Guidance for Christmas parties

As the Christmas approaches it is anticipated that there will be a significant increase in large staff groups having contact outside of work whilst they celebrate the festive season, alongside large volumes of the general public.

This is likely to increase the risk of staff sickness and also increase risk of staff-to-staff transmission in the workplace. There is usually an increase around gatherings on stations and food sharing around these months also which contradicts the guidance and increases risk further.

The following guidance has been put together to help staff make safer choices during this time, to help protect themselves, their loved ones, their colleagues, and the community that we serve. From an infection control perspective, a good risk reduction measure is not having gatherings at all, but if these are going to occur outside of the workplace there are some considerations listed below to assist in conducting them more safely.

 

In the workplace

• Whilst in work, Covid secure measures remain in place and must be followed on Trust premises.
• Continue to check temperatures and be vigilant regarding symptoms.
• No gatherings are allowed on stations, only staff required to work on Trust premises should be on site.
• Food sharing and communal food is prohibited on Trust sites.
• Ensure to notify your manager, if you become symptomatic or are made aware you are a contact of a symptomatic/COVID positive person.

 

Considerations and recommendations for outside of the workplace

• Consider the venues for gatherings and if possible choose places that can operate safely in open ventilated spaces.
• Before attending a Christmas party complete a lateral flow test. These are available from your management teams, pharmacies or the government ordering portal.
• Do not attend if you are symptomatic, test positive or have been in contact with some that is.
• Continue to lateral flow test regularly.
• Consider celebrating in smaller groups to enable resilience within your team should the group become unwell or need to isolate.
• Consider wearing masks in crowded spaces outside of the workplace, and always wear masks when moving around Trust sites.
• Ensure to notify your manager, if you become symptomatic or are made aware you are a contact of a symptomatic/COVID positive person.

 

If you have not already done so, we would encourage staff to receive Covid vaccinations. Covid Boosters are now available, and the Trust has also launched it’s 2021 flu vaccine campaign. You can find out more information about both here.

The Trust has seen demand and pressures like never before throughout 2021 and we understand that staff will wish to celebrate with each other. However, the Covid-19 pandemic is still very much ongoing, and it is important that we continue to protect ourselves and those that we serve.

Published 12th November 2021