Outsourcing organisation Amey will pay all of its employees who are instructed to self-isolate due to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic in full.
Following negotiations with Unite and GMB, Amey announced yesterday (March 31 2020) that employees would receive full pay for seven days, 14 days or 12 weeks, depending on how long they are instructed to isolate for. The policy will also ensure any employees who are currently self-isolating will receive a backdated payment.
A spokesperson at Amey said: “We are grateful that the GMB and Unite have brought the issue around statutory sick pay for those affected by Coronavirus to our attention. We take pride in our employees being the driving force behind our business and we realise that on this occasion we got it wrong, for which we apologise.
“This decision has been made to help protect our employees in the midst of the current Coronavirus pandemic, and ensure we are following government guidelines for keeping employees safe from the unnecessary spread of infection.
“We are immensely proud of all our employees, many of whom are continuing to deliver essential services that are keeping our country going in an extremely difficult time.”
Jim Kennedy, national officer for local authorities at Unite, added: “This is very good news and I am pleased that following intense lobbying from Unite, Amey is doing the right thing and paying staff in full.
“There are many employers that should take a leaf out of Amey’s book and also pay staff fully to ensure that employees are not penalised during the Coronavirus crisis. Staff should not be put into a position where they feel that they have to break self-isolation rules for financial reasons.
“Amey, and all employers for that matter, should be aware that if they fail to meet the public health guidance on social distancing, Unite will not hesitate to take further action to ensure that the health of our members is not endangered.”