The guidance of working from home when possible was removed in Northern Ireland on Monday, meaning the region’s COVID-19 policy is in line with other UK jurisdictions.
The Northern Ireland Executive said the decision came after an assessment by its COVID-19 Taskforce and it “balances health, economic and social considerations and takes on board the latest medical and scientific advice.”
Northern Ireland has not had a functioning executive for the last four months because a dispute over the UK’s Brexit deal led to the absence of a first minister and a deputy minister, but other ministers remaining in place have endorsed the removal of the work from home guidance.
A spokesperson for The Executive Office (TEO) said “the threat from COVID-19 has certainly not disappeared” but “has receded,” making the guidance disproportionate “at this point.”
“As with the removal of other COVID-19 measures, this should not be interpreted as meaning there is no risk from COVID or that the pandemic is over. While life continues to get back to normal, we must remain careful,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson indicated that employers “may still wish to consider” keeping some remote or flexible working, adding that they should “carefully consider what practical mitigations might be put in place.”
Attributing the reduction in the risk of serious illness from COVID-19 to vaccines and new treatments, the spokesperson said, “By taking sensible precautions in our everyday lives, we can continue on the route back to normality.”
Simon Hamilton, chief executive at Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said the change means Northern Ireland is catching up with other jurisdictions.
“This is good news and something which Belfast Chamber has encouraged ministers to do for some time,” the former minister said.
“Whilst other jurisdictions had updated their work from home guidance months ago, Northern Ireland had lagged behind so this is long overdue but no less welcome,” he added.
Hamilton said members of the Belfast Chamber had “invested heavily” in workplace COVID-19 safety measures and they are “pleased to see that fact reflected in this common sense decision.”
“This step in the right direction will allow many businesses to introduce new models of working and will also provide a much needed boost for businesses in places like Belfast city centre as staff return to offices on a more regular basis,” he added.
The UK’s central government in Westminster, which makes public health policies for England, has stopped asking people to work from home since Jan. 19.
Scotland started a “phased return” to offices on Jan. 31, while the government continues to “encourage employers to facilitate hybrid and flexible working.”
Wales on Jan. 28 lifted a legal restriction requiring people to work from home unless they couldn’t.
