Background information

On its website, the Confederation of British industry (CBI) has produced guidance for business on a range of issues; the guidance takes the form of 'frequently asked questions.' The issues include government and financial support available for business; emergency legislation and regulation; employment matters; meetings, travel and events; cleaning and health in the workplace; and supply chain management. The guidance is regularly updated in accordance with official guidance.

Content of measure

The guidance is provided on the CBI's website and is thus available to all. The guidance takes the form of frequently-asked questions and covers a range of topics, including government and financial support available for business; emergency legislation and regulation; employment matters; meetings, travel and events; cleaning and health in the workplace; and supply chain management.

With regard to employment, the guidance covers:

• how business can help workers at risk of redundancy;
• how business can support flexible and home-based working;
• how business can maintain safe working practices when employees/workers cannot work from home;
• the operation of the government's furlough scheme;
• changes to the statutory sick pay scheme;
• financial support for businesses paying sick pay;
• supporting employees' mental well-being;
• work checks for new starters; and
• rules on visa expiry for migrant workers.

The guidance is regularly updated in accordance with official guidance and was last updated on 2 September 2020.

Use of measure

Unknown; no evaluation data is currently provided on number of site visits.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Employers' organisations	Employers organisation

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Not applicable	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Only employers' organisations
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

The 'measure' is not a negotiated measure; this is unilateral action taken by the CBI to support businesses during the pandemic. The support takes the form of openly-available and regularly updated advice and guidance. This will have been compiled by the CBI but they will not be involved in actual implementation or monitoring of actions taken by businesses.

Views and reactions

It can be assumed that the trade unions and other EOs would be supportive of the provision of guidance to businesses so that they can act in accordance with changed regulation etc.

Sources

• 02 September 2020: CBI (2020) The latest coronavirus advice for business (www.cbi.org.uk)