With the government constantly changing COVID guidelines, CM Event Recruitment Founder Chrissie McLaren and Operations Manager Richie McLaren outline the latest precautions made for their staff and the effects the regulations have made on the industry.
Hospitality workers have been on the frontline of changing restrictions and rules throughout the pandemic, so at CM Event Recruitment we make sure to keep our staff updated
with the latest regulation changes and how these can be applied at work. Health and safety guidance is given for workers before they start each shift, with regular cleaning checks made in the venue before customers arrive to an event. New starters are also given appropriate COVID-safe training during their induction, where we run through the correct ways to wash their hands and sanitise surfaces properly during a shift.
Guidelines which are now advised but no longer mandatory, are discussed closely with individual clients and staff members depending on what the venue expects from us. Workers might be asked to wear masks during the shift in order to put customers minds at ease, but if a venue decides that masks aren’t necessary, staff can make their own decision.
Lateral flow tests can cause more worry than relief if staff decide to test themselves regularly. There’s been plenty of cases where a staff member’s test result shows negative, but their housemate has just tested positive for COVID. Technically the staff member can still work if they have had their vaccinations, but now at the risk of spreading the virus to others. When it’s the day of the event and the venue needs the staff, and the staff member needs the work, this difficult situation only becomes more stressful and there’s no straightforward way to deal with it.
With many students on our books earning much needed cash support, the first vaccine rollout left this generation feeling aggrieved when they didn’t have the opportunity to be fully vaccinated right away because of their age. While the isolation period rule continues, our staff face the potential to be held back for at least five days and miss out on all the shifts we’ve booked for them. Knowing the importance of securing a full team of staff for the client, we usually succeed in getting the numbers they need with the appropriate skillset and personality from each staff member.
The most frustrating part of going through these procedures is when our clients delay their own plans and it’s still nearly impossible to pre-empt the number of shifts and hours for our staff because of the potential for last- minute changes or cancellations. But despite the ongoing uncertainty and frequently changing regulations, we keep our heads lifted and treat each other as people rather than workers or clients, because it’s more about being human than just a business.
Cmeventrecruitment.co.uk
Keep Your Event Safe
Make sure your next event is as safe as possible for staff, suppliers, and delegates by following the government precautions at the time of writing:
- Complete a health and safety risk assessment, including the risks from COVID-19, to share with staff before the start of the event. This helps to identify and monitor the controls needed and keep staff consulted during the event.
- Keep all areas of indoor spaces well ventilated, with natural ventilation from windows and doors or mechanical ventilation from fans and ducts. Events at indoor venues and outdoor events with indoor settings have a higher risk of virus transmission.
- Clean the venue on a regular basis using correct sanitisation on surfaces and entrances and ask staff and delegates to use hand sanitiser frequently. Promote good hygiene practice with regular reminders and appropriate handwashing facilities across the venue.
- Provide clear signage around the venue to help reduce the spread of the virus, including social distancing guides around smaller areas and NHS QR code posters to give guests and staff the option to check into the venue if they choose.
- Keep staff updated and trained with your own safety measures. Staff members should self-isolate immediately if they show any COVID symptoms, take a
PCR test even if fully vaccinated, and complete the full isolation period of five days if receiving a positive COVID-19 test result.