Sodexo UK and Ireland rewards 95,000 front-line staff with special bonus

Life services organisation Sodexo UK and Ireland will redirect funds from its annual bonus scheme to reward its front-line employees who are working throughout the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

In addition to the front-line bonus, the organisation has put in place a separate employee relief fund of €30 (£26) million, which has been funded by senior executives and the business to assist employees who are struggling financially at this time.

Sodexo UK and Ireland also confirmed that its furloughing arrangements will continue unchanged until the end of June 2020, ensuring that furloughed employees will receive 100% of their regular pay.

Sarah Perry, human resources director at Sodexo UK and Ireland, said: "We want to recognise and reward our people who have worked through the Coronavirus pandemic. We are creating a separate fund and cancelling our regular annual bonus scheme. I know most of our employees will also want to celebrate the efforts of their colleagues who have been supporting the national effort against this virus.

"I am also pleased to confirm that, as part of our ongoing commitment to keeping our colleagues in jobs and paid, we will be extending our current ‘top-up’ to 100% of the salaries of colleagues on furlough in the UK until 30 June 2020."