Self-isolating after returning to the UK: Holiday and leave during coronavirus (COVID-19) - Acas

Holiday entitlement
If an employee needs time off work to look after someone
Self-isolating after returning to the UK

Self-isolating after returning to the UK

People returning to the UK will need to check if they must follow quarantine or self-isolation rules.

This could include returning from abroad after:

a holiday
other personal travel, for example a family emergency
business travel

What they must do depends on where they have travelled from and their vaccination status.

It's important to check the latest government guidance before and after travelling. Read the latest guidance for:

England – rules for entering England from abroad on GOV.UK
Scotland – Scottish Government international travel and quarantine guidance
Wales – Welsh Government self-isolation and travel guidance

Employees and workers who need to self-isolate should not leave their home to go to work.

If the person can work from home, their work may not be affected by having to self-isolate.

If someone cannot work from home

If an employee cannot do their job from home, they should talk to their employer to agree what type of leave to use. Options could include:

extra paid holiday ('annual leave')
unpaid leave
any other type of 'special' paid leave the organisation might offer

Sick pay for self-isolating or quarantine after travel

Employees and workers are not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if they're self-isolating after travel abroad and cannot work from home. But an employer can choose to pay them sick pay – at the same rate as SSP or a higher rate – if they want to.

Someone may be entitled to SSP for another reason, for example if they have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms.

It's a good idea to check your organisation's policy to see sick pay rules.

Find out more about Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

Travel because of family emergencies

Employers should be respectful and fair towards employees and workers who need to travel because of a family emergency or the death of a family member outside the UK.

If the employee or worker cannot work from home when they return, the employer could consider other options for some or all of the time they're in self-isolation. This could be: