Ikea hardens the tone across the Channel.
Sickness benefits paid by the Swedish furniture giant to its employees in unvaccinated contact cases have been reduced to the statutory minimum (
statutory sick pay
).
They thus amount to 96.35 pounds per week, knowing that the period of isolation of the latter lasts ten days (seven in France), against a weekly average of 400 pounds, reports the British daily
The Guardian
.
Because in the United Kingdom, it is up to the employer to pay these allowances.
Vaccinated contact cases do not have to quarantine.
Read alsoDoes the Omicron variant send "nobody" to intensive care?
"
Following the deployment of the vaccine and changes in government isolation requirements, our approach to absences due to Covid-19 has evolved from September 20, 2021 - an approach developed with our social partners,
" said a UK spokesperson for Ikea. The company will continue to fully compensate its vaccinated employees and those who are not for "
extenuating circumstances
", in the event of pregnancy for example. “
We are aware that this is a sensitive subject and all the circumstances will be examined on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, anyone who has doubts or is concerned about their situation is encouraged to speak to their manager
, ”continues the spokesperson.
Questioned by
Le Figaro
, Maître Savelli, associate lawyer in labor law at Sagan Avocats, tells us that there is nothing illegal.
"
The situation is simply turning against Ikea, which had originally set sickness benefits higher than the minimum
."
Absenteeism
According to the British media outlet, the Morrisons supermarket chain had taken coercive measures before the furniture seller.
These companies seek to compensate for absenteeism due to the Omicron variant: after the incentive via free leave to get vaccinated, they therefore go to punishment.
The water distributor Wessex Water will take similar measures as of Monday after recording record absences due to the virus.
On January 12, nearly 130,000 cases were diagnosed in the UK bringing the total to one million over the past seven days.
However, this figure is down 20% from the previous week.
Read also Covid - 19: faced with absenteeism, companies are turning to temporary workers
Could a comparable situation happen in France?
“
It seems totally impossible to me.
There would be a breach of equal rights
”comments Maître Bensussan, international lawyer:“
We have a constitution;
them not
”.
In France, health insurance covers work stoppages.