Covid-19 payment causing problems for retailers with part-time staff
“We have provided to DEASP the details of a number of employers that have suffered from staff walking out with the sole purpose of ‘signing on’ for a sum that is frequently three and four times greater than earned for their part-time shift.” – Vincent Jennings.
The main anomalies within the scheme are without doubt destined to cause very significant difficulties for employers of essential services to cope with, CSNA Chief Executive Vincent Jennings told RTE journalist Ingrid Miley recently.
“Recipients of the Covid-19 benefit should have, as an absolute maximum of benefit obtainable, a weekly sum no greater than the previous five weeks prior to being let go.
“We have part-time workers, whose friends and college colleagues that had part-time work in the retail, bar, hospitality and catering sectors, are getting €350 per week while they are working in our stores earning considerably less.
“For generations, employers have rewarded work with a fair day’s pay. We are a group of people that believe that work should pay; this action by DEASP overturns this basic principle and will take a long time to quell the disruption it has caused.
“We have provided to DEASP the details of a number of employers that have suffered from staff walking out with the sole purpose of ‘signing on’ for a sum that is frequently three and four times greater than earned for their part-time shift. We will continue to bring these improper claims to the attention of the Special Investigations Unit as we do not believe people should game the system.”
