DHL docks pay by 10% in furlough blunder

DHL will claim back 10 per cent of staff wages every month from November after a blunder saw furlough money overpaid.

The supply chain giant used “flexible furlough” during the pandemic – meaning businesses were able to bring back furloughed employees on a part-time basis and still have the Government pay some of their wages.

But the firm admitted some employees had been overpaid during the Covid crisis and confirmed it was in talks with workers about recouping the cash.

One current DHL employee, who asked to remain anonymous, received a letter telling him he would have to pay back the money he was given while on furlough.

The worker, who is employed at the Jaguar Land Rover plant in Solihull, claimed he had been told he would have 10 per cent of his wages docked from November to next September.

He said: “This is adding insult to injury. It is a DHL HR cock up. They are taking money out of out wages.”

“I have a car on finance,” the unnamed Jaguar Land Rover worker explained. “Taking that money out is going to have a knock on effect. It’s going to make people have a bed credit rating.

“They are telling us how much we owe. It’s not just Solihull and it’s through no fault of our own.

“People are stressed out because they are throwing this into the mix.”

It comes amid a potential strike involving DHL workers at Midland car giant Jaguar Land Rover.

About 2,000 DHL logistics workers, who sort and deliver components at JLR sites across the UK, are being balloted on industrial action, including the option to strike, after receiving “no pay rise” since 2018.

Unite claimed drivers and warehouse staff had been “plagued” by incorrect pay slips due to the company’s use of flexible furlough, with some owed up to £800 in arrears.

This week, Unite warned the impact of industrial action at JLR sites at Castle Bromwich, Halewood, Hams Hall, Midpoint Tyrefort and Solihull would be “serious”.

A DHL spokesman said: “Due to the complexities of the flexible furlough scheme, we are aware that a number of our colleagues have been affected by both overpayments and underpayments.

“We have worked with our trade union partners to create a process to remedy this, which will include one-to-one discussions and, for overpayments, a maximum recovery amount per pay period to minimise the impact on those affected.”