CARE STAFF IN VICTORY AFTER SICK PAY BATTLE
Relief for workers as firm agrees to change its policy
STAFF at several private care homes in Glasgow will get full sick pay if they are off work due to coronavirus. Last week the Glasgow Times revealed how workers were terrified of showing symptoms of the virus as they would then have to self-isolate and have to live on the minimum £94-a-week statutory sick pay (SSP).
One worker told our reporter: “I was told I could only get SSP or borrow against future earnings. I couldn’t take annual leave as it was ‘cancelled’ in April.
“I’m already paid so low that I put myself into debt just doing the mandatory isolation period, from a disease I got at work.”
After a union campaign, one of the UK’s biggest care home firms HC-One has agreed to change its policy and increase the sick pay to cover full earnings lost.
It will pay full sick pay to care workers who have to self-isolate following exposure to Covid-19.
The firm employs thousands of staff across the UK and operates eight homes in Glasgow, including Wyndford Locks in Maryhill, Ailsa Craig in Cessnock, Eastbank in Shettleston and Quayside in Yoker.
It owns many others in the surrounding areas, including Bearsden, Uddingston and Paisley.
Around half of all deaths in Scotland from Coronavirus have been in care homes.
Many staff have tested and have to go off work.
A GMB union survey showed 78% of respondents were worried about taking a test for fear of testing positive and losing money through having to take time off work.
The union said it would benefit many low paid staff and told other private care home owners they should do the same.
Gary Smith, GMB Scotland Secretary, said: “We have been fighting from the outset of this crisis to ensure private care workers are protected with full pay if they fall sick or must self-isolate. positive