Care home owner stalling on paying £500 Covid bonus to staff

pauljs6

My sister-in-law works in a care home and she asked when she can expect the £500 Covid bonus for working through the pandemic.  The care home owner told her that the bonus can't be paid to staff until the home reaches full occupancy.  I don't think the owner has a right to use that money to help her own cash flow and I'd have expected the money to be ring-fenced for prompt payment to staff.  Who's to say when the home will reach full occupancy?  Has anyone else had an issue with a care home owner stalling over payment of the bonus to staff? 
I told my sister-in-law to contact the county council who have the money to the care home and let them know that the owner intends to sit on the money indefinitely.  Hopefully intervention by the council will push the care home to pay the money to staff.  Does anyone have another suggestion which might get the owner to hand over the money to staff?  Thanks.

MovingForwards

Have you read @billy2shots post in this thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6344891/government-social-care-workers-fund#latest

Dottydoolay

I’m the OP on the linked thread just to confirm the owner/management at the home just acted completely dumb and the staff never got a penny.
I know of many people in the sector who were paid out all of which were from larger companies and not single owned homes.