SAINSBURYS LIES about paying workers who live with EXTREMELY VULNERABLE PEOPLE 12 weeks paid leave

TheHandler

Sainsburys CEOs Mike Coupe & Simon Roberts have both PUBLICALLY stated to workers AND customers, that they will be paying those who live with extremely vulnerable people, 12 weeks paid leave. In actuality, Sainsburys are PICKING AND CHOOSING WHICH of their workers to pay who fit this criteria. There are workers who live with extremely vulnerable people who are being told you must take unpaid leave or holiday time. And of course as no worker gets 12 weeks holiday, they are infact being told to choose between earning a living or protecting their extremely vulnerable family member.

An example. There are cases in which 2 Sainsburys workers who LIVE AT THE SAME HOUSE and WORK IN THE SAME STORE, where one is getting paid for 12 weeks and the other is having to take unpaid leave/holiday. This is because there is a hidden mandate where if there is a household with 2 (or more) Sainsbury's workers living with an extremely vulnerable person, Sainsburys will only fit the bill for 1 of them. There is no mention of this anywhere within messages from the CEOs nor on their FAQs regarding those living with the extremely vulnerable.

Does anyone know if this is legal? It seems highly unorthodox and is in direct contrast to what CEOs have publically stated would happen and even stated in emails to customers (which I presume is a mailing list of millions). Is there anywhere else you think this information should be posted? Can anyone offer any help and advice?

If you are interested in a timeline or chain of events, I am posting this in the post beneath this one.

TheHandler

TIMELINE OF EVENTS (CEOs messages, official statements etc)

Tuesday 31st March 2020 - ​CEO Mike Coupe's message from Mike (a colleague announcement)

"Living with extremely vulnerable people: We also know that some of you are living with a family member on the government’s extremely vulnerable list. We know you will be doing everything you can to socially distance at home and have agreed to pay you for 14 days to support with making arrangements, but I know this isn’t always easy. If you remain concerned about coming to work and would rather self-isolate, then we will extend the 14 days paid leave by another 10 weeks, inclusive of 2 weeks of holiday pay – 12 weeks in total." 

Friday 3rd April 2020 - Update from Sainsbury's Chief Executive Mike Coupe (customer email) - sent to maybe millions of people? 

"Keeping you and our colleagues safe is our number one priority. We are doing everything we can to keep our colleagues safe and this includes supporting them if they need to self-isolate. Where colleagues are considered vulnerable, we are paying them in full for the recommended 12 weeks self-isolation, including colleagues who live with extremely vulnerable family members who the government has asked to shield for 12 weeks. I am personally committed to ensuring the safety of our colleagues and we will continue to do the right thing to protect them throughout this time."

Monday 6th April 2020

Colleagues receive a phone call from managers. This call is for those who are in households where 2 (or more) Sainsburys colleagues live with an extremely vulnerable person. It informs those in that predicament that only 1 from each household will be paid 12 weeks leave and the other/others will have to take unpaid leave/holiday. Sainsburys decides which colleague is to be paid and which colleagues will not.

Tuesday 7th April 2020 -  CEO Simon Roberts  - Keeping you safe – an update

"Paid leave for vulnerable colleagues and their relatives: Our vulnerable colleagues – and those who live or care for those who have been asked to ‘shield’ by the government – are able to take 12 weeks’ of paid leave to help them to stay safe. If this is you, then I wish you well over what I know may be a worrying and uncertain time, and look forward to welcoming you back when you’re able to return.

I hope this gives you some reassurance that we take your safety incredibly seriously and that we’re committed to doing everything we can to keep you safe."

Thursday Morning 9th April 2020 - CoronaVirus FAQ page (on Sainsbury's colleague website)

"The following questions have been updated: 2.4 I live with or am a primary carer for an individual who has been told they are in the extremely vulnerable category and have to ‘shield’ for 12 weeks. The government has advised I should strictly adhere to the social distancing measures. How does this impact me at work?

Although we have now put in place a number of stringent social distancing measures across all our locations, we understand that there are some colleagues who will still be concerned about returning to work because they live with or care for an extremely vulnerable individual.  To support these colleagues, they will be able to take up to 12 weeks paid leave from work including the 14 days authorised paid leave they have already taken. The 12 week period starts from the 23rd March, which is the date the government announced the requirement for shielding measures." 

Thursday Afternoon 9th April 2020 - Update to the 'Line Manager's Guide' (only viewable by managers unless you request to see it)

"9 - If two or more colleagues live in the same household as someone who is classed as extremely vulnerable, will all colleagues living in the household be eligible to self-isolate?

Line Managers should use their judgment with this. The expectation would be that one colleague will be listed as the sole carer and will be able to self-isolate and therefore the other colleagues within the household will make every effort to socially distance themselves from the extremely vulnerable person, but will not be required to self-isolate. However we appreciate there may be circumstances where this is not possible due to living circumstances."

calcotti

This is a help and support forum. Your posts would be better in a discussion forum.

TheHandler

As it is a CoronaVirus related issue I thought this was the place. But Mods - feel free to move my thread if you think its better elsewhere.

sharpe106

Might not be answer you want but I think they are being very fair. There are people in far worse of positions then you. They are paying for 1 person to isolate with them and be the carer. 

gary83

TheHandler said:

Does anyone know if this is legal? 

There’s no law that says businesses must continue to pay their employees if their employees are no longer available to go to work.

[Deleted User]

TheHandler said:Line Managers should use their judgment with this. The expectation would be that one colleague will be listed as the sole carer and will be able to self-isolate and therefore the other colleagues within the household will make every effort to socially distance themselves from the extremely vulnerable person, but will not be required to self-isolate. However we appreciate there may be circumstances where this is not possible due to living circumstances."

I can't see any outright lies there and Managers have obviously been given discretion to also pay a second employee where they live in the same household if they cannot self isolate from the vulnerable person.  

Certainly, there is no legal obligation for the employer to make even partial payment to those so challenged. 

Clearly, though,  Sainsburys have a duty of care to their employees and I do wonder  exactly how many of their staff will be affected 

TheHandler

gary83 said:

TheHandler said:

Does anyone know if this is legal? 

There’s no law that says businesses must continue to pay their employees if their employees are no longer available to go to work.

I meant legal as in is there any legality in regards to CEOs publically saying they are doing one thing, then actually doing the opposite of that, for a selection of their employees.

TheHandler

sharpe106 said:

Might not be answer you want but I think they are being very fair. There are people in far worse of positions then you. They are paying for 1 person to isolate with them and be the carer. 

Did you read my timeline of events post? It is definitely not fair for the CEO to tell someone they are getting paid for 12 weeks to protect their family member, then 5 days later be told they are not getting paid to do that at all whatsoever. Its a total flip flop. Then the very next day the other CEO reiterates the same thing the original CEO said. Its a shambles imo.

sharpe106

Nothing about this is fair. There is no law stopping somebody from saying something and doing something completely differently, luckily for the government. 

onwards&upwards

Sorry I don’t understand what the problem is?

Sainsburys staff are very important key workers, and they are going above and beyond by still paying their staff who live with an extremely vulnerable person so they can look after them.  Why would they need to pay 2 people in the same household for that?  NHS and other care staff and key workers aren’t staying home because they have vulnerable people in their households, they are carrying on with their vital work and taking precautions to avoid potentially bringing the virus home.  

Do you need some advice on how to decontaminate when you get home?