Category Archives: Coronavirus

Flexible working, and work-from-home update

Posted on May 11, 2023 by Paul Evans

The question of flexible and ‘WFH’ employment has become a vexed one in recent years. Anecdotal claims about how WFH damages work-life balance with people voluntariliy working longer hours have been quite widespread (along with other downsides). Other surveys have … Continue reading →

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TUC report on Long CoViD

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Paul Evans

The TUC have published a report on Long CoViD – here. It covers issues like the financial impacts on workers, issues that they have with their employers, and how it is (and could be) addressed in employment situations.

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Long CoViD

Posted on September 14, 2022 by Paul Evans

The TUC has previously surveyed workers with Long CoViD on their experiences and, as a result, they had some very useful information that has informed their work. We now know much more about the illness, including how many people have … Continue reading →

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BFC Working Safety During CoViD-19 Guidance

Posted on May 16, 2022 by Paul Evans

Here is the latest version of the British Film Commission guidance on this issue [pdf] (posted without comment).

Posted in Coronavirus, Coronavirus, Feature film data, Health & Safety, High End TV data, Low budget features, Safe working practices, Safe working standards | Tagged | Leave a comment

Update: CoViD health and safety guidance – links

Posted on April 26, 2022 by Paul Evans

Here are some use useful links that include the latest guidance. UK Government Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace – Guidance covering a range of settings, including what can be done to keep others safe. … Continue reading →

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Changes to Statutory Sick Pay and Employment and Support Allowance (CoViD)

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Paul Evans

On Monday, the Prime Minister announced an end to day-one access to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), effective from the 1st April 2022. After that point, workers suffering from CoViD-related illness will have to wait until their fourth day of illness … Continue reading →

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UK Screen issues new guidance following UK government’s ‘Plan B’ announcement

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Paul Evans

Update – 5th Jan 2022 – the info on the links below has been updated again. Following tonight’s ‘Plan B’ announcement on CoViD working, my colleague at Bectu, Spencer MacDonald has had this email from Neil Hatton of UK Screen … Continue reading →

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“… the self-employed remain something of an inconvenient afterthought”

Posted on November 22, 2021 by Paul Evans

There’s a useful post here from Paul Johnson of the Institute of Fiscal Studies highlighting a number of factors that leads to the conclusion that our ecoomy and employment / tax / benefits framework has been designed around an economy … Continue reading →

Posted in CJRS & SEISS, Coronavirus, Economics, Employment Law and Rights, Employment status, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gig economy workers, Management, Personal Service Companies, Productivity, Welfare and benefits | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

CoViD costs hit productions

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Paul Evans

Broadcast is reporting [£] that CoViD protocols are hitting production costs – and that production costs themselves are also rising. It’s a claim that probably needs some further examination, but it is said that… “the average CoViD-related costs on a … Continue reading →

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CoViD cases to fall in the run-up to Christmas?

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Paul Evans

There’s some cautious optimism from Sage about falling numbers of cases in the lead-up to Christmas, though the PM has been warned by Patrick Vallance that he must be prepared to trigger Plan B if needed. Plan B (basically, a … Continue reading →

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The budget and the theatre – more detail

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Paul Evans

After a bit of time to digest the budget statement, there are a few things to chew over. Firstly, the backdrop is one of uncertainty. Productions are just not opening up due to pandemic-related uncertainty, and there seems to be … Continue reading →

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People who are vaccinated are significantly less likely to infect others

Posted on October 28, 2021 by Paul Evans

From the New Scientist: “They absolutely do reduce transmission,” says Christopher Byron Brooke at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “Vaccinated people do transmit the virus in some cases, but the data are super crystal-clear that the risk of transmission … Continue reading →

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General sense of wellbeing fell during the pandemic

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Paul Evans

The latest in a type of report that is best filed under “probably interesting in the long run, but hopelessly distorted by the pandemic” is the latest report from the ONS on levels of wellbeing and happiness in the UK … Continue reading →

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Vaccinated or a negative CoViD test – new guidance in Wales

Posted on October 15, 2021 by Paul Evans

From Monday 11th October new rules came into force in Wales requiring people attending large events and nightclubs (or similar premises) to prove they are either fully vaccinated or have had a negative COVID test. You can read guidance here … Continue reading →

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Vaccination mandates

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Paul Evans

While, in the UK, there’s no formal legal requirement for workers outside the care sector to be vaccinated, in LA, Variety is reporting that punters will need proof of vaccination to enter… “…restaurants of any kind (fast food establishments, coffee … Continue reading →

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Theatre employment problems must be a trigger for change

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Paul Evans

In this report (in The Stage [£]) about ongoing turmoil at The Barbican, there’s this: “Theatre workers with transferable skills transferred them. Now, they don’t appear to be rushing to transfer them back. Practically every producer and theatre manager I … Continue reading →

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Updated guidance on Covid travel restrictions in England

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Paul Evans

The UK Screen Alliance has, with Bectu feedback, been publishing guidance for safe working in post-production & VFX during the Covid 19 pandemic. This guidance has been updated to reflect today’s simplification of international travel restrictions in England which has … Continue reading →

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Philippa Childs to Nadine Dorries: “Challenge bullying and harassment and support freelancers”

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Paul Evans

The Stage[£] has picked up on the Head of Bectu’s letter to incoming Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries. Philippa has outlined what the union believes the priorities should be, specifically… Tackling bullying and harassment in the creative industries. Supporting workers and … Continue reading →

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13,000 SEISS and CJRS investigations launched (so far)

Posted on September 16, 2021 by Paul Evans

Looking through my back-issues of Farmer’s Weekly, there was a claim that… “…HMRC was allocated £100m of funding in the last Budget for investigations and the recouping of a suspected £3.5bn in fraudulent Covid-19 support scheme claims.” In late June, … Continue reading →

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Arts, entertainment and recreation 18.8% below its pre-covid levels

Posted on September 16, 2021 by Paul Evans

The ONS monthly estimate for July shows that the UKs Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by only 0.1% in July and is still 2.1% below its pre-pandemic level. Most of the growth was in production output (up 1.2%) while construction … Continue reading →

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Government theatre and live events insurance – “worst fears confirmed”

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Paul Evans

The Stage [£] is reporting that the government scheme, first announced in August, and described by ministers as an “important next step” in the return of live events, has been widely panned by theatre producers for not going far enough … Continue reading →

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Locked Down and Locked Out – impact of Covid pandemic on mothers working in UK TV sector

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Paul Evans

49% of respondents said they had been unable to accept work due to childcare related issues. Read the #LockedDownAndLockedOut report now on the impact of the pandemic on mothers in UK TV: https://t.co/37JAX9Djjz pic.twitter.com/JYKKUwZdK4 — Bectu (@bectu) September 9, 2021 … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus, Coronavirus, Equality, Film & TV industry policy, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gender equality, Health & Safety, Long hours, Management, Mental Health, Remote working, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

James McTaggart Memorial Lecture 2021 – Jack Thorne

Posted on September 6, 2021 by Paul Evans

The Irish News gave a good introduction to the 2021 MacTaggart Lecture Jack Thorne and his theme: to draw attention to the “glaring problem” of the treatment of disabled people. Update: If you don’t have time to listen to the … Continue reading →

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Panto 2021-2 revenues expecting a hit

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Paul Evans

From The Stage [£]: “Theatres in the UK and Ireland could lose up to £23 million this Christmas due to a steep drop in pantomime ticket sales, which are lagging significantly behind previous years, according to newly published data.” It … Continue reading →

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Mental health and Covid19

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Paul Evans

There are many barometers of mental health that can be correlated with what is happening in the wider world, so it would not be appropriate to conclude that “the lockdown has generally, on balance, been good for the mental health … Continue reading →

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Vaccine passport = pickup in vaccination (in France anyway)

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Paul Evans

Regardless of one's opinion on the French 'health pass', there's one thing everyone will have to agree on: the effect on vaccination coverage in the country has been absolutely striking. pic.twitter.com/yq3Q8vRsIW — Edouard Mathieu (@redouad) August 30, 2021  

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RSC to offer socially distanced musicals for audiences reluctant to attend a full-capacity show

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Paul Evans

This will be happening in November and December, and audiences will be seated with an empty row in front of and behind them, and with one empty seat between parties, and with everyone (barring exempted people) asked to wear a … Continue reading →

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Labour shortages increase potential industrial muscle for workers

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Paul Evans

Today’s FT is full of news about how labour shortages are hitting the economy in numerous ways as a result of multiple market failures [£] which includes the pandemic, the pingdemic, market failure but obviously, we can’t add brexit to … Continue reading →

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Covid and live events – lockdowns may not be over yet

Posted on August 25, 2021 by Paul Evans

… and in direct contradiction of the previous post here, the live events industry was very pleased to hear that Spanish studies had shown that live events could happen without a significantly increased risk of Covid transmission, but times may … Continue reading →

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Covid – mass participation events “can be conducted safely”

Posted on August 25, 2021 by Paul Evans

The Stage is reporting [£] that the government’s Covid pilot programme data has allowed the government to claim that mass participation events “can be conducted safely”, with case numbers from four months of crowds remaining in line with, or below, … Continue reading →

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Lockdowns still likely to feature

Posted on August 25, 2021 by Paul Evans

Just in case anyone is working on the basis that lockdowns are over, or covid-disruption is a diminishing feature, it’s worth noting that Israel – the country that had the most effective and rapid vaccine roll-out was reporting three weeks … Continue reading →

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Plaza guide warns of ‘skills fade’ in safety-critical live events roles

Posted on August 24, 2021 by Paul Evans

The National Rigging Advisory Group has published a briefing on the dangers of ‘skills fade’ [pdf] as people return to work in theatre and live events – many of whom have been off the tools for nearly 18 months. “Prolonged … Continue reading →

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Freelancers’ right to covid-protective clothing

Posted on August 12, 2021 by Paul Evans

I’m sharing, word-for-word, an email I’ve received from the TUC. I’m posting it here in case any members who are freelancers, have been asked to provide their own PPE, and have felt that – as a result – they have … Continue reading →

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HMG – ‘reinsurer’ of last resort’ for live events industry

Posted on August 9, 2021 by Paul Evans

The FT is reporting [£] the long-awaited £750m insurance package for live events. Live events have been particularly badly hit because of the fear of lockdowns blighting almost any plans that are made. The industry response is broadly (and understandably) … Continue reading →

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Self employed landscape ‘diminished’

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Paul Evans

IPSE research at the end of 2020 showed that there had been the first significant drop-off in self-employment in a decade with the number of solo self-employed in the UK falling by 5% compared to the previous year. Previously, this … Continue reading →

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