// John Lewis informs workers they will receive sick pay regardless of Covid vaccination status
// In all four nations, the unvaccinated must self-isolate for 10 days even if they do not test positive
John Lewis has reassured staff that they will receive full sick pay regardless of their Covid vaccination status.
The department store chain said it doesn’t “believe it’s right” to treat jabbed and unjabbed workers differently.
Meanwhile, retailers including Next, Ikea and Ocado are among the companies that have introduced sickness policies that separate vaccinated and unvaccinated employees who have to self-isolate.
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“We’re not going to make any change of this type,” John Lewis group operations director, Andrew Murphy said.
“We just don’t believe it’s right to create a link between a partner’s vaccination status and the pay they receive.
“We cast no judgment on the decisions of any other organisation; in fact we’ve enjoyed how united businesses – retailers especially – have been in the face of these huge corporate and societal challenges.
“However, when life increasingly seems to present opportunities to create division – and with hopes rising that the pandemic phase of Covid may be coming to an end – we’re confident that this is the right approach for us.”
Current rules in all UK nations now make a clear distinction in self-isolation requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated people if they come into contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid.
In all four nations, the unvaccinated must self-isolate for 10 days even if they do not test positive for the virus.
This does not apply for people who are fully vaccinated.
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