Calls for firms to support their staff

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called on businesses to support their staff during the outbreak of coronavirus.

Ms Sturgeon condemned the actions of Britannia Hotels after it sacked staff at the Coylumbridge Hotel in Aviemore, leaving some without accommodation.

At a briefing on the virus yesterday, Ms Sturgeon said: “I would unreservedly condemn the approach that was taken in the Aviemore case, that is not how we want employers to operate.

“I won’t underestimate and don’t want to downplay the difficulty that businesses and employers are in, but we’ve seen so many good examples, like Macdonald Hotels stepping in to offer accommodation to all affected by that.

“We want to be doing everything we can to support businesses, but in turn we need employers to support their workforce too.”

At the same briefing, Scottish Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the virus will “bring out the best of us, but also the worst of us”, referring to some business practices.

She said the outbreak requires an “unprecedented economic response”.

Ms Hyslop said: “The prime issue now must be on people’s health. Employers must allow their staff to follow medical advice, to isolate themselves or indeed as part of their households, and workers should not be pressured in any way to breach that advice.

“We have to put the public health aspect first and foremost.”

Ms Sturgeon said there are now 322 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Scotland, and six people have died.