Care staff denied full pay when sick
A third of care staff are only receiving Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or less when having to shield or self-isolate, public services union UNISON has announced.
That was the finding of a survey the union carried out of over 4,000 care home and community-based workers. Meanwhile, it says, separate evidence shows large care companies and many smaller ones across the country are refusing to pay full normal wages for staff affected by Covid – or are telling them to use holiday leave.
Half (51%) of respondents to the survey reported having had to self-isolate in the last 15 months, with only half of them receiving full pay.
Some care staff with suspected Covid had continued to look after vulnerable people. Money worries were given as a reason by more than one in 10 (13%) for working despite having possible symptoms, and by 8% who continued going in when they should have been self-isolating.
Pressure from their employer to go to work was an issue for 10% who had possible symptoms and for a similar proportion (7%) of those who should have been self-isolating.
UNISON said the government should guarantee all care sector workers automatic access to full normal wages for periods of self-isolation. Payment should be mandatory and the responsibility of all care employers, it believes.