Isolating Wigan care workers to receive full sick pay

Leading trade union Unison has been running a campaign for several weeks demanding town halls ensure none of the vital front-line workers are financially disadvantaged if they have to self-isolate.

There have been fears for some time that the illness would spread if people thought they had to go into to work while unwell because they were worried about being financially penalised.

Employees in the care sector had also told the trade union the statutory sick pay was inadequate.

Now, though, Wigan Council has said full sick pay will be given to all care workers if they have to stay at home to protect others.

Backdated payments will also be made for Covid-19 related absences.

The council said its own staff had been getting full sick pay if the coronavirus meant they were unable to go to their jobs, but not all employers in the wider sector had the same arrangements.

Deputy leader of Wigan Council, Coun Keith Cunliffe, said: “Our carers within care homes and other adult social care settings have been on the front line of this pandemic from day one, helping to protect our most vulnerable residents, while putting themselves at risk.

“It’s right that they receive full pay if they have to stay off work due to Covid-19 issues to continue protecting residents and I’m pleased we’ve been able to make this happen.”

Unison said it was pleased that Wigan Council had agreed to the move.

North West regional organiser Dan Smith said: "We are delighted to see that Wigan Council have announced that they will ensure all care workers will receive full sick pay if are absent due to COVID-19.

"This commitment is a step in the right direction which will help protect the whole community from coronavirus. We look forward to working with the council to ensure no care worker in Wigan suffers financial detriment due to the ongoing pandemic.

“The reality is that nationally, care workers are twice as likely to die from the virus than other healthcare workers. How much of that is because of inadequate PPE or a lack of sick pay that prevents them from self-isolating or shielding when they need to?

"No-one should have to choose between their own health or hardship. Given the worrying rise in the R rate of transmission in the North West, it is now time for all other councils in our region to step up and make the same commitments to stop the spread of the virus.”