Covid: Next to cut sick pay for unvaccinated staff forced to self-isolate

Next has confirmed it has cut sick pay for unvaccinated staff who are self-isolating due to Covid exposure.
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The company said all staff who test positive – regardless of whether they are vaccinated – will be paid in full.

However, unvaccinated staff who are required to isolate because they have been identified as a close contact of someone with the virus will only receive statutory sick pay unless there are mitigating circumstances.

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It comes as employers face mass absences and labour shortages as a result of staff self isolating with the new Omicron variant.

Next cuts sick pay for unvaccinated staff forced to self-isolateNext cuts sick pay for unvaccinated staff forced to self-isolate
Next cuts sick pay for unvaccinated staff forced to self-isolate

Next acknowledged it was an "emotive topic" but under the proposals unvaccinated workers who are required to isolate could now receive as little as £96.35 a week - the Statutory Sick Pay minimum - unless there are mitigating circumstances.

The move comes after a number of other firms, including Morrisons and Ikea, introduced similar policies for unvaccinated workers.

Some companies, such as Amazon, have said they will not be adopting the absence policy.

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Ikea, who employ over 10,000 people in the UK announced the move this week. They said said in a statement: "Fully vaccinated co-workers or those that are unvaccinated owing to mitigating circumstances which, for example, could include pregnancy or other medical grounds, will receive full pay.

"Unvaccinated co-workers without mitigating circumstances that test positive with Covid will be paid full company sick pay in line with our company absence policy.

"Unvaccinated co-workers without mitigating circumstances who have been identified as close contacts of a positive case will be paid Statutory Sick Pay."