Iceland boss calls for Covid isolation rules to be scrapped with 3,300 of his staff sick

Richard Walker revealed that 3,300 Iceland workers are off sick because of Covid-19 isolation rules (Pictures: Getty)

An ‘exponential’ rise in staff absences is crippling the supermarket chain Iceland.

Bosses of the frozen food giant have called on the government to scrap Covid-19 isolation rules, so that infected employees can return to stacking the shelves.

Currently, more than 3,300 retail workers are off sick – a staggering rise of 700 week-on-week.

Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, Iceland’s managing director Richard Walker said: ‘An awful lot of our colleagues are being forced into this isolation period.

‘They want to get back to work and earn money and if we could cut the isolation period – or indeed, get rid of it as I think we eventually might have to come to – because we’ve got to learn to live alongside this virus.’

As part of plans unveiled by Boris Johnson during Tuesday’s Downing Street press conference, 100,000 critical workers will be able to take a test on every working day from next week.

However, retail workers were not included in the prime minister’s announcement.

At least 11% of Iceland’s workers are at home, with area managers being drafted to help (Picture: SOPA Images)

And now, the 1,000-store chain says it will have to push forward without 11% of its workforce, with area managers drafted in to run stores.

Mr Walker insisted that the impact of Omicron on those who have their boosters is ‘minimal’ and they should therefore be allowed to continue working – even if they catch the virus.

He also urged the government to design policies to suit the vaccinated ‘as opposed to the unvaccinated tail wagging the triple vaccinated dog’.

Mr Walker insisted that the impact of Omicron on those who have their boosters is ‘minimal’ (Picture: PA)

When asked if he thought isolation rules should end immediately, the boss said: ‘I think so because it’s now only the unvaccinated who seem to be at serious risk of hospitalisation.’

Mr Walker added: ‘I’m not saying that we should force people to get vaccinated, we need to encourage hearts and minds and give them a good idea as to why it’s a very good thing to do so.

‘All I’m saying is that as business, and speaking on behalf of the business community, it’s gong to be very difficult to trade to get through this… If we continue to have very onerous isolation rules which would appear to be too onerous for those who are triple jabbed.’

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