Sodexo UK & Ireland has announced that it will redirect funds from its annual bonus scheme to a special fund that will reward front-line staff who have worked through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement was made during a regular ‘virtual’ town hall meeting for employees on Thursday 14 May, in which it was also confirmed that its furloughing arrangements will continue unchanged until the end of June 2020, ensuring furloughed payroll staff receive 100% of their regular pay.
Sarah Perry, HR Director, Sodexo UK & Ireland, (pictured), said, “We want to recognise and reward our people who have worked through the Covid-19 pandemic. We are creating a separate fund and cancelling our regular annual bonus scheme. I know most of our employees will also want to celebrate the efforts of their colleagues who have been supporting the national effort against this virus.”
“I am also pleased to confirm that, as part of our ongoing commitment to keeping our colleagues in jobs and paid, we will be extending our current ‘top-up’ to 100% of the salaries of colleagues on furlough in the UK until 30 June 2020.”
Sodexo is taking these steps to support and protect its colleagues ahead of any future changes. The furloughing arrangements continue to be subject to review. Both the UK government and Irish government have schemes to support businesses and employees and Sodexo will review these as the details of policy changes become clear.
Sodexo has also put in place an employee relief fund for those most in need. This fund is already being used to support employees and their families of those who have been directly impacted by the Covid-19 virus.