CORONAVIRUS UPDATE FROM ROYAL MAIL
Protective equipment for our people
Last week, we committed over £27 million to buy equipment such as hand sanitiser, disposable gloves and other additional protective measures to keep our people safe as they keep the UK connected during the ongoing lockdown. This includes distributing half a million bottles of hand sanitiser through our operation in recent weeks. As well as increasing supplies of hand sanitiser, soap, cleaning equipment, and disposable gloves, we have used this significant cash sum to source face masks for those who want them. This investment is the latest in a range of preventive measures we have implemented, in close liaison with both the CWU and Unite.
Colleagues who need to stay at home
We are proud to be a good employer with a strong track record on pay, pensions, and other benefits. We understand the challenges our people are facing as a result of COVID-19 and have provided a range of supportive measures. This includes an enhanced sick pay and absence policy that benefits greater numbers of colleagues, including those with less than one year’s service and those who have been advised to self-isolate under public health guidance. These employees will receive pay in relation to any coronavirus illness or self-isolation. We have also provided a substantial contribution to the Rowland Hill Fund to support those who are struggling financially at this difficult time.
Following the publication of further Government guidance clarifying who is eligible under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, we are extending the option of furloughing. Depending on individual circumstances, it will be available to employees who are in the extremely vulnerable group and have been advised to shield at home, as well as those employees who live with someone in the extremely vulnerable group and are unable to socially distance at home, if unable to work from home. This will be backdated to 20th April. It is in addition to a range of other options currently available to employees such as holiday, unpaid time off work or working flexibly.