Worksop's Wilko warned of industrial action over sick pay cuts

Under new contracts workers will be entitled to just one period of company sick pay above statutory level a year.

Currently, staff are entitled to three sickness periods covered by company sick pay above statutory level a year.

However under the new rules workers will revert to just statutory sick pay after their first period of sickness covered by company sick pay has been used.

Bosses at the discount chain say they introduced the policy after having unsuccessfully worked with the GMB to try to reduce absence and abuse of sick pay by “some team members”.

Wilko say they will still pay enhanced company sick pay to anyone who falls ill with Covid after having had one sick period - and such cases will be treated as “exceptional circumstances”.

However Roger Jenkins, a GMB union national officer, said the company had “repaid loyalty by announcing devastating cuts to the sick pay of their staff”.

He said: “Loyal Wilko workers have grafted throughout this pandemic - putting themselves and their families at risk to keep stores open.

"Wilko should be rewarding their commitment - but instead they’ve threatened to slash their sickness benefit.

“GMB will not tolerate this abuse of keyworkers and has informed Wilko that if these draconian measures go ahead they face a ballot for industrial action.

“Wilko should hang their heads in shame.”

Wilko CEO Jerome Saint-Marc said: “We’re a family business that’s looked after our team for over 90 years through good times and bad.

“We’ll continue to support those team members most in need including anyone quarantining or absent with a case of Coronavirus, anyone with long-term sickness and the extremely vulnerable.”

Another Wilko spokesman said: “We think it’s important we continue to support our team members with full pay the first time they’re off in any year - statutory sick pay then applies.

"Sadly, this isn’t something available in other businesses and while this represents a change to the current policy it is better than most in retail.”

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.