WILKO have been forced into a U-turn after outraged staff complained about being told to come in – even if they tested positive for Covid.
Over 20,000 employees at the home retailer were issued a memo stating that they should be present in stores if they have the virus but are asymptomatic.
However, Wilko have now issued a fresh response “holding their hands up” after extraordinary backlash from a number of employees.
A statement from Jerome Saint-Marc, Wilko CEO read: “To all our customers and team members. When we get something wrong, we hold our hands up admit it, and work to correct the situation.
“Today’s news has highlighted some miscommunication within our Covid-19 policies, and I wanted to reassure all our customers and team members that:
“Our advice to team members that have covid symptoms/ test positive is that while they’re no longer required by law to self-isolate, they should still stay at home and avoid contact with others. This will help reduce the chance of spreading Covid-19.
“Wilko was one of the first retailers to achieve Covid secured status nationally during the pandemic.
“We introduced and continue to maintain safety procedures and work hard to make sure we follow all government guidelines.
“We operate an enhanced company sick pay policy and support those team members most in need, including those with Covid-19.
“We’ll continue to look after our team members to the best of our ability.
“As throughout our 92 years on the high street, the safety and wellbeing of our shoppers and teams is at the heart of our business and we’re truly sorry for any understandable concerns our communications may have raised.”
The initial policy ruled that staff who didn’t come in would not get paid even if they are trying not to spread the virus.
The original memo stated: “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.”
Clara Phipps, who posted the chain’s new sick pay guidance online, said her daughter, a Wilko employee, returned home with the memo, according to 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.”
Another employee at Wilko who wished to stay anonymous previously said that staff were only informed of the reform 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.
Before the U-turn, if a Wilko employee was to have a single day of sickness they would have not been able to claim sick pay for the next year.
The staff member, known only as Mrs King, revealed that the company’s Covid absence policy stated you’ll only get full sick pay for your first sickness.
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.”
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.
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”.
