Publication - Advice and guidance
Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial services sector guidance
Published: 7 Aug 2020
Last updated: 13 Jan 2021 - see all updates
Economic Development Directorate
Business, industry and innovation, Coronavirus in Scotland, Economy, +1 more … Public safety and emergencies
Guidance for the financial services sector about safe re-opening during the coronavirus pandemic.
This document is part of a collection
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance
Assessing risk
Workforce planning and support
Operational guide and checklist
Training and compliance
This guide is one of a set of guides about how to work safely in different types of workplace. This guidance is for use by the financial services sector in Scotland. Each business will need to translate this into the specific actions it needs to take depending on the nature of their business (i.e. the size and type of business, how it is organised, operated, managed and regulated) using this document as a guide. The guidance emphasises in particular the importance of undertaking a robust and ongoing risk based assessment with full input from trade union or workforce representatives, and to keep all risk mitigation measures under regular review so that workplaces continue to feel, and be, safe.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making – Scotland's route map through and out of the crisis sets out a phased approach to exiting from the lockdown. To judge whether and when restrictions can be changed we will consider a range of evidence on the progress of the pandemic in Scotland, using the principles set out in the Framework for Decision Making and our long-established commitment to fair work, which was set in the context of the current crisis in a joint statement with the STUC. Guidance will be reviewed on a regular basis as our priority remains containing the spread of the virus, saving lives and safeguarding the NHS.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland's Strategic Framework sets out our approach to outbreak management during Phase 3 of the Route Map and based on five levels of protection The five protection levels consist of four levels above the Route Map Phase 3 baseline (or 'Level 0'). They are designed to achieve progressively stronger effects in suppressing the virus, providing graduated protections locally and/or nationally.
This guidance has been developed in collaboration with industry, trade unions, regulators, and others. Protecting the health of workers is at the heart our approach. Partnership working is fundamental to establishing a shared confidence around the safety of workplaces, protecting public health and supporting Scotland's economic recovery. We have worked with employers and trade unions to ensure that this guidance is evidence-based, fair and ethical, clear and realistic.
Each business sector will need to translate this guidance into the specific actions they need to take depending on the nature of their business (i.e. the size and type of business, how it is organised, operated, managed and regulated) using this document as a guide.
This is provided as guidance only and does not amount to legal advice. Employers may wish to seek their own advice to ensure compliance with all legal duties.
As each workplace is different it is for individual businesses to work with trade unions or workforce representatives selected by employees to determine how best to apply this guidance in their circumstances.
It has been designed to be applied to cover the spectrum of different businesses in Scotland.
To help you decide which actions to take, you need to carry out an appropriate COVID-19 risk assessment, just as you would for other health and safety related hazards. The checklist included with this guidance should provide you with a good starting place. Risk assessments should be undertaken in consultation with trade unions, employee representatives or employees. The key areas which you need to consider are outlined in each of the sections. This guidance will assist businesses already operating, in identifying, reviewing and maintaining the changes they will need to make to prevent the spread of COVID-19 across their operations.
Within the Scottish Government's business and physical distancing guidance finance is designated as one of 13 Critical National Infrastructure sectors. Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sectors define those facilities, systems, sites and networks necessary for the functioning of the country and the delivery of the essential services upon which daily life in Scotland depends. Essential services are the fundamental services that underpin daily life and ensure the country continues to function.
Where businesses are in the CNI category and judge themselves to be exempt from closure of business premises, it is imperative that they apply physical distancing requirements. CNI businesses should keep open only those premises or parts of premises that are truly critical or essential to the national and international COVID-19 effort.
Some staff in the financial sector are performing critical activities that must be carried out in a workplace environment. Employers should clearly identify those roles, and establish the minimum on-site presence required to ensure stable delivery of essential services.
Businesses should identify job roles that can be undertaken from home and put plans in place to support homeworking (e.g. monitoring wellbeing of staff, provision of correct equipment, processes for keeping in touch and ensuring access to work systems).
The remainder of this guidance sets out our minimum expectations across five key areas companies will need to consider as part of their planning for a future return to workplaces and ongoing service delivery while minimising the transmission of the virus:
assessing risk - involving the workforce in a risk based approach to a safer workplace
workforce planning - supporting those who should come to work, and those who should not
operational guide and checklist - changing the workplace environment to protect your workforce
deliveries, distribution and visitors - protecting your workforce and those who come on-site
This is provided as guidance only and does not amount to legal advice. You may wish to seek your own advice to ensure compliance with all legal requirements.
If you can suggest ways we can improve the guidance please contact contact-econ@gov.scot
Physical distancing duties are set out in regulation 4(1) of the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020. A person who is responsible for carrying on a business or providing a service must take all reasonable measures:
to ensure that a distance of 2 metres is maintained between any persons on the premises (except between members of the same household or a carer and the person assisted by the carer)
to ensure that they only admit people to its premises in sufficiently small numbers to make it possible to maintain that distance
to ensure that a distance of 2 metres is maintained between any person waiting to enter the premises (except between members of the same household or a carer and the person assisted by the carer)
The co-regulators for health and safety at work, the HSE and Local Authority Environmental Health services are constantly applying their expertise to ensure people at work are protected, utilising the powers at their disposal under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
HSE is treating COVID-19 as a workplace health issue with regard to the protection of workers from infection. Both regulators can and will use the Health and Safety Work Act to ensure physical distancing in the workplace in relation to workers.
Where regulators identify employers who are not taking action to comply with the relevant public health guidance to control COVID-19 health risks to workers, both regulators will consider a range of actions to improve control of workplace risks including the provision of specific advice to employers through to issuing enforcement notices. These actions will be taken under existing health and safety law.
A framework agreement between Police Scotland and local authorities supports the referral of complaints about lack of reasonable physical distancing at work to the relevant Local authority. Local authorities will ensure that those complaints relevant to HSE are referred quickly through the normal route.
Email: contact-econ@gov.scot
First published: 7 Aug 2020 Last updated: 13 Jan 2021 - show all updates
Overview and where we are now pages updated to reflect latest position.
Updated operational guide page to reflect change in self-isolation period from 14 days to 10 days.