Stepnell ends coronavirus pay cuts early

Construction firm Stepnell has announced that it is ending staff pay cuts instituted in response to the coronavirus pandemic two weeks earlier than planned.

The firm put the salary reductions of up to 20%, depending on salary level, in place in April but now feels able to end them thanks to a “period of sustained growth”.

Tom Wakeford, joint managing director of Stepnell said: “It was an incredibly hard decision to ask staff to take a pay cut but it was ultimately the most effective way to secure jobs and ensure the business weathered the storm during those first few months of lockdown.

“I’m pleased to say that due to the extremely hard work and dedication of our whole team, the salary reductions have been halted two weeks earlier than originally envisaged.”

The family-owned firm, which has been in business for more than 150 years, remained on site throughout lockdown to keep its projects progressing in accordance with Public Health England guidelines.

Wakeford added: “Our quick actions to ensure our sites stayed open and compliant with the relevant health and safety guidelines coupled with some recent projects secured are behind the board’s decisions to return salaries back to pre-coronavirus levels.  Our ability to work in harmony with our supply chain and demonstrate our ability to clients and subcontractors to manage social distancing has been excellent.

“Across the board, our clients are really pleased with how we have adapted with many commenting that we were often the only contractor continuing to operate. The health and safety of our employees, clients and contractors is always at the forefront of everything that we do. With stringent planning and thorough risk assessments, we empowered all our colleagues to work safely.”