IKEA has cut sickness benefits for unvaccinated workers when told to self-isolate after coming into contact with someone with Covid.
The change essentially means that staff who have not been stung and must self-isolate for ten days after coming into contact with someone infected with the virus could receive the legal minimum of £ 96.35 per week.
Compared to the average Ikea staff salary of £ 10.10 an hour or £ 11.30 in London, that would mean £ 404 or £ 452 for an entire week, the Mail on Sunday reported.
An IKEA spokesperson told the outlet: “We appreciate that this is such a touching subject and all the circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, anyone with doubts or concerned about their situation is encouraged to speak to their manager, ”said a spokesperson. “
The retailer later clarified that the policy only affected unvaccinated workers with “high absence rates.”
It comes as a series of overwhelmingly positive studies show Omicron to be milder than other strains, with the first official UK report showing that the risk of hospitalization is 50-70% lower than Delta’s.
Covid booster shots protect against Omicron and offer the best chance of weathering the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.
The Sun’s Jabs Army campaign is helping get the extra vital vaccines in the arms of the British to avoid the need for further restrictions.
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By August, Britons on double vaxx were no longer required to self-isolate if they had been in close contact with someone who tested positive, as the hated “pingdemia” came to an end.
Those who had not received their vaccines were required to self-isolate when contacting someone with Covid.
While it is not a legal requirement for employees in other fields to be vaccinated, jabs have become mandatory for frontline NHS staff in a bid to tackle the virus.
Social workers and NHS workers are required to get their Covid jab.
Sajid Javid has previously said the move will protect vulnerable patients from catching the virus.
Meanwhile, the Health Secretary criticized “anti-vaccination fanatics” after revealing that nine in ten Covid patients in intensive care had not had their booster shots.
Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Sajid Javid said that “a shocking 70% of Covid patients taking intensive care beds were not vaccinated …” before calling it “disappointing” that tennis star Djokovic “feeds skepticism ”about vaccines.
About half a million vaccination appointments are available online in England for 12 to 15 year olds in January, a senior doctor said – with slots available at around 500 walk-in sites and 300 centers.
It comes as the Education Secretary has said Covid rules should be reviewed amid calls to reduce self-isolation from seven to five days.
Nadhim Zahawi argued that reducing the isolation period for those who test positive could help alleviate staff shortages.
Isolation SHOULD be reduced to 5 days, education secretary says as experts admit Omicron’s grim death predictions were wrong