South Africa’s adjusted level 1 lockdown regulations are expected to boost a return to the office, say legal experts at Baker Mckenzie.
On Monday (31 January), president Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet announced the following changes with immediate effect:
Those who test positive with no symptoms do not have to isolate;
If you test positive with symptoms, the isolation period has been reduced from 10 to 7 days;
Contacts do not have to isolate unless they develop symptoms.
Primary, secondary and special schools will return to daily attendance. The regulatory provision for social distancing of 1 metre for learners in schools has also been removed.
The South African government has retained the obligation for citizens to wear face masks in public spaces and on public transport.
These changes will assist employers in reducing workplace disruption by curbing the requirements for employee isolation, Baker Mckenzie said.
“The reduced isolation period should also enable those employees with symptoms of Covid-19 to return to the office sooner.
“When considering the economic pressure faced by many organisations in South Africa, any measure aimed at improving workforce productivity and company flexibility should be welcomed.”
Working parents with children at school are also likely to benefit from the announced immediate return of learners to full daily attendance at school, Baker Mckenzie said.
“With more organisations implementing compulsory return to work policies, working parents will breathe a sigh of relief at being able to return to the office full time, without the need to supervise children attending school virtually from home.”
Review of expectations
More South African workers are expected to relook at their working patterns in 2022 – and evaluate whether they still want to come into the office, says Oz Desai, general manager of Corporate Traveller.
“The ‘Great Resignation’ has also been referred to as the ‘Great Upgrade’. People are examining how they want to work and how they see their career path unfolding. They are hoping to create their ideal position – with plenty of scope for personal growth, balance and travel.”
For Desai, the biggest issue facing companies in 2022, alongside vaccine mandates and work-from-home policies, is the retention of talent.
“Companies looking to attract the right talent will need increasingly progressive policies around hybrid work, working holidays and digital nomadism.”
Desai believes that the 2022 working environment will look very different to the lockdown, work-from-home scenarios we’ve all got accustomed to.
“Although people like the idea of working from home, we can expect a strong move back to the office – perhaps balancing remote work with a couple of days spent in the office for those positions that can accommodate it. Flexibility is now at the top of the agenda.”
https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/555426/updated-lockdown-rules-to-boost-compulsory-return-to-work-in-south-africa/
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