Despite the unprecedented economic challenges, many firms have done their best to support their staff.
Then there is the approach taken by British Airways.
A report by MPs lays bare today how British Airways (BA) is exploiting Covid to lay off a quarter of its workforce and re-employ the rest on worse pay and conditions.
This is more galling when the company is sitting on £8billion of reserves and has secured £300million in government support.
It has paid out £3.6bn to shareholders while its chief executive Willie Walsh has trousered £33m in salary, bonuses and pension payments.
Aviation has had a disastrous time but this does not excuse such appalling behaviour.
The cross-party transport committee says the firm is a “national disgrace”.
This newspaper completely agrees.
The company which carries the Union Jack on its tailfin should be the standard bearer for the best of British business. BA is in danger of becoming synonymous with the worst.
Most at risk
Government ministers keep telling us coronavirus does not discriminate.
Each day brings fresh evidence that is not the case. A study by Public Health England has found that black and Asian Britons are more likely to die from the virus.
Figures published yesterday show fatalities from Covid-19 are twice as high in the poorest areas of England than in the richest ones.
What the Conservatives refuse to admit is their policies are responsible. By failing to tackle poverty and injustice they have left millions of households more vulnerable.
Protecting at-risk communities should be at the centre of the Government’s efforts.
Yet they have still to publish any action plan for people from black and Asian backgrounds.
