To share some lovely positivity in these dark times... And hats off to the store HOME BARGAINS!

[LittleYorkshireLass]

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/home-bargains-pledges-30m-support-17946116

From the article...

"Home Bargains has pledged a £30m fund to support its staff in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic."

"The budget-friendly retailer has announced it will be financially supporting staff who may need to self-isolate during the outbreak.

Sharing the news on its official Twitter page, a statement reads: “Thank you for your amazing work during this unprecedented time."

“We want you to feel secure during this turbulent period, so we have created a £30million Coronavirus Fund to financially support you during the outbreak.

“This will include paying staff that need to self-isolate for up to two weeks by maintaining their pay during this period, and to support team members in high risk groups that need to isolate for longer periods."

“If staff do not need to self-isolate between now and December they will be paid two weeks’ extra salary, so they do not miss out.”

Fantastic news.

Meanwhile Richard Branson wants financial help from the Government, and yet he is telling his staff to take 8 weeks unpaid leave, or face redundancy.

metro.co.uk/2020/03/18/billionaire-richard-branson-must-pay-staff-judged-coronavirus-crisis-12420231/

We will remember this Branson.

Totally INAPPROPRIATE mnhq

Brilliant contrast! I hate Branson and his utter avarice. Companies like Virgin Health Care are crippling the NHS.

I agree @SummerWhisper

Home Bargains are really rallying round to help their staff. Meanwhile Super rich Richard Branson is treating his like crap.

Shame really. He used to be a man of the people, and came from nothing, and I used to admire him. Now I am just disgusted by him.

What is inappropriate??

Totally INAPPROPRIATE mnhq
Eh?

Wonder if @TheoriginalLEM works for poundies

totally inappropriate ???
is that you Mr Branson ?

Last night the mnhq bot was spamming the board with adverts for 5% off a hoeseasons holiday. I’m guessing it’s now been deleted...

The “Totally inappropriate” comment probably related to a disastrously timed but swiftly corrected MNHQ bot which inserted holiday ads as the second post of every thread, and left a wake of angry third comments and baffled subsequent posters.

Nespresso sent an email out saying all their staff will be paid whilst stores shut also.

I have a small business, we have used this time to amend our sickness pay and told all staff they'll get 10 days full pay, 10 days half pay before SSP. In addition we've set up a fund for anyone who can't afford to buy 2 weeks worth of food in the eventuality of self isolation if they can't get out.

To me that's basic, yet I've spoken to so many friends who've all been told it's SSP or unpaid parental leave.
I'm genuinely shocked that so many staff are treated this way and they will remember who had their backs when times get hard.

Lots of stores should be trying to do this! More people would actually stay off making it a bit safer for us who still need to go in. I work for a similar store and we’re only on SSP if we have symptoms and nothing if we have to sort childcare . As a result people are saying they can’t afford to self isolate if necessary putting everyone at further risk.

Yesterday a lady happily told the person behind her in the queue she should be in quarantine but that wouldn’t pay her bills. I have no choice but to go in as people need their shopping but It’s really frustrating and I don’t feel massively safe.

I would imagine the post by @TheoriginalLEM WAS meant for another thread. As there is nothing inappropriate about this thread.

Good to hear about nespresso too.

AmIAWeed customers will also remember which companies they saw doing their bit.

Very well done Bargain shop. And incredibly disappointed in Richard Branson. He's one of the few people I follow on LinkedIn, but that will be going. Such avarice in this day and age. He should be ashamed of himself.

Wonder if Branson is enjoying his self- isolation on his private Caribbean island? What a twat.

All of us need to remember which companies played fair during this crisis, then when its over we, as customers will know which businesses to support and which ones to boycott. Virgin needs to be at the very top of the boycott list

Branson can get tae fuck

Thanks for this OP I will check out home bargains soon as it's sensible for me to do so

The staff in my local Home Bargains have always been fantastic. Excellent news.

Friend’s wedding postponed. The hotel concerned is keeping rooms open for NHS staff (no charge) & providing & delivering meals for vulnerable people locally. Staff not at work will be paid half their usual salaries for the duration (hard for them but it’s something). Not a chain, a family-owned hotel.

Maybe we should start a list of organisations supporting their staff / their customers:
Home Bargains
Chelsea FC (opened their hotel to NHS staff)

Thank god for some positivity!! Could we ask for the Coronavirus board to be split into positive and negative threads do you think?!

8 weeks unpaid leave for Virgin staff?

Billionaire Richard Branson will see the Virgin brand become toxic if he persists with this when other companies are supporting their staff.

That's a good idea sum. I'm with virgin for broadband and this sort of thing sorely tempts me to look elsewhere once the contract is up. Home Bargains, on the other hand, I know where I'm going next time I need shampoo.

I think we will remember the companies who looked after their staff and those who didn't

Wetherspoons! our family will never set foot inside again, a small protest but it makes us feel better

Virgin, forget it, our money will never come your way again

My daughter works for virgin airlines and has just flown her last flight home . Now she faces 2 months with no pay and no guarantee of a job after this time !!! The staff don’t earn enough to save up money it’s a nightmare . We have told her to come home to us even though I have severe health problems and she has been flying all over !!!! Shame on Branson