LIVERPOOL have announced they have placed some members of their non-playing staff on furlough as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
The Reds have become the fifth Premier League team to seek help from the government as they follow in the footsteps of Newcastle, Tottenham, Norwich and Bournemouth.
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Liverpool have become the latest side to place staff members on furloughCredit: Reuters
The Merseyside outfit have stated that those staff members will be paid the full amount of their salaries, with the club paying 20 per cent, and the government forking out 80 per cent through their job retention scheme.
A club statement said: “Liverpool FC has placed some staff who are impacted by the Premier League suspension on furlough.
“The club has confirmed those staff will be paid 100 per cent of their salaries to ensure no member of staff is financially disadvantaged.
“Last month the club also confirmed that it would pay its matchday and non-matchday staff while the Premier League is suspended.
“Even prior to the decision on staff furloughing, there was a collective commitment at senior levels of the club – on and off the pitch – with everyone working towards a solution that secures jobs for employees of the club during this unprecedented crisis.
“There is ongoing active engagement about the topic of salary deductions during the period matches are not being played to schedule. These discussions are complex and as a result the process is ongoing.”
They added: “While our priority from the outset has been to focus primarily on the health and wellbeing of our players, staff, supporters and local community, the club has also committed to playing as full a role as possible in the Premier League’s ongoing response to the crisis.
“As such, we welcome Friday’s announcement from the Premier League which confirmed the provision of support for the National Health Service, the EFL and National League and a commitment for the 2019-20 season to resume only when it is safe to do so.”
Liverpool have also claimed they will be in regular contact with club staff over updates, while employees will also have access to an “online portal providing health and wellbeing information”.
Despite the Premier League leaders doing their best, an unnamed staff member has told the BBC that they feel let down by their actions.
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They said: “The club call their staff their family – I’m not feeling like a family member.
“Why is a club that turns over £100m using a government scheme for its staff when other businesses are more in need of it?
“I feel disappointed and I’m feeling that this government scheme could be used by businesses in trouble.”
Premier League clubs ‘need to take a long, hard look at their moral responsibility’ with regards to furloughing non-playing staff, says DCMS committee
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
