LTB 063/21 – Post Office: Clinically Extremely Vulnerable – Joint Statement
No. 063/2021
19th February 2021
Dear Colleagues
POST OFFICE: CLINICALLY EXTREMELY VULNERABLE – JOINT STATEMENT
Branches are advised that all Post Office employees categorised as Clinically Extremely
Vulnerable and pregnant employees have been shielding on paid special leave since 5th
November 2020 and are not expected to return to work until at least 31st March 2021.
As a consequence of new government guidelines issued on 16th February 2021, a further
1.7m adults have now been identified by medical experts as being at higher risk and
therefore now fall into the category of CEV. These people will shortly be receiving letters
advising them to shield.
Consistent with the original agreement those newly designated CEV, if employed by the
Post Office, will also be offered paid special leave with immediate effect. Whilst there
is no definitive list of those who have now been included, the NHS is using a Covid-19
Population Risk Assessment to determine the priority group.
The following Joint Statement has been issued informing members of the latest
development:
JOINT STATEMENT POST OFFICE, CWU AND UNITE
Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Employees
- Following the guidance released by Government on 16th February the number of
people who are being asked to self-isolate is to be increased. This new
Government risk assessment takes into account extra factors other than just
underlying health conditions to determine an individual’s risk of becoming
seriously ill if they were to catch COVID 19.
We will continue with our approach that all Clinically Extremely Vulnerable
colleagues should be placed on paid Special Leave with immediate effect. This
includes individuals who are pregnant who are unable to work from home and
those that have received a letter from their GP or NHS asking them to shield.
Those able to work from home will continue to do so.
If you receive a letter from your GP or the NHS in the next few weeks, please let
your line manager know so they can support you on the next steps.
In line with the Government guidance colleagues should shield till at least 31st
March. We will continue to review this approach and Government guidance with
the aim of providing a further update by 31st March. Colleagues placed on Special
Leave as a result of this announcement will not return to work before this date.
Lee Kelly : Employee Relations & Policy Director
Phil Savage : Unite the Union
Andy Furey : CWU Assistant Secretary
Statement to the attention of our Post Office members.
I wish to extend my thanks to Lynn Simpson, Postal Executive member for her
endeavours in engaging with the Post Office to secure this position for our Clinically
Extremely Vulnerable members.
Yours sincerely
Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary