Furniture giant IKEA has said it will pay full wages to staff forced to self-isolate for 14 days during the coronavirus pandemic.
Staff at the firm’s Glasgow store claimed workers would feel pressurised into coming to work, putting colleagues and customers at risk, by a move to cut sick pay.
IKEA bosses fired staff member and union rep Richie Venton, saying he “breached confidentiality” by telling staff of changes before management announced them.
The changes due to be implemented from September 1 left staff only entitled to their wages for the first 10 days of sickness, which would have fallen short of the corona self- isolation period of two weeks. Now all staff in self-isolation for 14 days will be paid in full.
An IKEA spokesman said: “Any co-worker requiring to isolate as a result of Covid will be paid in full, other than where a co-worker travels abroad and quarantine may be imposed whilst they are away.”
IKEA workers have called for a ballot on strike action, claiming USDAW official Venton has been victimised.
SNP MP Chris Stephens has called for parliament to condemn the sacking.
A motion at Westminster has the backing of 19 SNP and Labour MPs, including Ian Blackford and Jeremy Corbyn.
