PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Department for Work and Pensions: G4S (28 August 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the covid-19 sick pay policies implemented by G4S under the contracts they hold with her Department with respect to the (a) fair treatment of staff employed to deliver those contracts, (b) ability of those staff to self-isolate when they or others in their household are experiencing covid-19 symptoms as required by Government guidance and (c) effect on the (i) health, (ii) welfare and (iii) in-work efficiency of those staff members who have experienced covid-19 symptoms in the event that they return to work before they are fit to do so.

Asked by:
Jonathan Reynolds (Labour)

G4S has followed Government health guidance and its employees who are sick / self-isolating were paid under its sick pay entitlement as per their terms and conditions of employment (Company Sick Pay or Statutory Sick Pay). Where DWP offices have been forced to close, G4S security officers have continued to receive full pay.

G4S has followed Government health guidance in respect of staff who are required to self-isolate if they or others are experiencing symptoms, they were paid under their sick pay entitlement as per their terms and conditions of employment (Company Sick Pay or Statutory Sick Pay).

G4S has their own Human Relations policy which includes the conducting of welfare calls during periods of ‘sick’ and return to work interviews with staff who are returning from a period of ‘sick’. Where it appears that a member of staff is still too unwell to return to work they will be asked to/agree to resume their sickness absence until they are fully recovered. Their absence period will recommence, as will the welfare calls and sickness payment in accordance with their statutory and contractual entitlement.

Answered by:
Mims Davies (Conservative)
3 September 2020