JCB stretches its staff furloughs for a month

STAFF at the Rocester-based digger firm JCB have been told to stay at home for an extra month after the company’s furlough period was extended.

Thousands of staff employed by the manufacturing giant will now remain at home until the end of May.

The manufacturer announced in March that its nine factories across Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham would shut until April 30.

This was a result of the coronavirus pandemic hitting production levels and meant disruption to its supply chain.

Now, JCB has confirmed the shutdown will be extended by an extra month, meaning staff will not need to return to work until at least Sunday, May 31, reports Stoke-on-trent Live.

The firm employs around 6,500 staff at its UK factories.

It is believed that staff will continue to be paid 80 per cent of their basic salary via the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - regardless of how much they earn.

While JCB directors will not be taking a salary from the company until further notice.

A JCB spokesman said: “The company’s furlough period has been extended until May 31.”

The Uttoxeter cab systems factory, which sits next to the A50, is currently being used to help the government’s drive to manufacture ventilators.

Instead of producing cabs for the famous yellow diggers, the Uttoxeter plant is creating steel housings for a Dyson designed ventilator.

A minimum of 10,000 of these housings are being made. Around 50 employees who returned to work are being paid their normal amount.