Boris Johnson has scrapped guidance that urged Britons to “work from home” where possible, as Plan B measures aimed at tackling the spread of Covid-19 come to an end next Thursday in England. 

Workers were told to leave the office in favour of remote working in December when the spread of the omicron variant triggered increased restrictions from the Government.

However, the Prime Minister will no longer ask workers in England to stay away from the office and other work sites where possible.

“People should speak to their employers about arrangements for returning to the office,” Mr Johnson said.

Employers will have the power to decide whether it is necessary for staff to be physically present at work or if they can continue working from home where they choose to. 

Here are your rights when it comes to flexible working:

What is the official guidance?

In England, the official guidance to work from home where possible has ended and workers will be able to head back to the office. 

In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has told workers to continue to work from home where they can.

The devolved governments of Wales and Northern Ireland also asked citizens to avoid the office where possible. 

What should my employer do to protect me at work? 

The Government has removed all limits on how many people can meet at one time in workplaces, along with all social distancing measures. This means businesses do not have to keep workers and customers separated from people they do not live with. 

Employers that do ask workers to come in have been told to put in place a number of measures to protect them from contracting coronavirus, such as keeping offices well ventilated. 

The measures can be found on the Government website.