Rise of Omicron subvariants sends UK staff absence soaring

Blow to businesses as 300,000 workers took time off due to Covid last month, with BA.4 and BA.5 the majority of new infections

Staff shortages were already a fact of life for restaurant-owner Des Gunewardena when the recent wave of Covid-19 hit.

I visited the Butler's Wharf Chop House earlier this week and when I asked about our general manager he was off with Covid," said the D&D boss, who oversees 2,000 staff in outlets across the UK, France and US.