Outsourcing organisation Mitie has awarded its 25,000 employees an extra day of holiday to reward them for their hard work during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
This extra day of annual leave for front-line employees is in addition to the access to health and wellbeing support it is offering its employees during the pandemic, which includes virtual GP consultations. Additionally, Mitie will pay for any of its employees to receive the flu vaccination if they are not eligible under the government's programme.
The organisation is also providing life assurance for all fixed-term employees as well as permanent staff, with a minimum lump sum payment of £10,000 to be paid out to the employee’s nominated beneficiary if they die.
Additionally, outsourced employees at the West Hertfordshire NHS Trusts, Watford, St Albans, and Hemel Hempstead hospitals have also received a pay rise. 400 cleaners, porters and catering staff will receive a pay increase from the minimum wage of £8.72 to the real living wage rate of £9.30 an hour, as recommended by the Living Wage Foundation.
This will be paid to employees from September and will be backdated from November 2019, when Mitie was first accredited by the Living Wage Foundation.
Jasmine Hudson, HR director, group and specialist services at Mitie, said: “These new benefits are a token of our appreciation to our colleagues who have been working tirelessly to keep Mitie and the UK running during this Coronavirus pandemic. We want to say a huge thank you to our people, whether they are working on the front-line, or in offices, kitchens or living rooms. With these new, industry-leading benefits, we are doing everything we can to look after our colleagues during these challenging times.”
Hilda Tavolara, regional organiser at trade union GMB London, added: "Our members working for Mitie will get the recognition they deserve for the vital role they play day by day, contributing to essential hospital services, not just during the pandemic but every day, facing the same risks as their colleagues on higher pay. This pay rise will help our members to feel that they are now recognised with as much dignity and respect as their NHS colleagues.”
