Fleets are taking action on the increased level of Covid threat by returning to homeworking and readopting other measures to minimise risk.

Businesses are now returning to telling employees to stay at home, according to FleetCheck

Fleet software company FleetCheck said that the emergence of the Omicron strain of the virus, generally higher levels of cases, and the reintroduction of mask measures by the Government were prompting a more stringent approach to addressing risk.

Peter Golding, managing director, explained: “This is very much anecdotal from across our customer base but the kind of general relaxation of Covid measures that we saw over the summer has, in many cases, been drawn back in.

“Businesses that were encouraging a full or partial return to the office are now telling employees to stay at home, while there is also a renewed seriousness to preventative measures such as mask wearing.”

While it remains to be seen if this is a short-term trend, Golding said it shows how fleets can now switch between lockdown-style working and something approaching normality – as well as all points between – with very little notice.

“This is a capability that has been created over the last couple of years, often with the help of the kind of technology that we provide that makes fleet home working much more effective.”

FleetCheck also noted that many businesses are now quickly taking action when the first signs of new Covid threats appear – and the approach is largely detached from government advice.

“If managers perceive a heightened risk, many will immediately move to minimise risk without waiting for official guidance.”