High street retailer Next has confirmed it has cut sick pay for unvaccinated staff who are self-isolating due to Covid exposure.
The company said all staff who test positive – regardless of whether they are vaccinated – will be paid in full.
However, unvaccinated staff who are required to isolate because they have been identified as a close contact of someone with the virus will only receive statutory sick pay unless there are mitigating circumstances.
Next has confirmed it has cut sick pay for unvaccinated staff who are self-isolating due to Covid exposure.
Ian West
The move comes after a number of other firms, including Morrisons and Ikea, introduced similar policies for unvaccinated workers.
In December, changes were made to self-isolation for people who have had a vaccine which means they do not have to isolate if they have been exposed to somebody who has Covid.
However, guidance for unvaccinated people didn’t change, so they still have to self-isolate for 10 full days.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid is expected to confirm that the time Covid-19 cases have to spend in self-isolation is to be cut.
Mr Javid will update MPs on Thursday, a day after Boris Johnson said a decision would be made on the issue “as fast as possible”.
The Government has been under pressure to bring the situation in England into line with the United States, where the isolation period has been cut to five days.
