Employer going back on their word

theghooooost

Hi,
My workplace is food production,We are classed as key workers.
On 13th March we were given a letter stating should anyone need to self isolate because of the corona virus according to 111 advice,They will not be financially penalised.
Plenty have had to go off,Some for 7 days others for 14 days,Yet now we are told we will get ssp,Not full sick pay (We get 4 weeks full sick pay per year) 
To me that is financially penalizing people for having to isolate.
Does anyone know where we stand? We all have kept the letters.
Advice appreciated.

Jeremy535897

This is a matter for an employment lawyer. It sounds to me that they made a promise they now find financially hard to keep. 

theghooooost

Hi jeremy,That's the issue.
They are a cash rich company with profits of 300 million annually,They can afford to make up ssp to full pay.

Jeremy535897

Not so poor then. Is there anyone in the company that you could take it up with? They must have a grievance procedure? I assume you are not in a union. From a practical point of view, I'm not sure what else to suggest, unless you can find an employment lawyer to help. Also, you don't want to risk them making people redundant.

lopsyfa

I guess the problem most employers will face is people taking advantage if they pay everyone self isolating full pay. SSP will act as a deterrent so only people that really need to self isolate will do it. The reverse argument is some people will still come to work who should self isolate to avoid the financial penalty.

Jeremy535897

lopsyfa said:

I guess the problem most employers will face is people taking advantage if they pay everyone self isolating full pay. SSP will act as a deterrent so only people that really need to self isolate will do it. The reverse argument is some people will still come to work who should self isolate to avoid the financial penalty.

Yes, but the issue here is a promise broken.

lopsyfa

Jeremy535897 said:

lopsyfa said:

I guess the problem most employers will face is people taking advantage if they pay everyone self isolating full pay. SSP will act as a deterrent so only people that really need to self isolate will do it. The reverse argument is some people will still come to work who should self isolate to avoid the financial penalty.

Yes, but the issue here is a promise broken.

I agree but can it be enforced? Even if it can, it will depend on the exact wordings of the letter. The chancellor also said no one will be financially penalised but many people will not be covered by any of the measures announced so far. It depends on what the definition of penalised it.

Jeremy535897

That's why I said it needs an employment lawyer.