Hi Everyone
My Manager is today attempting to claim salary support for our staff team as recommended by Mr Cannan . This will be a test case and if successful will set a precedent for all keyworkers.
My manager has been armed with the following emails and guidance on how to claim Salary support under exceptional circumstances section 8b and c. I know there is a lot to read but please do read on and educate yourself on the Ministers recommendations.
Below is the recent correspondence I have had the The Treasury Minister Alf Cannan.
He has been incredibly helpful and had this to say.
On 28 Apr 2020 10:57, "Cannan, Alfred (MHK)" <Alfred.Cannan@gov.im> wrote:
Dear Joan
Your employers could easily determine that they are paying sick pay and claim the £280 wage support for the duration of the scheme.
Kind regards
Alfred Cannan MHK
Treasury Minister
Central Government Office
Bucks Road
Douglas
Isle of Man
IM1 3PU
Tel: 01624 686433
Dear Mr Cannan
Thankyou for your response.
Am I to understand that if my contract doesn't currently include sick pay my employer would still be able to claim and then pay me salary support of £280 for as long as required during the pandemic if it is covid 19 related?
As frontline carers we are in the firing line and very high risk of exposure to covid 19 which means we will have to isolate through no fault of our own. Like many of our colleagues in Abbott's Wood at the moment.Some of which who are in receipt of only £84. a week Incapacity benefit.
It is ludicrous to expect anyone to survive on such a small amount.
Yet many other workers are in receipt of £280 salary support.
Why can't this support be extended to the frontline workers??
Mera is only an option if you can not work at all for an extended period, perhaps if you are shielding or your company is unable to operate.
Most care staff affected by covid 19 are expected to be off between 2 to 4 weeks. Clearly £84 a week is an unrealistic amount to survive on, paying rent, food and utilities is unreasonable and a scandalous affront to those of us who are continuing to work.
Income Support and EPA is also only given out under strict criteria and alot of us do not qualify.
We are working hard 52 weeks a year to pay our mortgages, rates taxes, national insurance and utility bills.
It takes two wages to pay these bills in my household and when applying for a mortgage both salaries of the husband and wife team are considered before agreement from the bank. So loss of one wage would put us into a financial crisis.
I would ask you the Treasury to please inform our Employers in the Private and Voluntary sector to include us in this financial safety net as a matter of urgency and back date any sick pay in line with government guidelines on the salary support scheme.
Again many thanks for taking the time to read and respond to our plight, it is very much appreciated.
I look forward to hearing from you and particularly confirmation that our Employers are expected to pay and claim salary support regardless of our contract during the pandemic.
Kind regards
Joan Yardley and the 1030 carers who have signed the petition so far.
Further correspondence
Dear Joan
Further to my email on Saturday, I have now investigated this matter further.
It is unfortunate that Employers are not paying sick pay because the best way to approach this is to remind employers that whilst they may not ordinarily operate a sick pay scheme, they could, in the circumstances, continue to pay their staff who are off sick and claim from the Salary Support Scheme (up to £280 a week) towards these wages.
The purpose and intent of the Salary Support Scheme was to provide support to employers to help pay wages when employees were not as productive as previously, were not needed on site or were having to self-isolate.
In short, your employers can legitimately claim wage support to help you at the present time and indeed I would recommend that the wage support scheme is used in this way for the duration of its existence.
I would hope that Employers would work quickly to rectify this matter and thus provide you and your colleagues with support at this time. This is the easiest and quickest way for you and your valued profession to get the support you seek.
https://covid19.gov.im/businesses/funding-support/salary-support-scheme/
Yours sincerely
Alfred Cannan MHK
Treasury Minister
Central Government Office
Bucks Road
Douglas
Isle of Man
IM1 3PU
Tel: 01624 686433
Thankyou to everyone of you who have signed and shared the petition. As as it is us the keyworkers who are in this together, and together we are creating a fairer stance for ourselves.
I would hope to have confirmation early next week so please keep an eye out for the updates and continue to share the petition and Our Facebook page.
Thanks again
Joan