High street giant Next is the latest retailer to announce that it will be slashing its sick pay for unvaccinated staff who are forced to self-isolate due to Covid-19.The British retailer, which has been reporting more staff absences due to the Omicron variant, has said that staff members still yet to receive the vaccine will only receive statutory sick pay (SSP) if forced to self-isolate, reports Wales Online.Sales and stock assistants are currently paid between £6.55 and £9.21 an hour and warehouse operatives between £9.30 and £11.26 an hour - meaning they could receive as little as just £96.45 a week, which is in line with the SSP minimum.
The retailer has said that staff will only be eligible for SSP minimum during their 10 days of isolation, unless there are 'mitigating' circumstances.'Staff members who are currently vaccinated against the virus will reportedly still receive their full sick pay entitlement.
It's not clear when Next made the change to their sick pay entitlement, but it comes after the BBC were the first to report the move.
The high-street retailer has said that it is an "emotive topic" but that it had to balance staff and shareholder needs.News of the retailers move comes as retailers across the country are beginning to reduce their sick pay entitlement for staff members who are still unvaccinated.
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