Covid 19 – Brokers Guidance On Visiting Clients
Tue Jun 2 2020
Dear Member,
On 3 May 2020, we saw the commencement of the first phase of the Government Roadmap, which will allow the reopening of society and business in a slow, phased way. This was shortly followed by the Covid-19 Specific National Protocol for Employers, which was published on 9 May 2020 and contains the Return to Work Safety Protocol.
Essential Services
Brokers Ireland lobbied successfully for services offered by our Members to be deemed essential services. This successful lobbying ensured that Brokers’ services are essential services under Covid-19 legislation. This has meant that you and your employees have been allowed to travel to work where you are deemed to be carrying out essential services and you are unable to undertake that work remotely. Members of the public are entitled to leave home to access essential services where that access is immediately required.
What do the Roadmap and Protocol mean for Brokers?
While much work on behalf of consumers can be conducted via video conferencing, the reality is there are many consumers, particularly those of more advanced years, who are not equipped with the necessary tools or familiarity with modern technology to conduct their financial affairs in this modern way.
While the Protocol deals with Business Travel and Contractors/Visitors, it does not give any guidance for workers who must visit a client’s home to carry out essential services.
If you are required to travel to a client’s home, you should put in place procedures to minimise any risk to yourself, your staff, and your clients. Please see enclosed guidance on procedures you should adopt when visiting a client in their home.
Additional obligations on Employers
From an employer perspective, you need always to consider your obligations under the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act 2005, which is to “ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of his or her employees.”
If you have any queries on the contents of this email, please contact rachel@brokersireland.ie
Please continue to send us your suggestions and feedback on all areas. You can also email queries directly to the following contacts:
- Life/Financial Services – rachel@brokersireland.ie
- General – cathie@brokersireland.ie
- Compliance – compliance@brokersireland.ie
Kind Regards
Diarmuid Kelly
CEO
Brokers Ireland
