The IT contractor portal, Contractor UK, recently revealed that contractors with suspected Swine Flu were refusing to go home and risked spreading the infection to their colleagues. As numbers of Swine Flu cases have been declining, The Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) say they are more concerned with the health risk to parties working with contractors if a second wave of Swine Flu hits, as expected.
As a contractor, if you are absent from work, you will not be paid, hence why a number of contractors are staying in work, despite being asked to go home and recover. If a contractor were to be absent from work, they should never expect to receive sick pay from their client, as this indicates they might be disguised as an employee. If a client were to request a sick note, a contractor should politely decline as it would imply they have an employer-employee relationship if they did.
Reported in a survey of its IT member firms, APSCo said the trend of contractors refusing to go home when suspected of infection would likely cause “animosity” at their workplace. To head off the ill-feeling, both recruiters and employers were advised to tighten up their sickness policies and ensure “contractual terms are revised at the earliest opportunity.”
APSCo added: “Significant problems can arise if a sickness policy is ambiguous and a contractor with suspected swine flu stays on-site. “This is something that is increasingly likely during the recession as contractors do not get sickness pay, so will be looking to maximise their income.”
To reduce the risks of contracting Swine Flu, the Department of Health advises you should:
- cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, using a tissue
- throw the tissue away quickly and carefully
- wash your hands regularly with soap and water
- clean hard surfaces (like door handles and remote controls) frequently with a normal cleaning product
Filed under: Contractor News | Tagged: Contractors, Department of Health, IT Contractor, Swine Flu
