BT rewards frontline workers with a £1,500 bonus

BT rewards nearly 60,000 frontline workers with a £1,500 bonus for their efforts during the pandemic but some staff are still considering strike action

  • Eligible staff will get £1,000 in June and £500 awarded in shares, group said
  • Some staff are considering national strike action for first time in over 30 years 

Thousands of frontline workers at BT will get a £1,500 bonus for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.   

The telecoms giant said 59,000 of its key workers will receive £1,000 in cash in June, with a further £500 awarded in shares under the company’s employee share scheme after three years.

The latest bonus comes despite a pay freeze across the company and an ongoing dispute with trade unions over BT’s overhaul plans. 

Bonus: Thousands of frontline workers at BT will get a £1,500 bonus for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic

The latest bonus payout, which will cost BT £110million, is equivalent to around 5 per cent of an average employee’s salary, according to the group.

BT boss Philip Jansen said: ‘Our frontline colleagues and key workers have been true heroes, keeping everyone connected in this most difficult time.

‘BT has delivered for our customers through the dedication of all our people, but inevitably the pandemic hit our financial performance, like that of most companies.

‘In this context, we have to prioritise and I am determined that we will do everything in our power to reward our frontline colleagues.’ 

In a statement, BT added that it did not think the bonus would alter its full-year financial outlook. 

BT also awarded its entire 100,000-strong workforce shares worth £500 last June to reward their efforts during the crisis.  

Employee members of the Communication Workers Union are currently voting over industrial action in a row over jobs, which threatens the first national strike at BT in over 30 years.

The dispute over compulsory redundancies and the closure of sites, has been running for over a year.

Shares in FTSE 100-listed BT are currently down 1.31 per cent or 1.95p to 147p. A year ago the share price was 132.8p and back at the peak in December 1999 it was closer to 1,000p.

BT axed its second half dividend in May, leaving investors with just the 7.7p a share payment for the first half.

In October, BT revealed it saw profits fall by a fifth in its first half as the pandemic hit sales to businesses and its BT Sport TV arm, after the suspension of live events during lockdown.

But, the company upped its profit guidance as more people upgraded their broadband requirements having to work from home.

Boost: BT also awarded its entire 100,000-strong workforce shares worth £500 last June to reward their efforts during the crisis

Boost: BT also awarded its entire 100,000-strong workforce shares worth £500 last June to reward their efforts during the crisis