"UK firm won't pay higher sick pay as Covid-19 'less severe than flu'", 30 March 2020

A senior executive at one of Britain’s biggest outsourcing companies has told workers he believes coronavirus is “less severe” than normal influenza in a message explaining why they will not receive any special sickness benefits.

During a negotiation with a trade union last week over sick pay for refuse collectors during the pandemic, a head of human resources at Amey plc, a services company with prison, defence and council contracts and a £2.3bn-a-year turnover, said that “when compared with many other diseases such as normal influenza, the impacts [of Covid-19] on the individual are currently actually less severe”.

... Despite being classed as key workers by the Cabinet Office, the rubbish collectors are only being offered the contractual minimum, which in many cases is understood to be statutory sick pay of £94.25 a week.

The GMB replied that Amey’s stance meant workers would have to choose between “health or wealth”, because those who need to self-isolate would not be able to afford to do so if they only receive statutory sick pay.

“Amey employees cannot lock themselves away as they are key workers, and therefore they are at greater risk ... if people only receive statutory sick pay they are unable to afford to self isolate … There needs to be decency and morality on the part of employers in the current crisis.”

A spokesperson for Amey distanced the firm from Schumann-Davies’ position on the threat posed by the outbreak.

“The email referred to does not reflect Amey’s official position on Covid-19,” they said. “We are resolutely committed to the safety of our employees and the communities we serve, and we can confirm we provide contractual sick pay from day one for any Covid-19 related illness…”