We need Fair Work to be at the heart of the response to the corona virus!
Our primary role during the corona virus outbreak is to
work with government to press for measures which will protect public health
support unions and non-unionised workers to avoid unecessary risk and unfair detriment
ensure that employers face up to their responsibilities
We continue to call for a package of measures including calling on the UK Government to:
Put clear fair work conditions around all support to business that is offered.
Raise the level of statutory sick-pay to the equivalent of the national living wage and remove the earnings threshold.
Require sick pay to be paid based on workers normal working hours, supporting workers on zero hours contracts.
Provide crisis funding that can be paid directly to workers who face financial difficulties as a result of COVID-19.
Provide additional funding to support public health, NHS and social care services to deal with the crisis.
Ensure that Universal Credit rules do not undermine public health objectives.
The STUC believes that employers in receipt of Government support must commit to:
continue to provide full pay to workers who are off sick or self-isolating.
relax the rules on doctors’ notes, recognising the scale of the crisis and the increasing pressure providing documentation places on health services.
discount sick leave during the COVID-19 crisis from the normal sickness absence policy so that workers are not disciplined or dismissed for meeting public health guidance.
pay workers based on normal (rather than contracted) working hours, supporting workers on zero hours contracts.
provide paid carers leave for workers who are unable to attend work due to caring responsibilities during COVID-19 emergency.
Useful links
Better than Zero advice on workplace organising on the issue for non-unionised workers
Register for the TUC webinar on 16 March
ACAS advice for employers and employees
