BBC staff to wear 'social distancing proximity devices'
BBC staff will be asked to wear a “social distancing proximity device” which buzzes if they go within two metres of another person.
Presenters and other employees in “key BBC locations”, including the corporation’s main newsroom at New Broadcasting House, will be given the pager-like devices when they enter the building.
They can be kept in a pocket, worn on a lanyard or clipped to a belt. Several companies produce technology that offers to help people maintain social distancing, including pagers and Fitbit-style wristbands. Others use Bluetooth capability on smartphones.
Staff were told of the plan yesterday in a company-wide email from the BBC’s group managing director, Bob Shennan.
The majority of the BBC’s 22,000-strong workforce have been working from home since the pandemic began, but some roles - particularly those in newsgathering cannot be done from home.
A BBC spokesman said: “The vast majority of BBC staff continue to work as they have over recent months, either working remotely or in an office location if they are in service critical roles. For those in a BBC building, we’ve been following Covid-secure workplace guidelines throughout the pandemic.
“We continue to adhere to the two metres rule and we are rolling out social distancing proximity devices to support our staff in maintaining social distancing at all times.”
The Government’s current covid guidelines advise staying, where possible, two metres apart from people you do not live with, or one metre apart with extra precautions in place such as wearing a face mask or increasing ventilation indoors.
