Ministers ‘reluctant’ to push furlough scheme for self-isolating workers

Treasury reportedly pushed back on calls to raise awareness of how employers could ensure higher wages for isolating staff

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Ministers have been accused of suppressing access to higher levels of sick pay for those isolating with Covid during the third wave.

In a move critics have branded disgusting" and said may have cost lives, the Treasury reportedly pushed back on attempts by some government workers to raise awareness of how employers could ensure higher wages for their isolating staff under the furlough scheme rather than claiming statutory sick pay. The former guarantees employees 80% of their wages up to 2,500 every month, while the latter is capped at 96.35 per week.