John Lewis to offer full sick pay regardless of Covid vaccination status

This differs from the approach of other retailers, including Next, Morrisons and Ikea which have all recently cut sick pay for unvaccinated employees who have to self-isolate.

John Lewis’ operations director Andrew Murphy said that while the retailer was aware of other businesses changing sick pay policy, John Lewis does not believe that it is “right to create a link between a Partner’s vaccination status and the pay they receive.”

In a LinkedIn post, Murphy explained that the company was “hugely supportive of the UK vaccination programme”, giving staff time off to get their jabs, as well as donating the use of the sports hall at Waitrose’s Bracknell head office to the NHS as a vaccination centre.

He added: “We cast no judgement on the decisions of any other organisation; in fact, we’ve enjoyed how united businesses – retailers especially – have been in the face of these huge corporate and societal challenges. 

“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.”

“We cast no judgement on the decisions of any other organisation”

At present, self-isolation rules differ between vaccinated and unvaccinated people across the UK. Those who are not vaccinated must self-isolate for 10 days if they are identified as a close contact of someone who has the virus, even if they do not test positive themselves. 

At present, unvaccinated employees at Next, Morrisons and Ikea who must isolate only receive statutory sick pay of £96.35 a week. This differs from their vaccinated colleagues, who still receive full pay.