Row over worker sick pay between union and firm behind many Daventry council services

A row has broken out between a union and the firm behind many council services in Daventry district over workers' sick pay.

The GMB Union has accused Daventry Norse of not topping up its employees' wages if they have to self-isolate as a result of a positive coronavirus test or Track and Trace.

The union also claimed the joint venture between Daventry District Council and Norse Group had threatened to suspend workers if they refuse a Covid-19 test.

But the company said its sick pay policy is in line with most employers and no worker would be suspended for refusing a lateral flow test.

A Norse Group spokesperson said: “All of the decisions we make in responding to the pandemic are about keeping our staff as safe as possible and protecting their livelihoods.

“This includes any programme of work-based testing aimed at reducing the risk of our staff catching Covid from one another and therefore avoiding the need to go on sick leave; and

reducing the risk of their passing it on to local people.”

Daventry Norse said it recently wrote to staff to discuss introducing lateral flow testing to identify positive coronavirus cases, with an initial plan to implement testing this week.

Lateral flow tests give a result back in 30 minutes, rather than a few days like normal tests, but they are deemed to be around 60 per cent accurate.

However, the firm added it 'felt there needed to be further checks and balances within our processes, to ensure the safe and consistent management of any workplace lateral flow

testing', with no definitive date for testing to start.

"If a staff member tested positive following a lateral flow we would expect them to immediately self-refer for a full PCR test, with NHS Test and Trace," the Norse spokesperson said.

“While awaiting the results of the PCR test, as per current government rules for any member of the public, they must self-isolate."

The more than 60 members of staff at Daventry Norse keep the streets and parks clean and collect the bins for £8.89 an hour, just above the minimum wage, according to GMB.

This leaves self-isolating workers on statutory sick pay, which amounts to less than £100 a week, unless they have enhanced conditions in their contracts.

GMB says other waste contracting companies provide full pay for workers in self-isolation and regional organiser David Warwick believes Norse should do the same.

“You can’t punish frontline workers for catching Covid-19 when they’re carrying out essential work to prevent the spread of disease

“It’s sickening for Daventry Norse to play games with the lives of working families just to turn a profit. If every other major waste contractor can provide sick pay, so can Daventry Norse."

Norse said some companies with large profit margins – though by no means ‘all’ – may have made a different decision on short-term, sick pay policies.

But it is among the very few employers that has topped up to 100 per cent the wages of all staff who have had to be placed on furlough since the onset of the pandemic, the spokesperson added.

“Norse Group, including Daventry Norse, has been very clear throughout the pandemic about the expectations on our workforce to follow government guidance and the stringent Covid-19 safety measures we have put in place to protect them and others," they said.

“We are proud to say our staff have been extremely vigilant and worked incredibly hard to follow these rules, both in and out of work.

"As a result, our employee infection rate has remained at relatively low levels, meaning essential services that communities depend upon, have continued to be delivered.

“If workplace testing was introduced as a further level of protection, and in line with government advice, we would fully expect our staff, as responsible people, to want to take advantage of that.”

Daventry Norse was founded in 2018 to provide several council services, including waste collection, grounds maintenance and street cleaning.