What are people looking for in their contract regarding liability while in contract - as relates to Covid & inability to work in general - if anything?
I doubt many companies in general are changing their B2B contracts, but then most companies don't send staff to work remotely at the offices of another company. It's not like there's a well defined infectious disease control system in place at most offices. If you catch something, that's your problem.
I'm looking at this both ways. The company I'm contracted to giving me Covid due to lax prevention measures (no mask enforcement for staff, hours locked in hermetically sealed meeting rooms), and me having to inform them that I've tested positive while in their workplace, which has implications for their staff. Daily testing for the whole office anyone? It's not free. Neither is sending people home that must be in the office to work machinery.
The normal procedure for a contractor that can't or won't work (for whatever reason) is not to pay them for the days that aren't worked and then enact the termination clause. Effectively, it's instant termination in all but name. They don't even have to pay you for the notice period, if they say there's no work available. It's just a risk you take when contracting.
At present, the above scenario looks like a raw deal for contractors, given how easily Covid is passed around. I can't see any company shedding a tear for a contractor that can't work irrespective of why. If you do need people back in the office, contractors look like an appealing option; no sick pay, no severance and no chance of an employment tribunal. Just sever your ties and re-hire.
I don't expect any contractual clause to remedy a loss of chargeable hours if you can't work, but at the same time I'd expect something to limit liability on both sides, especially if the company you're contracted to insists you work at their premises.
Interestingly, this all falls under the heading of 'Infectious Diseases', and I don't see anything at all in any of the previous contracts I've signed, but then I don't think there's ever been a situation like this, where people are dying in large numbers from something that's so easily caught.
I doubt many companies in general are changing their B2B contracts, but then most companies don't send staff to work remotely at the offices of another company. It's not like there's a well defined infectious disease control system in place at most offices. If you catch something, that's your problem.
I'm looking at this both ways. The company I'm contracted to giving me Covid due to lax prevention measures (no mask enforcement for staff, hours locked in hermetically sealed meeting rooms), and me having to inform them that I've tested positive while in their workplace, which has implications for their staff. Daily testing for the whole office anyone? It's not free. Neither is sending people home that must be in the office to work machinery.
The normal procedure for a contractor that can't or won't work (for whatever reason) is not to pay them for the days that aren't worked and then enact the termination clause. Effectively, it's instant termination in all but name. They don't even have to pay you for the notice period, if they say there's no work available. It's just a risk you take when contracting.
At present, the above scenario looks like a raw deal for contractors, given how easily Covid is passed around. I can't see any company shedding a tear for a contractor that can't work irrespective of why. If you do need people back in the office, contractors look like an appealing option; no sick pay, no severance and no chance of an employment tribunal. Just sever your ties and re-hire.
I don't expect any contractual clause to remedy a loss of chargeable hours if you can't work, but at the same time I'd expect something to limit liability on both sides, especially if the company you're contracted to insists you work at their premises.
Interestingly, this all falls under the heading of 'Infectious Diseases', and I don't see anything at all in any of the previous contracts I've signed, but then I don't think there's ever been a situation like this, where people are dying in large numbers from something that's so easily caught.
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