Studio 24 handbook

COVID-19 policy

This is our current policy on coronavirus (COVID-19). We plan to review this guidance regularly, or when there is any major change to government policy. Any updates will be communicated to staff in our team meetings and via the Team HQ on Basecamp.

Background

As of 24 Feb 2022, the UK have replaced legal restrictions with public health measures and guidance.

Working pattern

Our working pattern is remote first, you may choose whether you work at home or from the office. We encourage people to meet in-person for collaboration - though this is at your choice and please talk to a PM or your line manager if you have any concerns about this.

If you are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 please talk to your line manager, we want to ensure we can support you and ensure you are able to work safely.

Based on WHO guidelines working from our office is ‘Low exposure risk’.

If you have Covid symptoms

If you don’t feel well or show any symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home and do not attend any meetings.

This is a precaution to avoid the risk of spreading Covid and for the general health of the team.

If you have COVID-19 you should stay at home while you're infectious to others. Please stay at home and avoid others for 5 days.

You can read the NHS guidance on if you have COVID-19.

Please inform your line manager if you believe you have COVID-19 or have tested positive.

In person meetings

We are now allowing in-person meetings at the Studio 24 office and elsewhere.

Company days (all-staff meetings)

We regularly get together for our company days, where we aim to get the whole team together.

We no longer require staff to take lateral flow tests in advance of these meetings, but ask any staff who are ill or have symptoms of COVID-19 to stay at home.

We support joining team meetings remotely to ensure fair access to all.

Treating staff equally

Staff can choose to work from home or to work from the office – depending on their personal circumstances.

Staff who continue to work from home will continue to engage with colleagues in the office using Slack and video conferencing. The social side of Slack will continue to be promoted for staff morale and inclusion.

With the various changes to our working conditions, the mental health of staff will be supported by our Mental Health first aiders (Claire & Emma).

Vaccinations

We strongly advise all staff to vaccinate against COVID-19 and to inform Julie, Office Manager, of any vaccinations taken for our records.

Safer behaviours

We recommend all staff follow safer behaviours to reduce the risk of infection. We ask all staff to:

  • Get vaccinated
  • Let fresh air in if meeting indoors
  • When rates of transmission are high wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, especially where you come into contact with people you do not usually meet
  • Stay at home if you are unwell
  • Take a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms, stay at home, and avoid contact with other people if you test positive
  • Follow good hygiene advice to ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’ (use tissues to catch a cough or sneeze, dispose of them immediately in a waste bin and kill any remaining viruses by washing hands or using hand sanitiser)

We can provide free COVID-19 tests on request.

If you need to reduce your hours

Please talk to your line manager if you need more flexibility on your working hours.

Questions, concerns or clarifications?

If you have any questions about this, please ask Simon or Emma.