You are here: Home - Household Bills - News -

Will you get less sick pay if you’re not vaccinated?

0
Written by: Emma Lunn
10/01/2022
Ikea and Wessex Water have both cut sick pay for unvaccinated workers forced to isolate due to coming into close contact with someone with Covid-19.

According to a report in The Guardian, Ikea will pay unvaccinated staff contacted by Test and Trace statutory sick pay of £96.35 a week rather than the average £400 a week Ikea workers normally receive. 

However, the retailer will consider ‘mitigating circumstances’ where workers are unvaccinated and told to isolate because they are a close contact of someone with Covid-19.

By law, you must self-isolate if you test positive for Covid-19 or if you are identified as a contact of someone with Covid-19 and told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace. Failure to self-isolate for the full time-period can result in a fine, starting from £1,000.

In England, fully vaccinated people are not required to self-isolate if they have been in close contact with someone infected with Covid-19. But unvaccinated people contacted by Test and Trace must still self-isolate for 10 days. 

Other companies penalising workers who choose to remain unvaccinated include Wessex Water and supermarket Morrisons. 

Morrisons chief executive David Potts said in September that the pay changes were among a number of strategies Morrisons was using to mitigate cost rises from HGV driver shortages and supply chain disruptions. He said the move was also intended to encourage workers to get vaccinated.

Wessex Water is implicating the new sick pay rules from today after recording record Covid-19-related absences during the past week. Workers self-isolating because they are infected with Covid-19 will still be paid their full wage.

Unions say statutory sick pay of £96.35 a week is failing to keep up with the cost of living

Several companies, including Facebook, Google and Netflix, have introduced ‘jabs for jobs’ rules. Care home staff also face losing their jobs if they are not vaccinated. 

Related Posts

There are 0 Comment(s)

If you wish to comment without signing in, click your cursor in the top box and tick the 'Sign in as a guest' box at the bottom.

Your right to a refund if travel is affected by train strikes

There have been a wave of train strikes in the past six months, and for anyone travelling today Friday 3 Febru...

Could you save money with a social broadband tariff?

Two-thirds of low-income households are unaware they could be saving on broadband, according to Uswitch.

How to help others and donate to food banks this winter

This winter is expected to be the most challenging yet for the food bank network as soaring costs push more pe...

What will happen if rates change

How your finances will be impacted by a rise in interest rates.

Regular Savings Calculator

Small regular contributions can build up nicely over time.

Online Savings Calculator

Work out how your online savings can build over time.

DIY investors: 10 common mistakes to avoid

For those without the help and experience of an adviser, here are 10 common DIY investor mistakes to avoid.

Mortgage down-valuations: Tips to avoid pulling out of a house sale

Down-valuations are on the rise. So, what does it mean for home buyers, and what can you do?

Five tips for surviving a bear market mauling

The S&P 500 has slipped into bear market territory and for UK investors, the FTSE 250 is also on the edge. Her...

Money Tips of the Week