Following a move by a number of employers to cut sick pay for their unvaccinated staff, one retailer has spoken out and said they won't be doing anything of the sort.
John Lewis department store has come out to publicly confirm they will continue paying full sick pay to staff, no matter what their vaccination status is.
It follows announcements from Morrisons, Ocado, NExt and IKEA, which both said they would cut back payments to unvaccinated staff falling sick with Covid who are forced to self-isolate.
Serations Director Andrew Murphy said he didn't believe it was right to create a link between a partner's vaccination status and the pay they recieve.
Adding that he “cast no judgement”, and he went on to say that the company was “not going to make any change of this type”.
Taking to LinkedIn to share his views on vaccination requirements in the workplace, Mr Murphy said: “We’re conscious that some businesses have changed their sick pay policy with regard to unvaccinated employees in some COVID-related absence scenarios, [but] at John Lewis, we’re not going to make any change of this type.
“Leadership teams from every business have had to work incredibly hard to navigate the COVID years [as] there has been no map, guidebook or training programme to help anyone find the best way through.
“Very often, there’s just a choice between a range of unappealing options.
“We’re conscious that some businesses have changed their sick pay policy with regard to unvaccinated employees in some COVID-related absence scenarios, but we just don’t believe it’s right to create a link between a partner’s vaccination status and the pay they receive.”
John Lewis has said that it will continue to pay all its staff full sick pay if they have to self-isolate / Credit: John Lewis
He continued in his statement: “We cast no judgement on the decisions of any other organisation.
“However, when life increasingly seems to present opportunities to create division – and with hopes rising that the pandemic phase of COVID may be coming to an end – we’re confident that this is the right approach for us.”
A number of employers of key workers, such as supermarket and retail staff, have come out and made a stance against their unvaccinated employees - saying they will only get statutory sick pay, equivalent in the UK to around £96.35 a week if they need to isolate.
While it appears a growing number of companies in the UK are following a US-style model of slashing sick pay for unvaccinated staff, John Lewis joins other supermarket retailers Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Asda who are continuing to provide full sick pay for all employees when they are when they are isolating.
At present, people who had had at least two doses of a COVID vaccine are not required to self-isolate if they have been in close contact with someone infected – but by law, people who are unvaccinated and are contacted through the government’s ‘Test and Trace’ system must self-isolate for 10 days.
Another huge blaze has ripped through the historic Dalton Mills in West Yorkshire, which has played a starring role in major TV shows.
The beautiful old mill in Keighley was set ablaze on Saturday evening, with a huge emergency services response.
Around the time the blaze started, 12 fire engines were called to the scene, and residents nearby were urged to keep their windows and doors closed.
A number of people who lived in the surrounding area were also evacuated from their homes.
By Sunday morning, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said the situation was now 'under control' and thanked the public for their patience.
This is the third fire at Dalton Mills this year alone, devastating the Grade II-listed Victorian building, which was used as a filming location for period dramas Peaky Blinders and Downton Abbey.
Robbie Moor, MP for Keighley & Ilkley, shared a video of himself at the scene over the weekend and said the scenes at Dalton Mills were 'extremely concerning'.
He praised the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service for their hard work, alongside police and ambulance crews.
He added in a post on X: "Huge thanks to our emergency services for all their efforts and bravery as they continue to tackle the blaze and put out this major fire, and ensure all are safe.
"Thank you also to all who have contacted me this evening. I have visited the scene myself and spoke with the emergency services and neighbouring residents."
In a video statement, he added: "We’ve had another major fire, here in the centre of Keighley, which is deeply infuriating for us all but most importantly those residents that live alongside Dalton Mills, and those businesses.
"This situation just simply cannot continue.
"You know that I’ve been calling on our local authority to secure this site as best as possible for years now, and this is our next major fire."
Inside Moida, the new Korean beauty and skincare store in Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
If your skincare routine has been needing an upgrade, there's some good news waiting for you inside Trinity Leeds.
The shopping centre has just welcomed Moida, a brand-new beauty retailer specialising in authentic Korean skincare, bringing some of the world's most sought-after K-beauty products to Leeds.
Named after the Korean word meaning 'to gather' or 'come together', moida is all about making Korean skincare easy to discover and accessible for everyone.
Inside the new store that has taken over the old Claire's Accessories site, shoppers can expect an extensive range of handpicked products from some of the biggest names in K-beauty, including Beauty of Joseon, Dr. Althea, TIRTIR, Medicube, Biodance, and more cult-favourite brands.
The collection has been curated by a team of Korean beauty experts with close links to Korea, meaning customers can expect everything from viral TikTok sensations to exclusive products that are often difficult to get hold of elsewhere in the UK.
Moida K-Beauty has opened in Trinity Leeds. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Steven Foster, Centre Director at Trinity Leeds, said: "With Korean skincare still increasing in popularity, moida brings an exciting new concept to the centre. Offering guests viral products alongside everyday essentials, plus the chance to browse new brands in-store will be a fantastic experience.
"We know moida is going to be a brilliant addition for both existing fans of K-beauty and those keen to discover it for the first time."
It's the latest announcement following the recent launches of Lane7, Footasylum, LEGO, Jerk Junction, The Fragrance Shop and schuh at Trinity Leeds.
The Hoot -
24th January 2022 
