OVER 20,000 employees at home retailer Wilko have been told to come in to work – even if they test positive for Covid.
Workers at the high street chain were issued a memo stating that they should be present in stores if they have the virus but are asymptomatic.
The harsh policy means that staff who don’t come in will not get paid, even if they are trying not to spread the virus.
The memo states: “If you test positive for Covid-19 feel well you can continue to come to work, if you feel too unwell to work, you should follow the absence policy.”
Wilko enforced the rules on February 24 in England and did the same in Wales four days later.
Clara Phipps, who posted the chain’s new sick pay guidance online, said her daughter, a Wilko employee, returned home with the mem, reports the Daily Mirror.
She said: “We have clinically vulnerable family members in our household, as do many of her co-workers.
“We are utterly dismayed by this callous interpretation of the current guidelines.
“We have CEV members in our household and this lax attitude to health is deeply troubling.”
According to the current government advice, people in England are no longer legally required to self-isolate after testing positive for Covid.
The rules are based more on common sense now but it means that you can technically go to work even if you have the virus.
However, guidance is in place until April 1 for people to isolate for five full days.
One employee at Wilko who wished to stay anonymous said that staff were informed of the new policy last month.
She said: “In a briefing, team members were told if they have Covid-19 and are well enough, they can still come to work, but if they have Covid-19 and don’t come in, it will be regarded as a regular absence.
“How it works now and whether you get paid for the absence is at the manager’s discretion.”
The staff member, known only as Mrs King, revealed that the company’s Covid absence policy states you’ll only get full sick pay for your first sickness.
One worker told her: “Staff are entitled to one Covid related sickness on company sick pay, after that it’s SSP.”
She said another worker stated: “So if you have time off with an injury for instance, and then get Covid-19, you won’t get paid the second occasion, it’s basically them telling you, you won’t get paid even if you have Covid-19.”
A previous investigation in 2020 exposed how Wilko planned to withdraw sick pay for all 21,000 workers after their second absence.
The chain postponed these sick pay changes but eventually pushed them through in August last year.
Under the ridiculous new reforms, if a Wilko employee has a single day of sickness they will have not be able to claim sick pay for the next year.
Before then, Wilko employees were entitled to up to four paid sick days.
This caused a mass exodus of workers according to Mrs King who said: “The amount of good people who have left is scary, everyone is looking for work elsewhere.”
A Wilko spokesman said: “We’re a family business that’s looked after our team for over 90 years through good times and bad. We operate an enhanced company sick pay policy, and support those team members most in need.
“We’ve updated our coronavirus advice to team members in line with government guidelines and will continue to serve customers to our best ability and look after team members who need our help.”
On 9 March 1,521 people were admitted with Covid in England – the highest number since the end of January.
Sajid Javid has said the rise in infections was expected after relaxing rules and that there is no “cause for concern”.
