking for your name so we can match up your first and second vaccine dates when necessary and remove people from the comms; this data will never be shared with names included.
If you have any queries or concerns about the vaccine, please do some research or speak to someone before deciding not to have it. Please speak to management who will be happy to discuss, though we aren’t experts, or speak to your GP.
Following on from yesterdays government announcement we have currently stayed in Tier 2 and so have the areas we work in but this is a fluid situation and things could change rapidly. It also looks increasingly more likely of a lockdown in January or following the Christmas Period. As a company we have to make sure all team members are safe whilst working so we have some new company policies which are to be followed.
- All holiday is still suspended, as of 01/01/2021 you will be allowed to take any holiday carried over from leave year 2020 to be used by 31/03/2020.
- Holiday of any type will be suspended for the month of April. (excluding bank holidays)
- As of 01/01/2021 vehicle sharing is prohibited and this will be reviewed on 01/02/2021.
- Vehicle surfaces have to be cleaned daily and antibacterial wipes will be provided. This is in effect immediately. Checks will be carried out weekly.
- As of the week starting 21/12/2020 face masks and gloves have to be worn whilst within the vehicle. Fluent checks will be made throughout the week.
- We do not enter any inside buildings whilst at work other than to do paperwork and make sure gloves and face masks are worn whilst in the building. Any private residences are not to be entered.
The above guidelines will be reviewed on the 01/02/2021 failure to comply could result in a disciplinary.
Please as before any sign of symptoms do not come to work and follow current government guidelines.
Any questions on the above please feel free to contact me via email at tomclark@eazygarden.co.uk or my mobile 07500047968.
Please stay safe and I know this is all very difficult but this is for a short time and things will get easier.
After this weeks government announcement as you are probably aware the country has been divided into tiers to which we have attached a link to explain what each tier means. As of the next two week Dorset is in Tier 2 which means work will not be affected.
Also the restrictions in the previous update still stand and nothing has changed this will be reviewed again after the first two weeks and analysed on any changes to our tier.
Please stay safe and thank you for your commitment to the company.
After this weeks government announcement regards a national lockdown coming into place as of 05/11/2020 for a four week period we are having to make a few changes to working schedules and rules. These rules come into place as of 06/11/2020 –
- Holiday has been suspended other than holiday already agreed.
- Face-masks are now compulsory within all vehicles and any indoor spaces.
- The office is officially closed until 01/01/2021.
- 2m should be maintained whilst working on sites with other team members and other contractors.
- We should not enter clients private indoor spaces in any circumstance.
These above guidelines will be reviewed at the end of the official four week period but not before. If you would like more information about what you can and can’t do personally please visit this link for official government guidance.
Above all please stay safe and thank you for your continued commitment to the company.
After the governments speech and updates since Eazy Garden has countinued to follow guidelines on lifting of restrictions. All previous weeks advice and guidance is still relevant and very little has changed. The following changes will be acted upon from dates shown providing that the R rating doesn’t change things and as follows are Eazy Garden’s projected changes for the months ahead.
- 1st June 3 day holidays a week with the standard two weeks notice.
- 1st July 4 day holidays a week with the standard two weeks notice.
- 1st August one weeks holiday allowed with the stanafdrad two weeks notice.
- 1st September all holiday restrictions lifted.
- 1st August van and equipment sharing allowed providing all hygiene precautions are taken.
- 18th May two people allowed in the office at social distance guidance.
- 1st August three people allowed in office at social distance guidance.
As with all of above things can change and this is just a premolar guide map. Please if any symptoms are discovered however small contact the relevant bodies as soon as possible.
Stay safe and thank you for your continued efforts and commitment to the company.
This weeks update comes as we wait for a clearer exit strategy from Boris Johnson. Due to impending speculation and information coming out below are some of the guidelines we, as a company will be implementing from 11/05/2020.
- The office will re-open from Monday 11th May.
- Office access is for one member of office staff in the office at any time.
- Field based staff must ring ahead before entering the building. And use provided alcohol gel in entrance and use face mask before entering the building. Alcohol gel to be used on exit of building.
- No meetings will be held at the office and no more than two people at a time within the office.
Field based team changes from Monday 11 May are as follows.
- Two people are now allowed per vehicle but no machinery is to be touched without gloves on.
- Work in different areas of sites.
- Lunch times to be staggered if possible or taken with doors open.
- Team leaders responsibility to clean cab to avoid cross contamination between team members.
- If you show any symptoms DO NOT enter a van or touch machinery. Stay at home and call the office.
- If you show symptoms over a weekend make management aware DO NOT leave it until Monday morning.
There will also be a mid week update next week so stayed tuned and above all have a great bank holiday weekend. Stay safe and enjoy VE Day.
This weeks update comes as the government start to plan our exit stragery from current lockdown and with the peak over hopefully things will start to become a bit more easier.
- We have had emails from Travis Perkins, Jewsons and Screwfix that they have a click and collect service available so will be able to grab certain things.
- Sovereign Housing has come back online but only for litter picking and grass cutting more will be explained as we go forward.
- We will be exploring ways moving forward of vehicle sharing but only if we can make it completely safe. If this is not practical six day weeks will have to become the new normal for the foreseeable future unfortunately.
Hope everyone has a great weekend and stays safe
Current conditions are as above but with the potential that the line is beginning to plateau this means that certain restrictions will be relaxed the following are:-
- From 1st May 2020 annual leave will be allowed but a maximum of 2 consecutive days and a maxim of 3 days every three weeks excluding bank holidays. These measures will be in place until the end of May at the earliest.
- With the current social distancing and increasing work loads Saturdays are being considered as compulsory through May. This would last for an initial period of one calendar month and would be paid at current salary level based on a six day week. This will be confirmed over the next week.
We have been doing a great effort at reporting on jobs etc so thank you. Please make sure any monies on vehicles are off loaded as soon as possible and not forgotten.
These are tough times for all and many sacrifices made by all so thank you and I would love to say the light at the end of the tunnel is near but in all realism things are going to get tougher before they get better but one thing I can continue to stress is the company is standing up well and will continue too do so.
Please stay safe and continue to do the great work we are all doing.
This weeks update comes as the government have announced that we are having the current lockdown conditions extended for another three weeks. This means the following company measures are to be continued :-
- Only one employee per van.
- No cross using of tools unless gloves are worn.
- Maintain 2m distance at all times.
- Insist all clients to remain indoors whilst we are on site.
- No exchanging of vehicles between employees.
- Face masks to be worn if we have to enter a building for any reason.
Can we also let the office know if we need any PPE as there is no excuse we should be without PPE.
Annual leave can also be carried over for up to two years now which as a company we will be honouring to all current employed staff.
If you have any questions on any of the above please either contact the office on 01202 978373 or email lesleyrichardson@eazygarden.co.uk.
Regards work can I please stress again that one photo is not enough on arrival and departure forms. This is not up for debate and as requested a few weeks back a minimum of two is now required preferably four but at least two. We also require more feedback on jobs if clients are asking for things or access is restricted again, information is key more than ever. Failure to carry out the photo requirement will result in a telephone call from Tom requesting why this wasn’t carried out in the first instance and disciplinary procedures being initiated if continually ignored.
Remember above all stay safe and if you feel you have any symptoms please do not come into work and call the office as soon as possible.