Supermarket retailer Asda has committed to pay employees in full for 12 weeks if they are classed as vulnerable and therefore need to self-isolate due to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
Asda’s hourly-paid retail and distribution employees will also receive a week’s extra pay in June, in recognition of their efforts to deal with heightened demand during the crisis.
Roger Burnley, chief executive and president at Asda, said: “I could not be any more grateful for the efforts each and every one of my [employees] is going to right now to support and serve the people of the UK, and the last thing I want any of them worrying about is being paid if they need to self-isolate as a result of Coronavirus.
“Never in my 30 years in retail have I ever felt so keenly the role played by supermarkets in our communities. The way our [employees] are working to support the nation is incredible and I want to support them, and those closest to them who are experiencing the other end of this crisis and need work.”